RSTMH and CIFF announce three-year partnership

We are excited to announce today a three-year partnership with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) which will strengthen the skills, networks and careers of at least 75 early career researchers working in the area of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) across Africa. 

The partnership involves funding at least 75 grants as part of the RSTMH Early Career Grants Programme, along with funding membership of RSTMH for those awardees. The projects will be from applicants across Africa and on the topics of schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, trachoma, guinea worm and visceral leishmaniasis, in alignment with CIFF’s NTD mission.

The partnership also includes providing additional opportunities to grow the skills, experiences and networks of those awardees through online and in-person support and meetings. 

Kebede Kassaye, CIFF’s NTD Director for Africa, said: “Ending neglected tropical diseases is one of our core missions at CIFF, as we look to create a healthy, fair and safe world for children. We won’t end NTDs without innovations in research – and for that, we need researchers. We’re excited to see how this support for early career researchers may, in the long-term, lead to breakthroughs which transform the lives of those at risk from NTDs.” 

Tamar Ghosh, RSTMH Chief Executive, said: “We so delighted to be announcing this partnership, which will mean we can support even more people at the start of their research career to deliver their first projects. We hope this will be a real help to the awardees in terms of their skills and networks, but also their confidence and careers. As we work towards the targets of the NTDs roadmap, we hope that encouraging more researchers into these topics will be a help.”