Call for Proposals: EBOLA RESEARCH FUNDING INITIATIVE
The Wellcome Trust has put together an emergency multi-million-pound initiative for research that could help to contain the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and future outbreaks of infectious disease, alongside long-term investment in African science. This initiative is an effort to curtail the deadly viral disease currently gripping West Africa.
The emergency Ebola initiative, which includes contributions from partner funders, will support research that can swiftly begin to investigate new approaches to treating, preventing and containing the disease, during the current epidemic in West Africa. It will also support research into the ethical challenges of testing experimental medicines during epidemics. Its goals are to:
- Identify clinical and public health interventions, including drugs and vaccines, with the potential to contribute to tackling the present crisis in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria
- Inform the way in which future epidemics of Ebola and other infectious diseases are handled.
COVERAGE
The full support initiative includes the following:
A. Rapid-Response Funding For Humanitarian Research Into Combating The Ebola Outbreak In West Africa:
This is a £6.5 million initiative jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the UK Department for International Development under the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises programme (R2HC) and administered by Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance (ELRHA). This will cover research in areas such as epidemiology, clinical management, ethics, diagnosis, disease control and prevention, health systems and surveillance.
Please click here for detailed information on eligibility and how to apply.
B. A call for research proposals that would evaluate experimental therapies and vaccines for Ebola: This focuses on clinical studies that could begin during the current epidemic. The Trust is encouraging rapid applications for funding, which it will evaluate and peer-review urgently so that appropriate projects can start without delay. The Trust will also consider research proposals that would evaluate the ethical challenges of conducting health research during epidemics such as Ebola, on a similar accelerated basis.
For information and to apply for funding, please contact ebolatrials@wellcome.ac.uk.
C. An initial £40 Million over five years to launch Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training and Science Africa (DELTAS Africa):
The long-term vision of DELTAS is to develop a new generation of outstanding African health researchers. The initiative will provide extended support for programmes that equip sub-Saharan African researchers to conduct world-leading research that addresses the continent’s health priorities, including emerging and endemic infections, persistent threats such as HIV, TB and malaria, and the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, stroke, cancer and mental health. Enquiries on the programme should be directed to deltasafrica@wellcome.ac.uk.
A webinar on DELTAS Africa will take place on Tuesday 9 September at 10am BST and will include an
introduction to DELTAS, provide guidance on the application process and give an opportunity to put
questions to the Wellcome Trust team. Register for the webinar.
HOW TO APPLY
Please refer to the Wellcome Trust website for detailed information on the various application requirements and processes of the above-mentioned programs. This may be accessed at http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/International/WTP057179.htm?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_content=multi-million-pound%20initiative&utm_campaign=DELTAs%203rd%20parties.