Virology Grants

Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) Clinical Research & Development Fellowships

Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) invites researchers from developing countries to apply for a 12-month career development fellowship on Clinical Research & Development. Successful candidates will be seconded to selected pharmaceutical companies. The goal is to develop human resources to promote high quality clinical R&D in disease endemic countries (DEC). It is expected that qualified professionals will be able to enhance DEC product development capacity on diagnostics, drugs and vaccines against infectious diseases that disproportionately affect poor and marginalized populations.

The programme will train individuals in situ with relevant partners in order to develop specialized skills not readily taught in academic centres, including inter alia R&D project management, regulatory requirements and good practices. Upon completing their fellowships, the individuals are expected to return to their home institutes and assume a leading role and become valuable resources in the global effort on R&D for neglected infectious diseases.

Programme description
Training fellowship

Within the context of the Clinical R&D team of the host pharmaceutical company, the trainee may be involved in activities related to :

* Elaboration of the Clinical Development Plan;
* Study preparation: study design, concept and main protocols, case report form and logistics;
* Study implementation and conduct: pre-study contacts, study initiation and monitoring;
* Study reporting: data validation, study report;
* Medical Safety and regulation: reporting and management of safety, production of safety documents;
* Administration and documentation: filing, tracking, financial agreement;
* Regulatory aspects of medications;
* Project planning and monitoring: human and financial resources management, timing;
* Literature review, attendance at scientific meetings, clinical trial methodology, FDA/ICH requirements, new technologies.

Although all companies are expected to provide the trainees with good exposure to general technical and managerial principles of R&D practices, individual programmes will be established within each company according to ongoing activities and trainee field of interest and expertise.

Alumni Network and post-training opportunities
An electronic alumni network will be organized and a meeting of past and current fellows will be held annually. The alumni network will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the programme by providing a forum for ongoing communication, better interaction and collaboration.

Eligibility criteria
The applicant must:
* be a scientist who is a citizen of and resident in a developing country;
* be a maximum of 35 years old at the time of the submission deadline;
* have a MD or PhD with clinical and research experience in infectious diseases;
* be employed as a staff member of a DEC research institution, university or other recognized national institution that has an element of research relevant to TDR. The applicant must have been employed by the institution or university for a minimum of 12 months prior to the date of application;
* be computer literate and fluent in English or French with a good working knowledge of English;
* be able to demonstrate how the training programme will be put to use upon return to their home institute and country;
* be committed to work in a developing country for a minimum of three years after the completion of the grant.

Application procedure
The application should be sent in electronic format (Word or PDF only) to clinicalfellows@who.int (no application form is required). Reference letters must be scanned and attached electronically. The following information should be provided:

1.Full name with the family name underlined.
2.Date of birth, sex and nationality (copy of information page of passport or other identification document may be requested at a later date).
3.Name, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address of institution where the applicant is employed. All applicants must have permanent employment.
4.Telephone number for personnel contact and possible interview (if not the same as institutional telephone number above #4) must be included.
5.Educational qualifications, including place of study and graduation date (transcripts and copies of qualifications are not required but may be requested later).
6.A description (1 page maximum) of the applicant’s current post and of the post held immediately before.
7.A description (1 page maximum) of the applicant’s current work/research interests including disease(s) interest.
8.A description (1 page maximum) of how the applicant, if selected, plans to apply the acquired skills and knowledge after returning to his home country/institution.
9.A list of the applicant’s publications and other abstracts or presentations.
10.A letter of recommendation from two senior scientists/professors that includes their address, telephone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses. Please scan and include these with the application.
11.An endorsement from the Director of the applicant’s home institution testifying to the ability of the applicant to undertake successfully the training proposed and certifying that the applicant, if selected, will be granted a leave of absence. The Director should also indicate how the proposed training will strengthen the institution’s capability to conduct clinical research upon the return of the trainee.
12.Applicants from countries requiring national endorsement should submit their applications through proper government channels. A copy of all applications should be sent to the WHO Representative’s Office in their home country for information purposes.

All applications must be received at clinicalfellows@who.int by 6 April 2010

For further information:

Dr Christine Maure, Empowerment Technical officer
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases
World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Telephone: (41-22) 791-1532 Fax: (41-22) 791-4854
E-mail: maurec@who.int

Candidates matching the eligibility criteria will be contacted to arrange a telephone interview in May/June 2010.

Applicants will be informed of the outcome in July 2010.

Training will begin by mutual consent as soon as possible.

Financial provision will be made available to successful applicants through TDR to cover a monthly stipend, travel, health insurance, computer, alumni membership and professional meeting participation.

Maurice Hilleman/Merck Award

ASM’s premier award for major contributions to pathogenesis, vaccine discovery, vaccine development, and/or control of vaccine-preventable diseases. The award is presented in memory of Maurice R. Hilleman, whose work in the development of vaccines has saved the lives of many throughout the world.

Eligibility:
The nominee must have made outstanding achievements in pathogenesis, vaccine discovery, vaccine development, and/or control of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Award:
A cash prize of $20,000, a commemorative medal, and travel to the ASM General Meeting where the laureate delivers the Maurice Hilleman/Merck Award Lecture.

Deadline: October 1.

Nominations:
Nominations will be considered without updating for three years. Self-nominations and more than one nomination per nominee will not be accepted. Only one nominating form and two supporting forms are accepted per nomination. The two supporters must be persons other than the nominator who are familiar with the nominee's qualifications and accomplishments. Only one of the three individuals involved in the nomination may be employed at the nominee's institution. The nominator and supporters must not share employers. Nominations must consist of the following:

* Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications, emailed to awards@asmusa.org
* Nominating form
* Supporting form

ASM awards are granted at the discretion of the award selection committees and may not be awarded every year.

Sponsor: Merck & Co., Inc.

American Society for Microbiology
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