News & Updates

May 2024 Edition, Issue 77

Welcome to another edition of the CARTA monthly updates. Read on to keep abreast with what is new.

PhD Completion

Julienne Murererehe, cohort 8, University of Rwanda, has successfully completed all the requirements of her PhD degree at the University of the Witwatersrand for the thesis ‘Risk factors for caries and periodontal diseases: a comparative study among HIV-positive and HIV-negative adults in Nyarugenge District, Rwanda.’ The degree will be conferred in July 2024 during the graduation ceremony.

Appointment

Alice Muhayimana, cohort 10, University of Rwanda, was appointed as Vice Chair of local and international partnerships at the School of Nursing and Midwifery on May 9, 2024. She will serve as vice chair for two years, from May 2024 to May 2026.

Olusola Olawoye, cohort 7, University of Ibadan, received the Shaffer Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) grant award for the study ‘ Genetic characterization of Juvenile Glaucoma in Africa’ on January 25, 2024.

James Kang’ethe, cohort 10, University of Nairobi, received the Joep Lange award following his presentation titled “The Dynamic Interplay of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus in Women Living with HIV: Persistence, Clearance, Incidence, and Synergies with Human T-lymphotropic Virus-1 Infections.” at the 2024 International Conference on HIV Treatment, Pathogenesis, and Prevention Research in Resource-Limited Settings (INTEREST) held in Cotonou, Benin from May 14 to 17, 2024.

Julienne Murererehe, cohort 8, University of Rwanda, received the Global Oral Health Inequality Research Network (GOHIRN) Travel Award to attend the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR 2024) conference in New Orleans, USA from March 13-16, 2024, where she made a poster presentation on “Oral health-related quality of life among people living with HIV and HIV-negative adults in Rwanda”.

Samuel Mwaniki, cohort 8, and James Kang’ethe, cohort 10, University of Nairobi, were selected for the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise Fellowship, supported by the International AIDS Society (IAS) during the HIV Vaccine Academy conference held in Akagera National Park, Rwanda, from May 7-9, 2024. This fellowship aims to develop young researchers in Africa working on HIV and STIs and enhance their skills in vaccine development.

Lilian Njagi, cohort 9, University of Nairobi, shined at the 2nd Summer School on Personalised Medicine with a presentation on ‘HIV and TB under a Personalised Medicine point of view’. The training event took place at the KCB Leadership Center in Nairobi, Kenya, from May 21 to 23, 2024. See more

Alice Muhayimana, cohort 10, University of Rwanda, presented a poster on “Evolving Respectful Maternity Care in Rwandan Health Facilities: Insights and Strategies from Women, Healthcare Providers, and Experts Review Through Appreciative Inquiry” at the 3rd National Health Research & Policy Conference 2024 in Kigali from May 20-21, 2024.

Temitope Ojo, cohort 10, Obafemi Awolowo University, presented an oral abstract from his PhD titled ‘Determinants of Occupational Injuries among Informal Construction Artisans in Osun State Nigeria: A Mixed-methods Survey of Carpenters and Bricklayers’ at the 34th International Congress on Occupational Health in Marrakesh, Morocco that was held on April 28 to May 3, 2024.

Godwin Anywar cohort 6, Makerere University, attended the 2024 AGM and International Conference of Young Scientists of the Global Young Academy in Washington DC   themed “Transformative and Inclusive Science for a Sustainable Future” at the United States National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) from May 7-10, 2024. He was also elected as one of the co-chairs for the Science Diplomacy in Africa Incubators during the conference.

Mapayi Boladale, cohort 4, Obafemi Awolowo University,  chaired a symposium titled ‘Frameworks for adolescent sexuality and implications for inclusivity and diversity in Nigeria’ at the 26th International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists and Allied Professionals (IACAPAP) World Congress, at Windsor Oceânico, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from May 20-24, 2024. She also touched on her re-entry grant project on sexual harassment among sexual minorities in Nigerian universities, among other topical issues.

APHRC Executive Director and CARTA Co-Director at the High Table of the Global Science Summit   

On May 6 to 7, 2024, the Novo Nordisk Foundation hosted the Global Science Summit as part of its 100-year anniversary in Denmark. During the Summit, a three-year partnership was announced between the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and the Gates Foundation. These three global giants committed a total of US$300 million, with each organization contributing US$100 million to support critical scientific research and development for global health.

Catherine Kyobutungi, our CARTA Co-Director, was the only African in this high-level session. She was prominently featured in the official press release and engaged in several key activities. She joined the panel discussion on the special announcement, delivered a 12-minute keynote at the Summit’s opening session where she shared APHRC’s perspective on some of the health and research challenges facing Africa, and participated in a candid fireside chat. The Global Science Summit focused on the interconnection between non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, and climate change, with the goal of paving the way for new scientific breakthroughs. Catherine’s presence at the center of this event was a huge win for the continent.

Moi University Strengthens Capacity for 32 Trainers of Trainers (ToT) on Graduate Grant Writing

Moi University is conducting a one-week local Graduate Grant Writing Workshop (GGWW) for Trainers of Trainers (ToT) based on the CARTA intervention. The workshop, running from May 27 to May 31, 2024, is attended by faculty members with PhDs and Early Career Researchers. All facilitators for this workshop are CARTA-trained, ensuring they bring expertise and practical insights to the participants. The workshop aims to support institutionalization efforts by equipping Trainers of Trainers (ToT) with the necessary tools, skills, and knowledge to effectively integrate CARTA interventions and write successful grant proposals.

