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News & Updates
July 5, Issue 53
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Happy new month! Welcome to another edition of the CARTA monthly updates. Read on to keep abreast with what is new. | |
Strengthening Institutional Responsiveness to Graduate Training and Research in Africa | |
As we work towards the sustainability and upscaling of CARTA gains, we have kicked off Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshops that aim to strengthen the capacity of partner institutions to adopt and independently carry out different CARTA interventions.
The first of the CARTA ToT workshops to be held was for Academic, Professional and Administrative Staff (APAS), which took place at the School of Public Health at Makerere University, Uganda from June 6 to 10, 2022.
Read more
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Joint Advanced Seminar 4 (JAS 4) for Cohort 9 | |
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Cohort 9 fellows are currently attending JAS 4 virtual sessions. The sessions commenced on June 20, 2022 and will run for 6 weeks. This will then be followed by two weeks of face-to-face engagement at Makerere University, Uganda. The seminar ends on Friday July 29, 2022 and will be marked with a colorful CARTA graduation ceremony.
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Bolutife Promoted to Professor of Ophthalmology | |
Bolutife Olusanya (Cohort Four Graduate, University of Ibadan) was promoted to Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Ibadan. | |
Godwin Presents and Facilitates at Various Forums | |
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Godwin Upoki Anywar (Cohort Six Graduate, Makerere University) won a travel grant to present a special lecture and a paper at the 31st International Congress of the International Society of Ethnopharmacology on May 28-31, 2022 at the China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. He presented a paper on the anti-viral activity of Ugandan medicinal plants against HIV-1 and a short lecture on "the potential of African medicinal plants as potential vaccine candidates". Anywar also presented three papers at the International Research and Innovations Dissemination Conference on May 9-10, 2022 to commemorate the two-decades of Uganda-Sweden Research Cooperation at the commonwealth resort Munyonyo-Uganda.
On May 23, 2022, he facilitated on writing of manuscripts and publication of research at the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) on Capacity Building for Research Management at the College of Education and External Studies, Library and Intellectual Property management unit of Makerere University. He participated at the recently concluded 5th Annual National Biosafety Forum, from June 21-23, 2022 at Serena Hotel under the theme “25 Years of Biosafety Regulatory Stewardship in Uganda – Towards Science Technology and Innovation Led Sustainable Industrialization under the auspices of the Uganda National Council for Science & Technology (UNCST).
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Kristy Van serves at the Scientific Committee in London | | |
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Kristy Van Stormbroek (Cohort Nine Fellow, University of the Witwatersrand) served on the Scientific Committee of the Triennial International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), and Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH) Congress held in London from June 6-10, 2022. | | |
Catherine Receives Research Grant from ICHAD | |
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Catherine Musyoka (Cohort Seven Fellow, University of Nairobi) received a research grant from ICHAD under their ACHIEVE Global Training Program on May 12, 2022. She will be mentored in research by researchers from the University of Nairobi and Boston University in the USA.
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Emmanuel Awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship | | |
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Emmanuel Kaindoa (Cohort Five Graduate, Ifakara Health Institute) was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship on May 31, 2022. He will conduct his postdoctoral studies at Wits Institute for Malaria, South Africa. | | |
Congratulations Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, APHRC | |
We congratulate Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director at APHRC and CARTA Co-Director, who was listed among 25 leaders shaping health policy and practice in Africa by Harvard Public Health.
The 25 individuals are some of the notables making a new path for the field. They represent an increasingly deep bench of leaders shaping policy and practice on the continent.
Read on the revolutionary leaders: https://bit.ly/3xUEcwO
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APHRC achieves Platinum Tier certification of the Good Financial Grant Practice | |
APHRC has been certified as working in compliance with the requirements of the Platinum Tier of the Good Financial Grant Practice (GFGP). The GFGP standard is the world’s first international standard in grant management, developed by the African Academy of Sciences’ Global Grant Community.
In addition to undergoing the certification process, APHRC has been supporting partner institutions to get certified. CARTA is one of the three projects in which APHRC has used GFGP standardization as a capacity development tool.
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Cytotoxicity of Medicinal Plant Species Used by Traditional Healers in Treating People Suffering From HIV/AIDS in Uganda | |
Traditional medicines are very popular and are widely used among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). AIDS is the world’s commonest immunosuppressive disease. It is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. There are more than 37.6 million PLHIV worldwide, with 61% of total in Sub Saharan Africa. The HIV prevalence among adults in Uganda was 5.4%, though higher in females (6.8%). Godwin Anywar (CARTA Cohort Six Fellow, Makerere University) conducted this study to determine the toxicity of ethanol and DMSO extracts of selected medicinal plants in a cell culture model.
