Deadline: 29 January 2024

Proposals are invited to the GlaxosmithKline Africa Open Lab 2024 . They are calling for research proposals focused on funding high-quality infectious disease research that has the potential to make a significant impact on health and develop future research leaders, with up to £100,000 available per award. Along with the award, they offer mentoring, scientific and technical support while you conduct your innovative research project.

Infectious diseases (ID), such as malaria, tuberculosis (TB) and enteric diseases, are among the leading causes of death worldwide, killing almost 9 million people every year. These diseases, which are often preventable and treatable, disproportionately affect sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations and, when left untreated, result in poor health outcomes and morbidity, higher mortality in co-infections with other infectious diseases, stigma-related mental disorders and exacerbated social and health inequalities. Research is key to developing and implementing effective measures to address the global health challenges related to identity erasure.

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Prize

• Up to £100,000 available per award to cover a project for up to 36 months.
• The prize will offer funding to cover the costs of an appropriate research project, including equipment costs, fieldwork and data collection, consumables and research assistance.
• There will be opportunities to undertake training activities relevant to achieving the project objectives or to research career development, including short courses and training visits to relevant research institutions, to be agreed in consultation with GSK.
• In addition to financial support, GSK will provide scientific support throughout the period of the award. The level of interaction will be determined through the application process and will be tailored to the individual needs of the project. GSK will explore links with scientists from academic and research groups in Africa and around the world to provide guidance to successful applicants.
• Funding is not provided for undergraduate tuition fees/scholarship.

Eligibility

• The principal investigator must be an African scientist in the early stages of their academic and research career, defined as: a basic biomedical scientist, a clinically qualified researcher or a public health researcher, who has not previously competed successfully as a principal investigator for a major research grant (>£100,000) and who is no more than five years away from their highest postgraduate qualification (career breaks and time away from academic research will be taken into account).
• The minimum formal qualification required is a postgraduate qualification. Most applicants are expected to have a master's degree, PhD or MD. Applicants may have a professorship, a junior fellowship or hold another research staff position.
• You must demonstrate a track record and ongoing commitment to health-related research and the skills and experience required to carry out the proposed work. Evidence of research results is required, including publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference publications, presentations at scientific conferences, contributions to clinical guidelines or policy documents.
• Employed by a research or academic institution in SSA. In addition, applications are strongly encouraged from historically under-represented population groups and institutions.
• A citizen of a sub-Saharan African country and based in an institution in SSA.

Selection criteria

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Your project must fulfil the following criteria:

• Research proposal relevant to the understanding of diseases in the following disease areas:
  • Malaria
  • Tuberculosis
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) associated with these infectious diseases
  • Enteric infections
  • Other (Neglected Tropical Diseases and emerging infectious diseases of particular relevance to Africa)
• The research should address one or more of the following:
  • Epidemiology of infectious diseases
  • physiopathology
  • aetiology
  • prevention and treatment of primary diseases
  • significant gaps in knowledge about the diversity and causes of diseases
  • disease presentation and variations in clinical characteristics
  • responses to medicines and vaccines
  • the emergence of antimicrobial resistance associated with these infectious diseases, the administration of antibiotics
  • mechanisms to improve access and optimise the use of medicines and vaccines in SSA
• It will generate significant data to strengthen new funding proposals that could lead to additional funding from other organisations and/or research collaborations in the long term.
• Proposals must demonstrate the specific health needs their research will address and how they will interact with specific stakeholders to bring about changes in health policy and practice. Projects focused on drug or vaccine discovery or using animal models will not be considered.

Application

Applications for research grants will be subject to a two-stage analysis process. Only those successful in the conception phase will be invited to submit a full application. Recommendations for funding awards will be made on the basis of scientific merit.

• Visit the GSK Supported Studies website, available at  here . You will need to register to access the preliminary concept application form.
• Fill in the preliminary concept application form and send it together with your CV (use the CV template provided in the application form).
• Read ' Conditions for applicants ' before submitting your application.

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For more information, visit Africa Open Lab .