Deadline extended till 30 June 2020
The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) have announced the 2020–2021 call for applications of the Joint EMRO/TDR Small Grants Scheme for implementation research in infectious diseases of poverty.
The goal of the TDR Strategy 2018-2023 is to foster research on infectious diseases of poverty that lead to health improvement, strengthen research capacity of the individuals and institutions in developing countries, and develop implementation strategies and solutions that respond to health needs of these countries. It also supports translation of research results into policy and practice by improving health and promoting the engagement of individuals and communities in using research evidence to reduce the disease burden in their respective countries.
This call supports the generation of evidence from local research for the prevention and control of tropical diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region countries and takes into account the outcomes of two activities at the Regional Office: “Supporting Research for Health in the EMR” (EM-ACHR Meeting, 17-18 February 2020); and the “Regional Health Research Prioritization” workshop (13 February 2020). It emphasizes the importance of using implementation/ operational research for ALL priority topics listed below. In addition, the call welcomes research which links more than one priority in the list below, as well as involving EMR-based healthcare delivery and disease control programmes with research / academic institutions.
2020-2021 Priority Research Areas
- Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD)
- Comparative assessment of the current treatment protocols for cutaneous leishmaniasis in use (e.g. intralesional injectable regimens, regimen of cryotherapy & thermotherapy)
- Cost-effectiveness of vector and reservoir control in endemic foci of leishmaniasis
- Risk factors related to the severity and fatality of the visceral leishmaniasis cases
- Comparative efficacy of miltefosine in the treatment of L.tropica and limitations on use of antimonials with higher parenteral doses
- Host feeding preference/habits of the main vectors of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis
- Malaria
- Assessment of integrated community case management in the context of humanitarian emergency (e.g. in Yemen);
- Improving adherence of private practitioners to national malaria treatment policy
- Assessment of implementation of intermittent preventive therapy (e.g. Somalia and Sudan)
- Cost estimation of the minimum package of health services for malaria in different settings
- Roles of invasive Anopheles stephensi in malaria transmission in HoA countries in the Region
- Tuberculosis
- Improving access, screening and diagnosis of TB;
- Effective models for programmatic management of drug-resistant TB for universal access and quality of care;
- Measuring the catastrophic cost of diagnosis, treatment, care and support on people and families affected by tuberculosis;
- Ensuring effective and sustainable collaboration with all care-providers for TB care and control.
Funding Information
US$ 10 000–15 000 per grant. Co-funding from domestic or other sources is encouraged.
Duration
1 September 2020 – 31 August 2021.
Eligibility Criteria
- Health care workers and researchers are eligible to apply for this grant, including those working in institutions such as regional or national tropical/communicable disease control programmes embedded within ministries of health, academic institutions, research institutes, and nongovernmental organizations (including professional societies and civil service organizations involved in tropical disease research activities).
- Applications that involve researchers from different institutions, especially from more than one country in the region, are strongly encouraged.
- Applications from EMR first-time qualified young researchers, female researchers and under-represented countries are also strongly encouraged.
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be selected on a competitive basis by WHO staff in the Regional Office and TDR. Scoring will depend on scientific merit and the public health impact of the project. Publications resulting from the supported projects and data are required to:
- Follow the WHO open-access policy;
- Clearly refer to the Joint EMRO/TDR Small Grants Scheme support indicating grant number.
For more information, visit https://www.who.int/tdr/grants/calls/small-grants-2020-21-emro/en/