RSTMH Early Career Grants programme: Advice from previous awardees

• Engage early on with your local partners and collaborators; they are the “Experts” in the field.  Please don’t wait to have a complete proposal before talking with them.  
• Be realistic on the scope of your project, based on the funding and availability, and also check the timeline to get an Ethics approval (if needed) 
• What is the value of your project? What is the intended outcome? Review what has already been done in your topic of interest. Your project should provide new knowledge that hopefully will lead to something else (for example, change of public heath policy or implementation,  new research questions, etc) 

RSTMH NIHR Early Career Grant Awardee 2021, Clinical characteristics and outcomes of HIV patients coinfected with tuberculosis and histoplasmosis in an urban Latin American setting 

My advice is two-fold, focusing on program priorities and an innovative approach: 

• Deep Dive into Prioritized Areas: 

Before crafting their proposal, thoroughly research the program's current priorities and areas of emphasis. Align their research question and methodology directly with these priorities to demonstrate a strong understanding and relevance. Don't simply choose a "safe" topic; embrace areas where their innovative approach can truly contribute fresh perspectives and potential breakthroughs 

• Innovate Within the Focus: 

While aligning with priorities is crucial, don't be afraid to be bold and innovative in your approach. Showcase an original research question, propose unconventional methodologies, or suggest exciting applications of your findings. Remember, groundbreaking discoveries often emerge from venturing beyond the well-trodden path. 

By combining a targeted focus on program priorities with a distinctive and innovative approach, early career researchers can create stand-out proposals that demonstrate both relevance and potential for significant impact. 

RSTMH NIHR Early Career Grant Awardee 2021, The role of gender and other social determinants in access to preventive chemotherapy for Trachoma in Arba Minch District, Ethiopia 

You can get this grant, it is doable. Just make sure your research question is a solution to a Global health challenge. Identify your supervisor in good time, engage him/her right from the day you decide to put in the grant application.

RSTMH NIHR Early Career Grant Awardee 2022, Assessing post-COVID-19 conditions in Malawi’s adult population 

These are small grants early in their careers, do not be "too ambitious". They can identify a small gap in knowledge and work towards answering some questions. The grant should be looked upon as a seed grant, after which more indepth studies can be done from funding from bigger grants. 

I strongly advise that applicants link up with an awardee, who will be able to answer their questions and also guide them.  

RSTMH NIHR Early Career Grant Awardee 2021, Female Genital Schistosomiasis: Association with cervical cancer in Nigeria 

• Write clear proposals with concrete and feasible ideas. 
• Ensure that the proposed idea aligns with the academic background of the applicant. 
• Maintain consistency throughout all parts of the project, from the title to the budget; every section is important. 
• Put yourself in the assessors’ shoes and consider that they may assess multiple applications. 

If the proposal is not successful in the first presentation, it is essential to maintain a perseverant attitude, learn from the experience, and work on improving it to try again. 

RSTMH Wellcome Early Career Grant Awardee 2022, New adjuvant formulation for antivenom production. Adjuvant activity of CpG-ODN formulated as a liquid crystal of ascorbyl palmitate 

You really want to communicate what added value your project has. Another way to think about this is to ask yourself what would be lost if your project did not get funded. Are there any resources you already have that would go unused, progress lost, questions unanswered, people that depend on this etc. Why is this such a great opportunity that cannot be missed?  - and why are you so well positioned to make this happen.  

RSTMH Early Career Grant Awardee 2021, The impact of flooding on the spatial epidemiology of malaria: the case of Cyclone Idai in southern Malawi 

I would like that you, as an applicant, take note that the grant supports original ideas that are clear and feasible. Your ideas do not need to be all perfect because RSTMH and other partners know that you are in your early career as a researcher. However, keep the ideas brief and clear, the word is succinct! Make sure your research/project questions are Specific, Measurable, Realistic, Achievable and Time-bound (SMART). Send your proposals to other colleagues to get reviews and inputs, use your network! Reach out to former awardees to get a guide! Also, use the FAQs section on the RSTMH website, there are sample project proposals to guide you as an applicant. Best wishes from me! 

RSTMH NIHR Early Career Grant Awardee 2022, Mental Health Impacts and Lived Experiences of Buruli Ulcer on Adult Patients and Convalescents in Nigeria 

I always tell people who ask me for tips that one should always have a supportive supervisor/s and or mentors; they play a very crucial role throughout the journey.  

RSTMH NIHR Early Career Grant Awardee 2021, Assessing the determinants of and strategies for postpartum HIV-retesting among women who tested HIV negative antenatally in Thyolo district, Malawi  

• Please start drafting the application early, as there several components to it that need time to develop, especially linking in with your mentors.  
• As this is a small grant, please think carefully how/if this can be embedded into a larger project for sustainability and continuity. 
• This was not my first grant application. I had many failed attempts and used the feedback that I received to get this one right. 

RSTMH NIHR Early Career Grant Awardee 2020, Developing a novel approach to improving postnatal breastfeeding support for mothers of low birth weight infants in rural Kenyan hospitals