News & Updates

January 2023 Edition, Issue 61

Welcome to the first 2023 edition of CARTA monthly updates. Read on to keep abreast with what is new.

Fellows to participate in media course by The Conversation Africa

CARTA is partnering with The Conversation Africa (TC) to deliver a media masterclass course for a number of its fellows. The application-based course is designed to equip academics and researchers to write about their research for the wider public. The course will also help participants to identify the elements of good writing and walk them through the process of completing a full article about their research. Commencing on January 31, 2023, the course is set to run over eight weeks and has both remotely facilitated and web-based modules

François Niragire, CARTA cohort one graduate has replaced Pierre Claver Rutayisire as the focal person (FP) for the University of Rwanda (UR). François is an Associate Professor of Applied Statistics and Director for Research and Innovation at the College of Business and Economics, UR. CARTA wishes to thank and commend Pierre for his contributions and service.

Kaitesi’s dream is to have no child face challenges in achieving their greatest academic potential on the grounds of hearing loss. In this feature, the cohort four graduate tells us about her efforts in enhancing hearing care through research and practice in Rwanda.

Read on: http://bit.ly/3jagpoi

Oluwaseun Esan (cohort 8, Obafemi Awolowo University), Felishana Cherop (cohort 7, Moi University), Atupele Mulaga (cohort 8, University of Malawi) and Omolayo Oluwatope (cohort 9, Obafemi Awolowo University) completed their PhD programs in late December 2022 and are awaiting graduation. The number of CARTA graduates/PhD completions stands at 142.

Oyewale Mayowa (cohort 5, University of Ibadan) defended his PhD thesis at the University of Ibadan titled ‘Indoor air quality and Bioaerosols’ size distribution as predictors of respiratory morbidities among pupils in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State’ on December 22, 2022. He is expected to graduate in November 2023.

Oyewale Mayowa (pictured above) was awarded a grant of N 14,500,000.00 from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to conduct a research study titled ‘Exposure to particulate matter and associated neurocognitive effects among school-age children in Urban and rural communities in Oyo State,’ on January 12, 2023. The study will be conducted by a team of researchers under his leadership as the principal investigator. Adeniyi Francis Fagbamigbe (cohort 2 graduate, University of Ibadan) is one of the project co-investigators.

University of Ibadan holds specialized APAS Workshops

A CARTA team from the University of Ibadan successfully organized two internal Academic, Professional, and Administrative Staff (APAS) workshops on January 24 - 25 and 26-27 respectively. The workshops are part of step-down institutional implementation activities, in line with the CARTA's mainstreaming initiative, and an offshoot of an APAS Training-of-Trainers (ToT) workshop held in Uganda in July 2022. The overall aim of the workshop (s) was to strengthen the capacity and stir the enthusiasm of university staff to implement and support quality research and doctoral training programs at the institution.

Professor Akinyinka Omigbodun and Dr. Funke Fayehun (CARTA focal persons); Dr. Ayodele John Alonge and Dr. Folusho Balogun (CARTA graduates); and Dr. Dauda Busari (a participant of a previous CARTA training workshop), jointly facilitated each of the two-day workshops. About 44 participants, representing various parts of the university workforce that contribute to research and the research training process (lecturers, librarians, administrators, bursary, grant and IT personnel) attended the workshops.

Scholars from CARTA partner institutions among new AAS fellows

Twenty-nine (29) distinguished scholars have been elected to be Fellows of the African Academy of Sciences (FAAS). The scholars were elected through a rigorous process following a call for applications for the 2021 round of AAS fellowships. The new fellows bring experience from across the globe and from a cross-section of scientific disciplines. Among the fellows are scholars from CARTA’s partner institutions namely the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

CARTA graduates Kato Charles Drago (cohort 3, Makerere University) and Adeniyi Fagbamigbe Francis (cohort 2, University of Ibadan) were elected in previous rounds and remain affiliates of AAS. 

