The neglected tropical diseases are a group of 14 infectious diseases which affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, mainly in Africa and mostly living in extreme poverty. Beyond their negative impact on health, NTDs contribute to an ongoing cycle of poverty and stigma that leaves tens of millions unable to work, go to school or participate in family and community life. Yet, whilst “the big three” infections AIDS, TB and malaria have caught the world's attention, these other disabling and sometimes fatal infectious diseases in Africa receive relatively little attention from donors, policymakers, and public health officials.
Therefore, a new initiative, funded by a consortium of European Foundations, supports the development of African research capacity on these diseases – within both the biomedical and public health fields. The initiative supports a fellowship programme for young African researchers in African research institutions to undertake biomedical or related public health research projects that address an urgent and important translational research question on NTDs in the African context.
The programme offers Junior Fellowships to newly qualified postdoctoral researchers; experienced researchers can apply for an Extended Fellowship. Depending on the success of this initiative, further support may be possible to lead Fellows from junior postdoctoral researcher to research group leader positions in a step-by-step process.
The Fellow will be based in an African institution. The Fellowships draw on collaboration between African and European research institutions and the Fellow will determine with which European institution he/she
proposes to collaborate and on what research issues and topics. The funding provides for additional career development support to the Fellows beyond salary, travel and research costs through career skills training and mentorship.
Note: Currently there is no open call available.
Neglected Communicable (Tropical) Diseases are one of the key areas of concern for our society, as it was clearly formulated by WHO in 2006 (“Neglected Tropical Diseases – Hidden successes, Emerging opportunities”). Neglected tropical diseases affect an estimated one billion people, primarily poor populations living in tropical and subtropical climates. Children are most vulnerable to infections of most neglected tropical diseases. 100 % of low-income countries are affected by at least five neglected tropical diseases simultaneously, and more than 70 % of countries and territories that report the presence of neglected tropical disease are low-income and lower middle-income economies.
WHO is currently focusing on 14 neglected tropical diseases:
Buruli ulcer – Leishmaniasis – Chagas disease – Leprosy – Cholera/Epidemic diarrhoeal diseases – Lymphatic filariasis – Dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever – Onchocerciasis – Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) – Schistosomiasis – Endemic Treponematoses (yaws, pinta, endemic syphilis…) – Soil-transmitted helminthiasis – Trachoma – Human African trypanosomiasis
