A call for applications to create networks of epidemic and pandemic sciences research excellence throughout Africa is currently ongoing by the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), the Mastercard Foundation, and the University of Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute (PSI).
This call will foster a vibrant ecosystem of Epidemic Science Leadership and Innovation Networks (EPSILONs) across Africa. Each EPSILON will comprise three to six organizations in a ‘hub and spoke’ consortium. Each consortium will establish a network of research excellence in a thematic area relevant to epidemic and pandemic sciences research, preparedness, and response.
These networks will nurture and promote world-class epidemic and pandemic sciences research and innovation in Africa, building a critical mass of experts across all health sectors on the continent to address ongoing health challenges while strengthening capabilities to respond to future infectious diseases and health threats. They will aid in the formation of communities of practice that may be used to foster long-term cooperation and to address pressing policy and research needs in the event of future outbreaks.
For a maximum of six years, the networks—which will bring together numerous organizations in partnership—will be led by a renowned African investigator based at an African research institution.
Despite the strong encouragement of multidisciplinary applications, EPSILONs will concentrate on one or more of the following thematic study areas:
- Vaccinology: early-stage vaccine research and development
- Virology: genotype to phenotype
- Clinical research and clinical trials on epidemic and pandemic-prone infections
- Epidemics and pandemics public health policy research
- Climate change, biodiversity and pandemic prevention
- Advanced data assembly and analytics for threat assessment and mitigation
- Social and behavioral sciences
Duration: 06 years
Benefits
Up to $4 million in core money will be given to each consortium.
Eligibility
The Epidemic Science Leadership and Innovation Networks seek the following criteria:
- Lead applicants can lead only one application but may be co-applicants in several applications.
- Lead applicants must be based at an eligible organization and must fulfill the following conditions:
- Hold an academic or research post;
- Have a salary, or the guarantee of a salary, for the duration of the award period, or be required by their contract of employment to have a salary.
Application Process
Interested applicants should submit their applications via the SFA Foundation Grants Management System (Agaseke)
To apply for the Epidemic Science Leadership and Innovation Networks, click here
Deadline: January 31, 2024.
For more information on the Epidemic Science Leadership and Innovation Networks, visit the official site.