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Funding: Applied Global Health Research

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is receiving applications to fund research that will address global health challenges and inequities. UKRI will accept proposals of all sizes, including large research projects and small to medium-scale applications. They seek to develop a portfolio of high-quality global research, which will be diverse, promote multidisciplinarity and strengthen global health research capacity. Encouraged are applications from principal investigators based in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and the UK, working in partnership with LMIC investigators. Details

Deadline: February 16, 2023

Funding:  Infectious Disease Research

Having previously funded 20 projects through the Africa NCD Open Lab, the Africa Open Lab is now calling for research proposals focussed on funding high-quality infectious disease research that has the potential to deliver significant health impact and develop future research leaders, with up to £75,000 available per award. Along with the award we offer mentoring, scientific, and technical support while you conduct your innovative research project. Details

Deadline: February 17, 2023

Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Health Measurement Sciences (HMS)

This is a two-year academic appointment at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, which provides the fellow with the opportunity to develop research independence, supervise/co-supervise postgraduate students, and produce research outputs ultimately strengthening their academic CV. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will contribute to interdisciplinary research and service programs within the broad theme of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. The Fellow will also be involved in the research initiatives of the Division of Health Measurement Sciences. Download call

Deadline: February 9, 2023

Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Health risks behavioral epidemiology and Health Systems Strengthening

This is a two-year academic appointment at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, which provides the fellow with the opportunity to develop research independence, supervise/co-supervise postgraduate students, and produce research outputs ultimately strengthening their academic CV. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will contribute to interdisciplinary research and service programs within the broad theme of Health risk behavior and health systems resilience research. The Fellow will also be involved in the research initiatives at the School of Health Systems and Public Health. Download call

Deadline: February 9, 2023

Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS)

This is a two-year academic appointment at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, which provides the fellow with the opportunity to develop towards research independence, supervise/co-supervise postgraduate students, and produce research outputs that will ultimately strengthen your academic CV. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will contribute to interdisciplinary research and service programs within the broad theme of environmental and occupational hygiene, toxicology, water, and air quality. The Fellow will also be involved in the research initiatives of the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. Download call

Deadline: February 9, 2023

Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Behaviour and Health Management Sciences (BHMS) 

This is a two-year academic appointment at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, which provides the fellow with the opportunity to develop towards research independence, supervise/co-supervise postgraduate students, and produce research outputs that will ultimately strengthen your academic CV. The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will contribute to interdisciplinary research and service programs within the broad theme of health services and systems, health policies, and health promotion. The Fellow will also be involved in the research initiatives of the Division of Behaviour and Health Management Sciences. Download call

Deadline: February 9, 2023

Postdoctoral Fellowship: ​​Global Mental Health 

The goal of this Fellowship Program is to strengthen the capacity for global mental health implementation science in South and Central Asia and/or East Africa. The Fellowship Program is a joint initiative of the Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute and the GlobalMentalHealth@Harvard Initiative. The Program supports post-doctoral research fellows in conducting implementation science research designed to translate prevention, assessment, and treatment interventions to specific settings and vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. Details

Deadline: February 15, 2023

Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

The University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies has announced Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP) to provide funding to Graduate Faculties to increase opportunities for hiring postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented groups, specifically Indigenous and Black researchers. These fellowships will enable postdoctoral researchers to grow their scholarly profiles, undertake academic work at the University of Toronto, and strengthen the research environment at the University with diverse perspectives. This funding is designed to help the University compete with peer institutions for top-tier candidates, and to support the University in meeting its institutional goal of fostering increased diversity and representation at all levels of teaching, learning and research. Details

Deadline: March 3, 2023

Arturo Falaschi Postdoctoral Fellowship

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology offers short-term fellowships of one to six months for postdoctoral fellows who hold a recent PhD in life sciences or have at least three years of research experience. This fellowship aims to facilitate access to the latest research techniques and to strengthen capacity building. Applicants must be nationals of an ICGEB Member State and may not apply for fellowships to be undertaken in their country of origin, unless they have been working abroad for, at least, the last 3 years and at the time of application. Details

Deadline: March 31, 2023

Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Medical and Health Humanities

The Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, offers a Wellcome Trust-funded postdoctoral fellowship. The aim of the fellowship is to support and nurture a cohort of early career researchers who will work on the theme of Re-imagining Reproduction: Making babies, making kin and citizens in Africa. The postdoctoral fellow will be part of a team involved in the development of a research agenda that interrogates the re-imagining of reproductive scholarship on the African continent. Download call

Deadline: None but potential applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as fellows will be nominated on a rolling basis until the fellowships are filled.

