Grants in Health: Research Capacity Strengthening Programme,
05/04
Source: tdr-scientists@who.int
Call for Letters of Intent - 2005
The UNICEF/UNDP/ World Bank/ WHO Special Programme for Research
and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) supports long-term institutional capacity building
projects for research in tropical
diseases in the least developed countries (LDCs) and other low
income and high disease-burden countries with limited capacity
for research .
Research Capability Strengthening (RCS) is a cross-cutting and
cross-disciplinary area of TDR established to promote and fund
research training and institutional development, so as to increase the participation of
developing countries in the development and use of new tools for the diagnosis, treatment,
prevention and control of communicable diseases.
The RCS mission is to foster self-reliance in biomedical and social science research in
disease-endemic countries (DECs) by
building a critical mass of human resources, institutional capacity, and a conducive
environment able to respond to public
health research needs.
RCS activities aim to contribute to the definition of research
priorities, conduct of research, and translation of results into
evidence-based health policy. This can be ensured by increasing
access to, and use of, new scientific knowledge by DEC scientists through modern
information and communication technologies.
The core of the RCS strategy is to create partnerships, increase
networking, and promote equal opportunity, while ensuring a gender and geographically
balanced generation of scientists. The
RCS Strategy 2002-2005 is available at:
http://www.who.int/tdr/publications/publications/rcs-strategy.htm
The Programme Grant will support long-term proposals for institutional development
designed to foster research capacity. The
grant will provide support to develop leadership in research,
scientific expertise in biomedical and/or social sciences, managerial skills, and
institutional infrastructure. The support is
to facilitate access to training opportunities, scientific information, and improved
communication systems. The programme
grant also fosters opportunities for collaboration with scientists and institutions in
other disease endemic countries and
the more developed ones.
Successful research proposals will address areas on the interface between
laboratory-oriented research and applied field research, with the aim of extending, where
possible, research
findings into policy and public health practice.
Funding
Selected proposals will be funded for an initial period of three
years, subject to annual review and satisfactory progress, with
an annual budget up to US$ 50,000. The funding level for each
year should be fully justified according to the activities proposed. Long-term support
will be considered on a case-by-case
basis for successful projects which have a high-impact potential.
Application
Proposals for a Programme Grants will initially be selected from
Letters of Intent. A 3-5-page letter of intent should provide a
brief outline of the institutional development plan highlighting
its potential scientific contribution and relevance to reducing
the burden of disease. A description of the technical and operational feasibility,
interaction/collaboration with control programmes, as well as team and research
capacity-building perspectives are necessary for the review. A one page summary CV of the
Principal Investigator and a supporting letter from the Institution Director. Those
submitting promising letters of intent will
be invited to prepare full proposals for RSG review.
The following content is suggested for the letter of intent:
- Brief description of Institution(s) mandate, structure, staff,
current activities, research experience
- Summary description of a 5-year development plan for institution/group research
strengthening: overall goal, objectives, areas to be developed/expected results, list of
activities
- Outline of proposed research project(s): PI, title, objectives, rationale,
local/national relevance and, if applied, international relevance, and overall design
- Individual and group training activities planned: disciplines,
level and place
- Relationship with any ongoing programme, research project, external funding
- Research team/institutions involved and collaborators - clear
outline of links with established research institutions
- Proposed budget breakdown (individual training will be budgeted separately by
WHO/TDR standards)
- Additional sources of support for the proposal, either matching funds or in kind
support
How to Apply
Applications will be accepted by email only. Please email your
letter of intent to mailto:rcstdr@who.int. The letter of intent
should be marked, "Programme Grant 2005". Where required, the
TDR secretariat and external consultants will provide assistance
to ensure proposals with a clear plan of research, capacity
building component, and including timelines, milestones, and indicators.
Deadline for submission of letters of intent: 31 May 2004
Letter of intent should be sent by e-mail only to
mailto:rcstdr@who.int
--
Dr Fabio Zicker
Coordinator
Research Capability Strengthening
UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training
in Tropical Disease (TDR)
World Health Organization
1211 Geneva 27
Fax: +41-22-791-4854
mailto:rcstdr@who.int
http://www.who.int/tdr
Page Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.