Research teams are invited to submit letters of interest for research on piloting innovative approaches for safety monitoring in the context of preventive chemotherapy and mass drug administration implemented for the control of neglected tropical diseases. Under this call, one or two research teams are expected to be selected for funding for a maximum amount of US$ 100 000 each.
Background and rationale
Preventive chemotherapy programmes for the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are being expanded in many countries. These programmes often target very large but vulnerable populations (e.g. children) and use non-medical staff (e.g. teachers or community health workers) for drug distribution at the community level. Adequate safety monitoring should be ensured where such programmes are carried out, and guidance has been issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help programme managers establish a safety surveillance system (1, 2). However, many low and middle income countries lack a robust system and tools at the community level for collecting in an efficient and reliable manner information on safety for these mass treatment interventions. New tools, in particular m-health tools, have been proposed as a way of improving reporting of safety information, but little evidence has been gathered on the field. Implementation research is needed to determine effective and sustainable methods for monitoring the safety in MDA, as part of a broader system of pharmacovigilance in health programmes. This call fits within TDR’s focus to help low- and middle-income countries develop innovative tools and strategies targeting neglected tropical diseases.
Objectives
The overall objective of the call is to support one or two research teams from Africa, Asia or Latin America and the Caribbean to pilot innovative approaches to improve safety monitoring in the context of preventive chemotherapy and mass drug administration (MDA) put in place for the control of NTDs. The expected outcome is data that would aid evidence-based decisions for recommendations on methodologies to be implemented for safety monitoring in preventive chemotherapy and MDA programmes.
Application
Applications should be submitted online. A 6-10 page letter of interest should provide a brief outline of the technical and operational feasibility for the proposed project (see below). A one-page summary CV of the principal investigator and a supporting letter from the institution’s director should also be attached.
Deadline for submission: 10 April 2015
For full details about this grant and the application procedures, please click on the following link: http://www.who.int/tdr/grants/en/
If you are interested in applying to this opportunity, or have any questions, please contact Paul (paul.ada@mahidol.ac.th) or Glad (gladgeorge.rot@mahidol.edu) at the Office of Research Services