Training and mentorship: Early Career Journal Editors

The Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa) has partnered with CABI Agriculture and Bioscience to offer a new editor training and mentoring program aimed to give new editors the skills and knowledge they need for upcoming editorial board positions. Being on an editorial board is a significant accomplishment. It assists in enhancing the researcher’s reputation in their industry and may pave the way for future editorial leadership positions. The training will be conducted through live, interactive online workshops followed by a mentorship opportunity, supported by a current member of the CABI Agriculture and Bioscience Editorial Board. Details

Deadline: February 15, 2023

Call for Abstracts: 3rd International CHW Symposium

The Government of Liberia, in collaboration with partners, is pleased to announce the abstract application for the 3rd International CHW Symposium is live. The 3rd CHW Symposium aims to facilitate the global exchange of knowledge and solutions to scale and sustain Community Health Programs in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The Symposium has a blended approach that prioritizes and fosters country learning and exchange and amplifies CHW voices and CHW-led advocacy. The Symposium team welcomes abstracts related to community health workers and/or other community-based and community-led service providers. Abstracts must be aligned to Symposium themes and tracks. Details

Deadline: February 3, 2023

Call For Papers: Climate Change and Human Health

As the world’s climate negotiators convene for COP27, a key theme to be addressed is the impact of climate change on human health and evidence-based solutions and adaptation actions. To help build a strong and openly accessible evidence base for decision-making, PLOS Climate and PLOS Global Public Health are calling for submissions for a new Collection on Climate Change and Human Health. Submissions that address all aspects of the intersection between climate and health, from the changing burden of communicable and non-communicable disease to the impacts of extreme events on health systems, as well as research that assesses potential adaptations to build healthier and more resilient societies are welcome. Details 

Deadline: April 28, 2023

Call for Papers: Ageing and Health in Sub-Saharan Africa

The International Journal of Public Health (IJPH) – an independent non-profit society journal of the Swiss School of Public Health, open access, Impact Factor (2021) 5.1 – has launched a special issue/call centered around the three priority areas of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing: older persons and development, advancing health and well-being into old age and ensuring enabling and supportive environments. Original and review articles relevant to the priority areas and the key topics are invited. Details 

Deadline: August 31, 2023

Call for Papers: Science to Foster WHO Air Quality Guidelines Values

The International Journal of Public Health (IJPH) – an independent non-profit society journal of the Swiss School of Public Health, open access, Impact Factor (2021) 5.1 welcomes original research, reviews or commentaries on the health effects of air pollution that foster the translation of research to policy and action. Particularly encouraged are submissions of research from low- and middle-income countries that are most heavily affected by air pollution, and typically understudied. Investigations in marginalized communities in high-income countries for evidence-based clean air policy and action will be of major interest too. Details 

Deadline: November 2023

2023 Letten Prize  

The  Letten prize recognizes the contributions made by young researchers in the fields of health, development, environment, and equality in all aspects of human life. The prize awards USD 235,000 and aims to raise public awareness on how research can be used to solve global human development challenges. Researchers within all disciplines and of all nationalities are encouraged apply for the prize. Details

Deadline: February 6, 2023

2023 Virchow Prize for Global Health  

The Virchow Prize for Global Health honors significant contributions towards strengthening global health through lifetime achievements and long-standing engagement. Eligible applicants are individuals, institutions, or organizations who have made significant contributions towards strengthening global health, whether through long-standing academic, political, humanitarian, social, research and development or economic engagement. Details

Deadline: 31 March 2023

The CARTA Evidence Website

An interactive platform, the CARTA Evidence Website aims to demonstrate the impact of the CARTA network by timeously tracking, collating, analysing, displaying, and enabling the uptake of empirical and theoretical evidence produced. The platform will create a collaborative environment for African scientists and evidence users working in communities of practice and across boundaries and disciplines. Building on available information technology, the end goal is increased access to data and speed of discovery and scientific advancement. CARTA Evidence will offer a comprehensive list of research evidence and publicly funded published data to promote accurate monitoring of population health and inform the precision of healthcare policy, and innovations, and the betterment of population health. Explore platform

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