Sub-Saharan African Network For TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE) invites applications from junior researchers under the Path-to-Independence Award 2023.
Closing date: 31 March 2023
SANTHE is a Sub-Saharan African network of African-led research in HIV (particularly acute HIV (AHI)) and Tuberculosis (TB) infection.
It is a multinational network of multidisciplinary experts, working together to empower African scientists, and to combat HIV, Tuberculosis and HIV/TB co-infection through pioneering basic, clinical and translational research.
The Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE) provides Path-to-Independence (PtI) awards designed to help promising junior researchers in the network develop their respective careers as principal investigators.
We are now accepting applications for African Collaboration for Innovation in HIV/TB Prevention (ACP-HIV/TB) $100,000 PtI awards.
All proposed projects must address critical challenges in HIV and/or TB prevention (including SARS-CoV-2) and fall under the following work packages:
a) Surveillance of circulating HIV viruses to inform prevention, treatment or eradication strategies
- Analysis of acute infection (T/F) or reservoir viruses from different regions to identify bnAbs of potential clinical utility for passive immunisation, vaccine induction or immunotherapeutic applications
- Surveillance for ARV resistance likely to inform prevention and treatment interventions
- Immune responses in acute or early infection and in the context of ART interventions
- HIV sequence diversity/fitness/immune evasion among subtypes
b) Mechanisms underlying heterogeneity of immune responses following vaccination or infection in African populations (with relevance to HIV, TB or SARS-CoV-2)
- Understanding B and T cell repertoires for immunogen design and germline targeting immunogens
- HLA class I variation and its impact on immunological, vaccination and disease outcomes
- Genetic and environmental (e.g., comorbidities) basis for inflammation, immune activation, infection and vaccination outcomes (including for SARS-CoV-2)
c) TB immunology
- Immunology of subclinical TB/immunopathogenesis of LTBI
- MTB sequence diversity/fitness/immune evasion strategies
Furthermore:
1. Only researchers working in the fields of HIV and tuberculosis (and associated morbidities) or SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging pathogens need apply.
2. Preference will be given to individuals who have been given an academic or research appointment at an established African institution of higher learning or research institute (senior post-doctoral fellows will only be considered if they have institutional support which guarantees academic or research appointment).
3. Applicants must be African nationals based at any SANTHE affiliated sites including the main SANTHE partner institutes:
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)/ University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
- Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP)
- Centre de Recherche sur les Maladies Emergentes et Re-emergentes (CREMER)
- Collaborative Clinical Research Centre (CCRC)
- KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP)
- Rwanda Zambia Health Research Group (RZHRG)
- Uganda-Case Research Collaboration (UCRC)
and all associated partners including:
- Makerere University
- University of Botswana
- University of Zambia
- University of Rwanda
- University of Zimbabwe
- Centre International de Référence – Chantal Biya – pour la recherche sur la prévention et la prise en charge du VIH/SIDA (CIRCB)
- Centre Pasteur du Cameroun (CPC)
- University of Yaounde 1
- Pwani University
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA)
- Kwazulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP)
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP)
4. Applicants should have some post-doctoral experience and must be within 10 years of being awarded a PhD degree at the time of application.
5. All activities must be completed within one year of receipt of project funding.
6. Allowable project expenses up to a total of $100,000 USD may include salaries or stipends, travel for research or conference attendance, research materials and supplies, laboratory and office equipment, computer hardware, and software. Note that all equipment must remain at the African site at the close of the project.
7. No indirect costs allowed.
8. Progress reports are required at month 6 and year 1 (project completion).
9. Priority will be given to projects that are likely to be competitive for external funding.
For assistance with preparing your proposal, reach out to the SANTHE Scientific Proposal Committe through the SANTHE Head of Programmes at least a month before the application deadline.
PtI awards will be administered as sub-contracts by the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), Durban, South Africa, and will be payable in ZAR or USD.
All applications will be reviewed by the SANTHE Scientific Expert Review Committee and awarded at the discretion of the SANTHE Consortium Steering Committee.
Successful projects will be required to provide written confirmation of appropriate ethics and biosafety approvals (as needed) prior to the transfer of sub-contract funds.Â
PREPARATION
In order to complete this application the following supplemental documents are required:
- Three letters of support (one from the Head of Department of where you are based, one from your current supervisor, and one from your mentor over the proposed Path-to-Independence Award period).
- Proof of your current academic appointment e.g. letter of confirmation from head of department.
- Budget (a Path-to-Independence Budget Template is available for download here).
- Your and your mentor’s CVs (not to exceed 4 pages each).
For any further information or assistance with this application please contact the SANTHE Head of Programmes.
Closing date: 31 March 2023
