Faculty of Health Sciences

Dear UCT Researchers,

The NRF has announced the opening of NRF One call for proposal applications. Please see the attached MS Word list for the NRF calls that are currently open, the internal deadlines and contact person per funding programme.

Please take note of the following:

1. It is of utmost importance that applicants consult the Funding Framework for more detailed information about the funding instrument about the:

• Purpose / theme(s) of the call
• Eligibility criteria (contract staff must be employed at UCT for the duration of the funding period or provide a letter from the HoD)
• Which budget items are funded/not.
• Whether provision has been made for postdoctoral support.
• Application review scorecard.

2. The NRF PG student funding policy was revised w.e.f. 2021 and grant holder linked PG bursaries have been phased out. Students must apply directly to the NRF with your application reference number. The call usually opens in April – please check for the announcement from the PGFO.
3. All applications must be submitted via the new NRF Connect system. Guides on how to register & sync your CV from the old system are available online here. See the attached PDF for how to import outputs from Scopus / ORCID.
4. Applications submitted by the UCT internal deadline will receive review feedback. Proposals received after the UCT internal deadline will only receive technical review.

Attachments:

1. Exporting Output records from NRF submission

2. List of open calls, internal deadlines and contact persons

It is recommended that researchers check the current funding page regularly for up to date information about open funding calls- https://www.uct.ac.za/research-support-hub/funding-contracts/current-funding-opportunities.

The Research Development team invites FHS researchers to register for targeted funding announcements.

Please click here to subscribe to the mailing list.  

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks applications for the Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed; PAR-21-252 and K43 Independent Clinical Trial Required; PAR-21-251).  

The purpose of the Fogarty Emerging Global Leader Award is to provide research support and protected time (three to five years) to an early- to mid-career research scientist from a low- or middle-income country (LMIC) who holds a junior faculty position at an LMIC academic or research institution, as defined by the World Bank (including “low-income,” “lower-middle-income,” and “upper-middle-income” countries). This intensive, mentored research career development experience is expected to lead to an independently funded research career at the LMIC institution or in another LMIC. This FOA invites applications from LMIC scientists from any health-related discipline to propose career development activities and a research project that is relevant to the health priorities of their country under the mentorship of a LMIC and a U.S. mentor. 

The Faculty of Health Sciences Research Development team will be hosting an information session on Thursday, 18 May. Please click here to register for the webinar. 

Award details:  

• Grants are available for a minimum of 3 years and may not exceed 5 years.  
• NIH will contribute up to $75,000 per year toward the salary of the career award recipient.  
• NIH will contribute up to $30,000 per year toward the research development costs of the award recipient. 
  • These funds may be used for the following expenses: (a) tuition and fees related to career development; (b) research-related expenses, such as supplies, equipment and technical personnel; (c) travel to research sites, research meetings or training; and (d) statistical services including personnel and computer time. 

Eligibility: 

• Any candidate with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her primary mentors (one U.S.-based and one LMIC-based)  and organisation to develop an application for support. The candidate should be the PD/PI of the proposed activities.  
• An applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of an eligible LMIC.  
• Must hold a junior faculty position or research scientist appointment.  
• MA required; PhD preferred 

Deadlines:  

• PI to initiate an eRA proposal approval request and contact the Departmental Finance Officer no later than  
  • General : 22 September 2023 
  • AIDS: 30 October 2023 
• PI to submit an eRA proposal approval request to the Finance Approver step on eRA no later than 
  • General: 24 October 2023 
  • AIDS: 29 November 2023 
• PI to submit the application on ASSIST no later than 
  • General: 31 October 2023 
  • AIDS: 6 December 2023 
• RC&I to action final submission on ASSIST no later than 
  • General: 3 November 2023 
  • AIDS: 11 December 2023 

For more information, click here. 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeks applications for The Global Infectious Disease (GID) research training program (D43 Clinical Trial Optional; PAR-21-120). 

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support joint applications for the Global Infectious Disease (GID) Research Training programs from U.S. and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) institutions. The application should propose a collaborative training program that will strengthen the capacity of a LMIC institution to conduct infectious disease research not including HIV/AIDS. Fogarty International Center will support research-training programs that focus on major endemic or life-threatening emerging infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, infections that frequently occur as co-infections in HIV infected individuals or infections associated with non-communicable disease conditions of public health importance in LMICs.  Training related to prevention, treatment, or public health approaches to any technical area of basic, epidemiology, clinical, behavioral, or social science health research may be supported. Research Training programs should incorporate didactic, mentored research and professional development skills components to prepare individuals for careers that will have significant impact on the priority health research needs of LMICs. 

Award details: 

Application budgets are limited to $230,000 per year for new awards and the maximum project period allowed is 5 years. 

Deadlines: 

• PI to initiate an eRA proposal approval request and contact the Departmental Finance Officer no later than:              22 June 2023  
• PI to submit an eRA proposal approval request to the Finance Approver step on eRA no later than:                            24 July 2023 
• PI to submit the application on ASSIST no later than:                                                                                                    31 July 2023 
• RC&I to action final submission on ASSIST no later than:                                                                                              3 August 2023 

For more information, click here. 

Call for Applications: Postgraduate Research Training Grant Health Sciences Faculty Research Committee (FRC)

Revised submission deadline: 12 June 2023

(If you have already apply, you don't need to re-apply)

The Faculty Research Committee (FRC) has committed a budget to strategic research support awards to assist postgraduate research related projects. The intention of this award is to assist Principal Investigators to support a postgraduate related research project(s) with the vision to help fulfil the successful completion of both the project(s) and the postgraduate degree(s).
Award information: Award type: Research Training Grant to assist completion of a postgraduate student research related project(s).

Value and allowable costs:

• A maximum award of R30 000 per application towards research costs.
• Research costs requested may include research consumables, other research related expenses and a contribution to the postgraduate student’s stipend.

Eligibility:
Application for the funding must be made by the Principal Investigator (academic or research staff member in the Faculty of Health Sciences) who is the supervisor of the postgraduate student(s) (including any postgraduate degree involving a research component – Honours, MSc, PhD, MMed, etc) conducting the relevant research project(s). Principal Investigators can apply for funds to support multiple students’ projects in one application but are limited to one application per Principal Investigator.

Applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the FRC.

Criteria for selection:

• Awards will be made on a competitive basis.
• The main criterion is financial need such that the award will allow promising students to successfully accomplish their research projects towards their degree.
• The applicant must provide a strong motivation as to why additional research related funding (additional expenses not anticipated at the start of the project) is needed to successfully complete the project(s).
• The applicant must provide a clear breakdown of the proposed expenditure of the grant in the budget section of the application.
• In the case of requests for a stipend contribution for the postgraduate student, a clear justification as to why the student has been unable to obtain sufficient funding for 2023 must be provided.
• Students must be registered in the Faculty of Health Sciences or for a degree that has a Health Sciences Faculty Departmental Course code.

How payment is made:
Payment will be made into the Principal Investigator’s fund.

Report:
A brief report of the activities supported by the award and a financial report needs to be submitted to the Faculty Research Committee by 31 May 2024.

How to apply:
Applications should be submitted on the Application Form. Send complete applications signed by both the Principal Investigator (Supervisor) and the Head of Department to precious.nobongoza@uct.ac.za
Please note that supervisors (not postgraduate students) must liaise directly with the Faculty Research Office (Tel: 021 650 7904 precious.nobongoza@uct.ac.za) if there are any queries on this award.