Recruiting Post-Doctoral Fellows into Global Health Research: Selecting NIH Fogarty International Clinical Research Fellows

Abstract

Abstract. From 2008 to 2012, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Clinical Research Fellows Program (FICRF) provided 1-year mentored research training at low-and middle-income country sites for American and international post-doctoral health professionals. We examined the FICRF applicant pool, proposed research topics, selection process, and characteristics of enrollees to assess trends in global health research interest and factors associated with applicant competitiveness. The majority (58%) of 67 US and 57 international Fellows were women, and 83% of Fellows had medical degrees. