Call for Applications for the Award of Research Training Grants - 2006

IMPORTANT NOTE: Priority is given to applicants from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) as defined by the United Nations, and for applicants requesting local degree registration. The list of LDCs can be found at: http://www.un.org/special-rep/ohrlls/ldc/list.htm, or requested from TDR. Applications from non-LDC countries will be considered only on an exceptional basis. All applicants must have permanent employment pre- and post-training.

The UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) invites applications for the award of Research Training Grants (RTG) from individuals who are nationals of, and employed in, least developed disease endemic countries (LDC) and developing disease endemic countries (DEC) with lesser developed research capacities. RTGs are awarded, on a competitive basis, for studies leading to a postgraduate degree, or for acquiring specialized skills. Studies must be on one or more of the TDR target diseases - malaria, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, African trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease, leprosy, dengue and tuberculosis, in laboratory, clinical, applied field research and social sciences disciplines, relevant to TDR and/or national priorities. See the TDR website at www.who.int/tdr/grants/workplans for TDR's priority research areas. The training may take place in the home country, in another developing country, or in a developed country. TDR reserves the right to select the academic institution, research programme or TDR-funded Research & Development (R&D) project where it is felt the most suitable training can be obtained. 

See the TDR website at www.who.int/tdr/grants/workplans/rcsworkplans.htm for the workplans of the Research Capability Strengthening (RCS) team, Multilateral Initiative on Malaria /TDR (MIM)Task Force and other specific calls for research training applications and Career Development Fellowships. 

Capacity building in TDR

Research capability strengthening is a cross-cutting programmatic area of TDR established to promote and fund research training and institution development to increase the participation of developing countries in the development and use of new or improved tools for the prevention and control of communicable diseases. The long-term mission is to increase research self-reliance in endemic countries for identifying needs and developing solutions to public health problems caused by neglected infectious diseases. TDR contributes to the attainment of these goals by strengthening research institutions, generating new scientific knowledge in biomedical and social sciences and building a critical mass of human resources to respond to research and public health needs. Partnerships, networking and promoting equal opportunities among DECs constitute the core of the RCS strategy and the basis for promoting a gender and geographically balanced generation of scientists.

Eligibility

Applications for training must be proposed as an integral part of an institution development programme that clearly documents the career development plans for the applicant. Following training, grantees are expected to exhibit scientific expertise in their chosen field, promote the development of the home institute research environment, provide training opportunities, be conversant with information and communication systems, and to develop collaboration with scientists and institutions in country and with other countries where possible. 

Proposals for training will be reviewed on the basis of:

(a) relevance of training to home institution and country/region, 
(b) research environment in the home institution, 
(c) career development plans for the applicant, 
(d) research experience of applicant, 
(e) previous education sufficient to justify requested training, 
(f) recommendation letters, 
(g) research project presented, 
(h) previous TDR funding and 
(i) national commitment to research.

Training priorities 

TDR’s first priority are applicants from the UN-defined Least Developed Countries (LDCs). To achieve gender balance, applications are especially encouraged from women. Applications from researchers requesting support for training in their own country or region are given priority. Applicants requesting local/regional PhD training may also include a short attachment abroad (+/- 6 months) to acquire skills related to their thesis research not available within their own country. Applications are welcomed from individuals working and involved in Ministries of Health with responsibility for planning, implementing and/or evaluating disease control programmes related to TDR target diseases. Preference is given to applicants under the age of 35 years.

How to apply

Please read and carefully follow the instructions below for completing the application, and do not exceed the page limits. Applications will be reviewed by a sub-Committee of the Research Strengthening Group (RSG) in March 2006, and the results communicated in April 2006. 

What an application should include

Researchers who wish to apply for an RTG should send the following information, in electronic version only, to the e-mail address given below. No application forms are required.

1. Full name with the family name underlined.

2. Date of birth and nationality. Please include scanned copy of information page of passport or official identity document.

3. Name, full mailing address, phone number, fax number and e-mail address (website if applicable) of institution where the applicant is employed.

4. Educational qualifications, including place and date of study, and - if possible - grade obtained. Transcripts and/or photocopies of qualifications are not required but may be requested at a later date.

5. A description (1 page) of the applicant's current post and of the post held immediately preceding the current post.

6. A description (2 pages) of the applicant's current research interests that includes a clear expression on how the proposed training request will contribute to her/his career development and future goals. Must be endorsed by home institution director.

7. A list of the applicant's publications (with citations), and other abstracts or presentations.

8. A letter of recommendation from two senior scientists/professors that includes their institutional affiliation, address, telephone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses. Please include these with the application.

9. If the applicant is or has recently been involved with a TDR-funded project, provide the title of the project and the name of the principal investigator.

10. Type of training requested, e.g. for studies leading to PhD or MSc, or for short-term specialized training; local (within the home country), regional (within the region), or abroad in a developed country; and discipline and disease of study. 

11. For applications leading to a PhD, an outline (5 pages maximum) of the proposed research to be carried out during the training, including rationale, objectives and methodology, citing a minimum of 5 recent references. 

12. The name(s) and address(es) of institution(s), in order of preference, where the applicant would like to study. Please indicate if contact has already been made with these institutions. Preference is given for local (home country) training. 

13. Applicants already registered for a doctoral degree in their own countries and who would like to seek support for their thesis research should provide evidence of registration, a full project proposal (with ethical clearance if necessary), and an itemized budget not exceeding US$10,000 total, endorsed by their supervisor. The project proposal will be reviewed on scientific merit and relevance by the Research Strengthening Group. 

14. An endorsement from the Director of the applicant's home institution testifying to the ability of the applicant to undertake successfully the proposed studies and certifying that the applicant, if awarded TDR support for research training away from the home institute, will be granted a leave of absence and, on completing the training, will be assured of a post for at least three years. The Director must also indicate how the proposed training will strengthen the research capabilities of the institution and document the career development plans for the applicant. All applicants must have fixed employment.

Applicants from countries requiring national endorsement should submit their application through proper government channels. All candidates should send a copy of their application to the WHO Representative's Office in their home country for information purposes.

All applications must be received by 15 November 2005, by e-mail only at:
RCStraining@who.int