Read more
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Intensity of insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector Anopheles funestus from Chikwawa, rural Southern Malawi | |
Good progress had been made in reducing the burden of malaria in the African region over the past two decades, despite stalls in progress and an increase in cases between 2020 and 2021 associated with disruptions in the implementation of control programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the African region, it was estimated that Plasmodium falciparum prevalence declined by 50% while incidence decreased by 42% between 2000 and 2019. Justin Kumala (Cohort Six Fellow, University of Malawi) conducted this study to characterise the intensity of insecticide resistance within a population of Anopheles funestus sensu lato (s.l.), a major vector of malaria in this district.
Read more
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Lifejacket wear and the associated factors among boaters involved in occupational boating activities on Lake Albert, Uganda: a cross-sectional survey | |
Drowning accounts for 7% of the global burden of injury deaths, and people with frequent exposure to water such as boating have an increased risk. Over the last decade, the estimated number of unintentional drowning deaths has slowly decreased from 372000 in 20122 to 236000 in 2020. Low and middle-income countries (LMICs) suffer the world’s highest drowning death rates and continue to bear over 90% of the burden. Frederick Oporia (Cohort Ten Fellow, Makerere University) estimated the prevalence of lifejacket wear and the associated factors among the boaters involved in occupational boating activities on one of the major lakes in Uganda.
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“My Friends Would Believe My Word”: Appropriateness and Acceptability of Respondent-Driven Sampling in Recruiting Young Tertiary Student Men Who Have Sex with Men for HIV/STI Research in Nairobi, Kenya | |
Good progress had been made in reducing the burden of malaria in the African region over the past two decades, despite stalls in progress and an increase in cases between 2020 and 2021 associated with disruptions in the implementation of control programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the African region, it was estimated that Plasmodium falciparum prevalence declined by 50% while incidence decreased by 42% between 2000 and 2019. Justin Kumala (Cohort Six Fellow, University of Malawi) conducted this study to characterise the intensity of insecticide resistance within a population of Anopheles funestus sensu lato (s.l.), a major vector of malaria in this district.
Read more
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Traditional and Modern Health Uses of Cannabis sativa L. in Africa and Its Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile
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Cannabis has been used for recreation and in traditional medicine in Africa for centuries since its introduction by Arab traders from India. Though Cannabis contains a variety of phytochemicals, its psychotropic activity is attributed mainly to the psychoactive compound Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC). Additionally, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) are two main non-psychoactive cannabinoids present in cannabis/marijuana. Godwin Upoki (CARTA Cohort Six Fellow, Makerere University) focused on traditional ethnomedicinal uses in humans, ethnoveterinary uses, medical marijuana, and risks associated with cannabis use in Africa
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BMJ Global Health Grant
BMJ has always strived to support early career researchers in low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). Established in 2019, the BMJ Global Health Grant recognises early career researchers from LMICs working in the field of global health and is awarded to the applicant whose abstract describes the most original methodological contribution to the field of global health and whose summary demonstrates the greatest importance and potential impact in advancing the field.
This year the successful applicant will receive funding of up to GBP 5,000 to support attendance at the 7th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR 2022) in Bogota, Colombia (31 October-4 November 2022), and the opportunity to publish a full paper in BMJ Global Health at no cost (article processing charge waived).
Application deadline: September 1, 2022
More details
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Applied Global Health Research Grant
The finding opportunity seeks to address global health challenges and inequities by developing a portfolio of high-quality global research which will be diverse, promote multidisciplinarity and strengthen global health research capacity. Applications from principal investigators based in the Global South and UK, working in partnership with Global South investigators are encouraged.
Application deadline: July 28, 2022
More details
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Biological Vulnerability to Extreme Heat in Maternal and Child Health Research Grant
Wellcome is a politically and financially independent global charitable foundation, funded by a £38.2 billion investment portfolio. Their strategy includes grant funding, advocacy campaigns and partnerships to find solutions for today’s urgent health challenges.
This award will fund research teams to significantly advance understanding of the biological vulnerability to extreme heat in the context of maternal and child health. By the end of the award, successful applicants will have delivered new knowledge at this intersection and generated evidence with the potential to inform new interventions that can be used in real world settings.
Application deadline: August 8, 2022
More details
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Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa): Research Education Program (UE5 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The NIH Research Education Program (UE5) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this UE5 program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs of the Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa) program.
The goal of DS-I Africa is to spur new health discoveries and catalyze innovation in healthcare, public health, and health research on the continent through application of data science. Applications are encouraged that propose innovative, state-of-the-art, hands-on programs that advance the goal of DS-I Africa. The courses should focus on activities that target educational needs or gaps in the DS-I Africa consortium, and thus applicants must have support from current DS-I Africa awardees. Applications must be submitted from African academic or other non-profit organizations.