Groundbreaking Changes to Global Health Research as NIHR Launches New Programs to Promote Fairer Global Partnerships

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced a refreshed portfolio of funding opportunities for its global health projects. For the first time, all global health research projects can be led by researchers in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This change responds to calls for trust in and leadership by, LMIC researchers who want to improve the health of their communities through research. The aim is for NIHR projects to have more impact and build on local knowledge. Details

Congratulations to the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Fellows

The Carnegie Corporation of New York is delighted to announce the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program Class of 2024, a group of 28 extraordinary scholars. This year’s class marks the beginning of the Corporation’s initiative to facilitate the emergence of a body of research around political polarization in the United States. The Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program provides philanthropic support for scholarship in the humanities and social sciences that addresses important and enduring issues confronting our society. After a one-year pause in 2022, the 2024 Class of Andrew Carnegie Fellows marks the start of the program’s focus on developing a body of research on political polarization in the United States. Meet the fellows

Fellowship: Global Advanced Fellowship

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Advanced Fellowship aims to create a sustainable career pathway for postdoctoral global health researchers to become research leaders. Applications are open to applied global health researchers in LMICs and the UK. The research project must directly and primarily benefit people in LMICs eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA). Details

Deadline: July 11, 2024

Funding: UCL- Wits University Strategic Partner Funds 2024-25

The office of the Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation, and Global Engagement) at University College London (UCL) and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits) are pleased to invite proposals to support collaborative research initiatives through a joint call for proposals. Details

Deadline: June 21, 2024

Funding: Wellcome Career Development Awards

The Wellcome scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. These researchers will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative work programs, and deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health, and well-being. Details

Deadline: July 25, 2024

Funding: Wellcome Discovery Awards

Wellcome provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas that will deliver significant shifts in understanding of human life, health, and well-being. Details

Deadline: July 30, 2024

Funding: Research on Interventions for Global Health Transformation

The Research on Interventions for Global Health Transformation (RIGHT) program funds applied health research for the primary and direct benefit of people in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). RIGHT aims to strengthen the capacity for research and boost knowledge exchange through funding equitable partnerships between researchers in the UK and those in LMICs. The program promotes interdisciplinary approaches to research, including, but not limited to, collaborations between clinical, health economics, statistics, qualitative, and social sciences disciplines. Details

The NIHR will launch an eighth RIGHT call on July 17, 2024

Funding: Global Health Research (GHR) – Researcher-led programmes

The Global Health Research (GHR) – Researcher-led programs are looking for applications to this annual funding opportunity launching in July 2024. GHR – Researcher-led funds research that aims to improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable people in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Research must address evidence needs that are locally identified and prioritized and must promote health equity, aligning with the aims of Sustainable Development Goal 3. Applications can span from broad, ambitious programs of research to projects with a narrower scope.

The NIHR will launch the next call on or around July 17, 2024, for a final decision on November 2025

Call for Abstracts: REDCap Africa Symposium 2024

The 2024 annual REDCap Africa Symposium. The event will be held on October 23-24, 2024, hosted by Wits Biomedical Informatics & Translational Science (WitsBITS) in collaboration with the University of the Witwatersrand and Wits Health Consortium (WHC). Click here to register and here to submit an abstract.

Abstract Submission Deadline: August 30, 2024

Call for Papers: Special Issue in Demographic Research

Prof Pablo Gracia from Trinity College Dublin and Prof Wiebke Schulz from the University of Bremen are announcing a special issue in Demographic Research on the theme of “Families’ Resilience and the Well-being of Children and Youth in Contexts of Global Socioeconomic Crises.” 

Submissions should be made starting from July 1, 2024. Details 

Deadline: October 31, 2024.

Call for Papers: Globequity Scheme

The International Journal of Public Health (IJPH, 2022 Impact Factor: 4.6) and Public Health Reviews (PHR, 2022 Impact Factor: 5.5) – owned by the non-profit Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+) – publish all content Open Access. The journals also support first authors from low- and middle-income countries to publish without fees. The APC waivers are offered through the journals’ GLOBEQUITY program, funded by Swissuniversities (details for PHR, IJPH).

Deadline: Before the end of 2024

Access a wide range of opportunities related to the National Institute for Health and Care Research here:

latest-NIHR-funding-opportunities

Large Language Models: Smart Work or Academic Doping?

The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAF) will be hosting its second webinar in the series on polemics in artificial intelligence titled Large Language Models: Smart Work or Academic Doping? On July 16, 2024.  LLMs are transforming academic research and publishing by significantly increasing scholars’ productivity. A 2023 nature survey revealed that nearly a third of scientists use generative AI for manuscript preparation, with LLMs aiding in tasks such as coding, brainstorming, and literature reviews. However, LLMs raise significant issues, including biases and exploitation in their training processes and generating errors or inaccurate information. Click here to register

An Introduction and Practical Guide to Community Engagement and Involvement in Global Health Research

This free online course on community engagement and involvement (CEI) in global health research is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Mesh Community Engagement Network. Its aim is to develop learners’ understanding and knowledge of CEI, supporting their ability to plan and design ethical and impactful CEI in health research. Details

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