The African Research Leadership (ARL) scheme invites applications from African researchers already based in sub-Saharan African countries and from those individuals currently working overseas who wish to return to SSA. High-quality applications from female scientists and from investigators across a broad range of disciplines are welcomed. The monetary value of this award is upto £750 000 and will provide support for up to five years. The deadline for submitting applications is 28th February, 2018.
This Medical Research Council (MRC)/Department for International Development (DfID) jointly funded scheme which aims to strengthen research leadership across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by supporting exceptionally talented individuals who will lead high-quality programmes of research – on key global health issues pertinent to SSA – in local institutions.
Priority will be given to applications that address the key health problems relevant to national and regional health needs and hence best conducted in SSA. The ARL scheme will support observational programmes of epidemiological, laboratory, field and clinical research and early-stage developmental research which may be associated with, or lead to future intervention evaluation or clinical trials.
Activities can be focused on any major health priority in sub-Saharan Africa, including infectious diseases (major diseases such as malaria, HIV and TB), neglected tropical diseases, zoonotic and emerging diseases, co-infections and issues associated with emerging resistance to current drugs. Beyond infections, research can focus on nutrition or non-communicable diseases including metabolic, cardiovascular, cancer, respiratory and mental health research or co-morbidities. Basic, fundamental health research approaches, experimental medicine providing mechanistic insight to human diseases, epidemiological (social, genetic, immunological) research, prevention research, public health; systems, modelling and implementation research are all welcomed and if appropriate, research may be targeted to vulnerable or disadvantaged groups including mothers, neonates, children, adolescents or the elderly.
The majority of the research is expected to take place in the African environment.
Lack of grant funding and research infrastructure in many sub-Saharan African countries can make it difficult to attract and retain talented African scientists and as a result, African nationals are currently under-represented as leaders in medical research in the region.