Letter of Intent Due Date: August 29, 2022
More details
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Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa): Partnership for Innovation Research Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
DS-I Africa Partnership for Innovation Research Projects are meant to support discrete research projects led by investigators in Africa to expand the DS-I Africa consortium. Applicants will propose innovative health data science research and solutions in Africa with the ability to advance population-relevant, affordable, acceptable, and scalable data science solutions and, in the long-term, demonstrate the ability of these solutions to improve health in Africa. Applications should propose partnership with a non-academic partner that enhances the potential impact of the research. Since one goal of this FOA is to expand the DS-I Africa consortium, either the applicant organization or proposed partner should not be a current member of the consortium. Additionally, these projects are aimed to enhance the career pipeline and retention of health data scientists in Africa by supporting a minimum number of new and early-stage investigators.
Applications must be submitted from African academic or other non-profit organizations. Proposed partnerships with organizations outside the applicant institution can include all types of organizations in Africa, the U.S., or other countries.
Letter of Intent Due Date: August 29, 2022
More details
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International Maternal Newborn Health Conference 2023 Abstract Submissions and Country Delegation Applications
In 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa, more than 1,000 stakeholders from around the world will come together to accelerate solutions to improve maternal and newborn survival and prevent stillbirths in a coordinated and inclusive manner.
IMNHC 2023 will include oral and poster presentations on a wide range of topics related to emerging science, effective implementation strategies, and proven best practices for national leaders, policymakers, technical leaders, and program managers in MNH. Abstracts and pre-formed panels may be submitted until September 1, 2022.
Up to 25 official country delegations are invited to attend the IMNHC 2023. Country delegates will have the opportunity to participate in dedicated country delegation meetings and exchange knowledge with one another, as well as have opportunities for exclusive networking and to exhibit country work in the official program. Applications may be submitted until September 15, 2022. and acceptance notifications will be sent October 18, 2022.
More details
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African Advanced Vaccinology Course 2023
The African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise (ALIVE) Consortium under the guidance of Professor Shabir Madhi and Professor Helen Rees, invite you to apply to attend the African Advanced Vaccinology Course (Afro-ADVAC) 2023. This is a 10-day long course in advanced vaccinology, aimed at decision-makers in the field of vaccinology. This biennial course is hosted near Johannesburg. The course is conducted in English. No translation facilities are available.
Application deadline: July 15, 2022
More details
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Approaches to Promote Greater Equity in Global Health Research
National Institutes of Health (NIH) is requesting information on approaches to promote greater equity in global health research, particularly research that engages scientists in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This request for information (RFI) is intended to improve NIH’s understanding of potential research funding, priority setting, and administrative practices and strategies that could encourage or facilitate equitable global health research.
There is a month left to respond and NIH is actively seeking input from all interested stakeholders around the world and across all regions and socioeconomic designations, especially those from LMICs. This includes members of the scientific community, trainees, academic institutions, the private sector, health professionals, professional societies, advocacy groups, as well as other interested members of the public.
Application deadline: August 1, 2022
More details
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Survey: STEM postgraduate training and careers in East Africa
A team of researchers is conducting a study titled ‘Examining Participation and Quality of Experiences of Women in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM): Postgraduate Training Programs and Careers in East Africa.’ The study is led by Dr. Evelyn Gitau of the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in collaboration with the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA).
The team seeks to gather experiences, perception, and opinion on involvement of women and men in postgraduate studies especially on STEM programs and careers in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi). They also seek to know how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected work and career progression.
Take survey
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Disclaimer: The opportunities we share are mostly from external funders. Linking to an external site does not constitute an endorsement by CARTA.
For more opportunities, visit our website.
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The Mediating Role of Text Reading Fluency in Reading Comprehension in English and Kiswahili: Evidence from Multilingual Contexts in Kenya
Read it here
25 Names to Know in Public ealth
Read it here
Why Women Use Baby Formula Instead of Breastmilk
Read it here
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Nature Masterclasses online training made free to access for researchers in lower income countries
Springer Nature is committed to contributing positively to the research, education and professional communities that we work with, partnering with others and making direct contributions to align with our aims. Through Research4Life, Springer Nature has made Nature Masterclasses on-demand online training content free to access for researchers in lower income countries. Research4Life offers no-cost or low-fee access to research published in any of our journals in low and middle income countries. The initiative invests in education and scientific research in places where it’s needed, but where people may not be able to afford it. Springer Nature are both founders of Research4Life, and inaugural donors to the Friends of Research4Life programme too.
More information
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E-book: Call for a Resilient Public Health
With the pandemic slowing down and the restrictions either being relaxed or removed, we can finally see return of some level of normalcy. This is the perfect time to assess and prepare for any future resurgence of the virus or any other public health emergencies. This book helps learn how to build resiliency in public health and help prevent repeated closures within our societies.
Download
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WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU | |
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Share with us news and updates such as upcoming events, meetings, story ideas, new collaborations, new trials/updates, upcoming and published papers, policy briefs, community engagement activities, scholarships, what you are reading, if you won a grant, attending or about an upcoming conference, a call for applications/funding/papers, etc.
Share these before July 20, 2022, to be included in the next CARTA news & updates, by sending an email to cartaenquiries@aphrc.org.
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