Purpose:
This scheme provides researchers from developing countries - who are at an early stage in the establishment of their research careers - with opportunities for research experience and high-quality research training relevant to health in developing countries.
Research projects must be in the area of public health or tropical medicine, aimed at understanding and controlling human and animal diseases of local, national or global health importance. Some fundamental biomedical studies are acceptable, but projects focused solely on in vitro or animal model studies will not normally be considered under this scheme.
This fellowship is part of a series of career awards aimed at building sustainable capacity in areas of research that have the potential for increasing health benefits for people and their livestock in developing countries.
Eligibility
Applications are only accepted in the Public Health and Tropical Medicine Interview Committee remit. This covers research on infectious and non-communicable diseases within the fields of public health and tropical medicine that is aimed at understanding and controlling human and animal diseases of local, national or global health importance.
You must be a national or legal resident of a developing country and should be either:
- a graduate in a subject relevant to public health or tropical medicine (e.g. biomedical or social science, veterinary medicine, physics, chemistry or mathematics) with a PhD and no more than three years' postdoctoral experience, or
- a medical graduate with a higher qualification equivalent to membership of the UK Royal Colleges of Physicians (i.e. qualified to enter higher specialist training) and some initial research experience.
Please note that researchers based in the restructuring countries of Europe and Asia are not eligible to apply for this scheme.
Non-clinical candidates who do not have a PhD but who are educated to first degree or Master's level and have research experience equivalent to a PhD, as evidenced by their publication record, may be considered.
Due allowance will be given to those whose career has been affected, either by a late start or by interruption for personal or family reasons.
You must be based primarily in a developing country, but training may be undertaken at centres of excellence regionally or internationally. Links between developing countries are encouraged.
You may apply to remain in their current laboratory (even if you already hold an established post), to return to one where you have previously worked, or to move to a new laboratory, in a developing country.
In general, fellowships may be held in 'not for profit' institutions that are able to sign up to the Trust's Grant Conditions. Institutions that have not previously received significant funding from the Trust will be required to submit information to enable us to assess eligibility. Applications will not be considered by the relevant Funding Committee until all eligibility checks have been completed.
We do not normally accept resubmissions of fellowship applications.
Sponsorship and supervision
You must be based at an eligible sponsoring institution in a developing country that will administer the fellowship for the full tenure of the award. You must have an appropriate sponsor who holds an established post for the duration of the fellowship and has a track record in research and research training.
Your sponsor must be able to guarantee that space and facilities will be made available for you. Your sponsor is expected to support you in your research and to ensure that you will be released from the majority of your administrative and teaching commitments to enable you to focus on research.
The time permitted for clinical duties or other non-research activity during the fellowship is normally restricted to a maximum of eight hours each week.
An additional sponsor(s) must be identified for periods outside the host institution, i.e. the institution(s) where periods of training will take place.
You must identify appropriate supervisors who will provide independent support, mentorship and advice in all relevant research areas throughout the application process and for the duration of the fellowship award.
A sponsor may be nominated as a supervisor where appropriate.
Sponsors and supervisors are advised to read all the scheme information provided here.
