Training and fellowships
TDR's grant and training activities aim to develop strong leadership in health research and decision making, so that high quality institutional and national systems can identify and manage research priorities. Grant opportunities include support for post-graduate academic training, career development, short courses and research.
Current opportunities:
Implementation Research Training Workshop
7 – 12 July 2013 Gaborone, Botswana
Request for applications
Submission deadline 26 May 2013
TDR invites applications from research teams in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) currently conducting Implementation Research (IR) projects on infectious diseases of poverty to participate in a pilot training workshop. The workshop is part of a module-based Toolkit designed to strengthen IR capacity in the following areas: contextualizing research, ethics, planning and conducting an IR project, data collection and management, analysis of results, dissemination of findings, and monitoring and evaluation of the uptake of evidence in the health system.
The past decade has seen an unprecedented expansion in the number of new tools developed to control infectious diseases of poverty which have the potential to significantly improve health. However, the implementation of many of these new tools has been slower than expected. Even where policies, tools and strategies have been formally adopted, using then in “real life” settings is often constrained by contextual factors resulting in ineffective implementation. The value of implementation research (IR) in addressing these challenges and finding solutions is widely accepted. With the support of its core funders and additional support from USAID, PEPFAR and the WHO Implementation Research Platform (IRP), TDR has developed a six-module Toolkit for training researchers and decision-makers in public health programmes/institutions to:
- Conduct, disseminate and implement research findings in public health.
- Enhance functional partnerships with experienced researchers.
- Respond proactively to funders, development programmes and other related stakeholders.
The Toolkit includes a series of workshops covering the different modules. The initial proposal development module was already piloted in Durban and Entebbe in March 2012. This current call is to pilot the modules related to “planning and conducting the research”; ‘’analyzing the research results’’; ‘’presentation and dissemination of research findings”; and “monitoring and evaluation of uptake”.
Workshop
Up to eight research teams (with three members each) will be selected and invited for the workshop conducted in English, to be held in Gaborone, Botswana, 7–12 July 2013. TDR will cover the cost of participation, including economy class return airfare, accommodation and full board.
A five-day training through group participatory sessions that include theory, readings and practices, will help the participants further develop their research projects. Mentorship will also be provided after the workshop during the conduct of the projects from July 2013 to January 2015. The workshop will be facilitated by researchers with a proven track record in implementation research in developing countries, and by researchers from ministries of health, global health programmes/development agencies, and academia. Participants will be expected to provide feedback on the content and value of the training package.
Eligibility
Applications are expected from health research teams initiating or conducting a funded project to improve the delivery of health interventions or efficiency of health systems. The lead applicant must be employed by a national governmental or non-governmental organization in a LMIC with a long-term commitment to public health. Preference will be given to multi-disciplinary teams including researchers, public health personnel and policy-makers. The applications must be endorsed by the head of the institution hosting the research project and the applicants must be ready to contribute to continuing IR capacity building in the home country/institution.
How to apply
The following information and documentation should be provided (use Times New Roman font 12 and 1.5 line spacing):
- composition and one-page CV of each of the three members of the research team to attend the workshop, including educational and employment history;
- a two page (A4) synopsis of the ongoing research project to be discussed during the workshop, including the rationale and expected contribution to policy and practice;
- confirmation that funding is available for the project;
- an official letter of endorsement and support from the home institution.
Submission
Applications should be sent in a single e-mail with attachments in PDF format to TDRToolkit@who.int On the subject line indicate: “family name of the applicant – IR workshop 2013. The research team will be selected based on relevance and feasibility of their project, contextual and implementation barriers to be addressed, and potential impact on health outcomes.
Applications from women are particularly encouraged
Deadline 26 May 2013 - Incomplete documentation and applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed.
Invitation letters, pre-workshop reading materials and information on travel and accommodation arrangements will be sent to selected candidates by 7 June 2013.
Short-term grant for research capacity strengthening and knowledge management to help improve disease control
Application submissions are no longer being taken
This is a new short-term grant scheme designed to bridge strategic gaps in research capacity and knowledge management to help researchers and health professionals increase their contribution in addressing issues related to disease control. Building on past investments in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the grant provides support to individuals or research teams to:
- expand their scope of knowledge and/or skills, and contribute to long-term achievements and sustainability of research efforts leading to health improvement
- address specific research capacity or knowledge management aspects that can advance the understanding, analysis and ways of finding solutions to public health problems
This grant was developed to support the new strategic plan of the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), which gives emphases to intervention and implementation research, and research capacity strengthening to improve the health of those burdened by infectious diseases of poverty.
Support under this grant will be flexible, based on public health relevance, scientific quality and feasibility of the proposed expected output to be achieved within a period of one year. Examples of activities to be supported under the scheme include, but are not limited to:
Targeted short-term training, mentorship or workshops in methodologies related to implementation/operation research and knowledge management such as: systematic and scoping reviews, development of operational tools, data management, harmonization of protocols, approaches for translating research results into policy and practices, observational studies to understand and address programmatic and operational issues.
The grant will not fund formal academic degree training, experimental studies or data collection involving human subjects or biological samples, or acquisition of skills not linked to a specific scientific output. In 2013 it is anticipated that 20-30 new grants (up to US$ 50 000, non-renewed) will be awarded.
Eligibility
The grant is targeted to nationals from low- and middle-income countries, employed by a national governmental or non-governmental organization for at least 12 months. Each application must be endorsed by the head of the home institution. Only proposals with tangible results will be considered. Applications from previous TDR grantees and from women are encouraged.
How to apply
Applicants must prepare a proposal using Times New Roman font (12) and 1.5 line spacing including:
- Identification
- full name (family name in capital letters), date of birth, sex and nationality;
- personal address, telephone number and email;
- current position, institution name, address, telephone number, e-mail and web site.
- A half page abstract of the proposed activity/project
- A rationale for the proposal and its potential impact (maximum 4 pages), including:
- background and objectives;
- a description of the specific needs/gaps to be addressed with the proposed activity;
- a description of the output to be generated;
- suggestions for how to extend the benefit of the support to the home institution;
- budget with detailed breakdown.
- A letter of support from the host/collaborating institution or mentor (as applicable)
- An official letter of endorsement from the home institution, confirming the applicant’s ability to undertake the proposed activity, and certifying that the applicant will be granted leave of absence
- A summary curriculum vitae including educational and employment history, and professional achievements (maximum 4 pages)
Applications should be sent to rcstdr@who.int in a single e-mail with a single pdf file attached including the CV, proposal, letter(s) of support/endorsement. On the subject line please indicate: “name of the applicant – RCS/KM grant 2013”.
Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis by an external panel of experts based on the relevance of proposed activities, and the expected result in terms of new knowledge, skills or tools and the added value of the grant.
Submission deadline is 12 May 2013
Applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed