TPOs to host Fellows from the Clinical Research Leadership Fellowship Programme 2025

The programme aims to expand its TPO network in the WHO African Region by selecting recognized universities or clinical research institutions, with an expertise in conducting clinical trials and relevant trainings, to enhance regional clinical research capacity and leadership. The selected TPOs will host fellows from 2026 to 2028. The best performing TPOs will be chosen for a regional coordination role, which includes placing fellows at their site as well as at other sites in the region.

The Clinical Research Leadership (CRL) fellowship programme strengthens the capacity of individuals, institutions, and societies in low-and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) to conduct impactful research addressing the following global health challenges:

• Epidemics and outbreaks
• Control and elimination of diseases of poverty
• Climate change’s impact on health
• Resistance to treatment and control agents

Scopes

• Selected TPOs will host fellows from LMICs in Africa for 6–12 months, offering:
  • Training in clinical research methodologies (different areas such as clinical operation, clinical development, quality management, pharmacovigilance and/or data management);
  • Leadership development opportunities in grant writing, publications, stakeholder engagement;
  • Technical and mentoring support for fellows to create and execute re-integration plans on training or clinical research project when returning to their home institutions at the end of the placement.

Focus Areas

• Launched in 2023, the CRL fellowship programme is built on four key pillars:
  • Advanced clinical research skills through placements at TPOs
  • Development of strong leadership skills in clinical research
  • Promotion of gender equity and inclusion
  • Institutional capacity strengthening through fellows’ re-integration into home institutions

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible institutions must:
  • Be recognized universities or clinical research institutes in low- and lower middle-income countries within the WHO African Region;
  • Have proven expertise in conducting clinical trials, training, and mentorship in infectious diseases of poverty;
  • Possess adequate infrastructure, resources, personnel and ongoing clinical trials to support fellows, including access to relevant populations and regional research networks;
  • Demonstrate strong partnerships with stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies, regulatory authorities, PDPs, academia and communities;
  • Align with TDR objectives, including but not restricted to clinical research on emergency preparedness, antimicrobial resistance and neglected tropical disease control and elimination;
  • Show sustainability plans and proficiency in regional working languages.

Selection Criteria

• Applications will be evaluated based on relevance, institutional capacity on conducting clinical trials and the relevant trainings and alignment with TDR objectives. Shortlisted institutions will undergo site assessments. Top-performing TPOs may be selected for regional coordination roles in 2028.

Application Requirements

• Applications must include:
  • Institutional track record in clinical trials and capacity-strengthening activities such as mentoring and supervising clinical research teams;
  • Organizational profile highlighting regional partnerships;
  • Evidence of financial accountability and experience managing grants;
  • Detailed training plans for the investigators team to improve the competencies in clinical research as listed in TDR Global Competency for Clinical Research;
  • Clinical trial pipeline for upcoming years (2025–2028);
  • Sustainability strategies for long-term impact to be part of the fellowship.

For more information, visit WHO.