Encouraging Research Collaborations in sub-Saharan Africa through Fogarty International Center (FIC) Research and Research Training Programs

Notice Number: NOT-TW-09-003

Key Dates
Release Date: February 4, 2009

Issued by
Fogarty International Center (http://www.fic.nih.gov/)

Recently, a summit on sub-Saharan Africa was held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hosted by the Fogarty International Center (FIC). The summit provided an opportunity to review the long-standing relationship that NIH has had with African researchers both as a result of extramural grant funding as well as its intramural program. The summit also provided an opportunity to review the unique scientific opportunities and mutual benefits to be derived by collaborations between U.S. and African scientists. In follow-up to this summit FIC intends to further expand its support of research and research training involving African institutions and scientists.

As a result, FIC encourages African scientists and institutions to become involved in its various research and research training programs which offer the opportunity to contribute to science while building research capacity at African scientific institutions. The programs are described at http://www.fic.nih.gov/programs/research_grants/index.htm and http://www.fic.nih.gov/programs/training_grants/index.htm.

Examples of potentially applicable programs include: the Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award Basic Biomedical (FIRCA-BB) (PAR-08-222) and the Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award Behavioral and Social Sciences (FIRCA-BSS) (PAR-08-223) . These provide opportunities for researchers to extend their NIH-supported projects to include colleagues and relevant work in low and middle income countries. African scientists have an opportunity to contribute as co-collaborators on FIRCA applications and awards. Therefore, FIC would like to especially encourage applications involving investigators from countries of sub-Saharan Africa for both the FIRCA-BB and FIRCA-BSS Programs.

In addition to the FIRCA programs, consideration may be given to meritorious applications involving sub-Saharan Africa across all FIC programs.

For additional background information on this summit on held at NIH, please refer to: http://www.fic.nih.gov/news/publications/global_health_matters/2008/africa_braindrain_12-08.htm

Inquiries

For further information regarding the following programs, please contact:

FIRCA-BSS

Xingzhu Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center
National Institutes of Health
31 Center Drive, Room B2-C39, MSC-2022
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2022
Phone: 301-496-1653
FAX: 301-402-0779
E-mail: liuxing@mail.nih.gov

FIRCA-BB

Kathleen Michels, Ph.D
Program Director
Division of International Training and Research
Fogarty International Center, NIH
Building 31 Rm B2C39
Bethesda, MD 20892
Ph: 301-435-6031, fax: 301-402-0779
Email: Michelsk@nih.gov