The UK is boosting global health research as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) launches a new funding award to support work in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The Global Health Research Development Awards aim to:
- Increase the competitiveness of research applications from professionals based in countries eligible for foreign aid
- Build equitable and sustainable research partnerships
- Support research proposals in LMICs that directly address the needs and priorities of local populations
Up to £100,000 will be available for projects lasting 12 months, which can be led by researchers from any country eligible for Official Development Assistance.
“We particularly look forward to receiving applications led by early career researchers…”
The NIHR has funded over 700 awards in more than 60 LMICs since 2016.
“Shifting the balance towards more LMIC-led applications is a core ambition of the NIHR Global Health Research Programme,” said Professor Kara Hanson, NIHR programme director for global health research.
“We particularly look forward to receiving applications led by early career researchers – these researchers are future global health leaders, and this support will put them in prime position to apply for and receive funding to improve health in countries around the world.”
The Global Health Research Development Awards are part of the NIHR’s wider push to strengthen research capabilities in LMICs – on 16 April, applications for Global Advanced Fellowships will open, which is an NIHR scheme to help postdoctoral researchers in LMICs.
The new global health award, however, will provide “vital support” to LMIC researchers by “helping them to develop proposals that will be internationally competitive” according to Kara.
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