Funding Global Health Projects

Abstract

Clinicians and engineers are improving medical practice and healthcare care delivery in low and middle-income countries (LMIC's) through research and innovation using data science and technology. One of the major barriers to translating their ideas into practice is the lack of financial resources. Without adequate funding, many of the critical issues regarding the development, implementation, and impact of technology innovations-including whether there is an actual improvement in clinical outcomes-cannot be adequately evaluated and addressed. While securing funding is a challenge for everyone, researchers and innovators in LMIC's often lack training and experience in proposal writing to support their work. Keywords LMIC • Funding • Funding strategy • Grants • Implementation research • Grant writing • Funding • Research • Technology • Innovation Learning Objectives This chapter is designed to provide clinicians and engineers with information on how to develop an idea into a fundable proposal. We will focus on understanding why research is an important strategy in the development and implementation of digital innovations such as mHealth and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, developing a problem statement and research question, understanding the components of a research proposal, and learning about funding sources and strategies. We use research as a framework for developing a funding proposal because funding opportunities for health care technology development and implementation often are centered around research. Even if you are not planning to seek funding for research,

The UTH-UMB Global Health Education Collaboration: Building a Bidirectional Exchange Based on Equity and Reciprocity

“…HIC training opportunities may also contribute to 'brain drain' by providing incentives and opportunities to remain in HICs. Though many LMIC clinicians and researchers wish to stay in their own country [8], some migrate due to limited resources, lack of training and research opportunities in LMICs, or higher employment, salary, and perceived increased quality of life in HICs [9,10]. Educational and training opportunities across LMICs are needed to mitigate the brain drain crisis, while still allowing LMIC trainees to enhance their training and career in HICs [11,12].…”

A call to action to reform academic global health partnerships

“…Common challenges faced by many LMIC researchers are the lack of grant application skills as well as non-established north-south partnerships among scientists/researchers. 7 To enable LMIC researchers to collect research funds self-sufficiently, HIC institutions should systematically provide training and mentorship in grant writing and applications as part of all research and teaching partnerships.…”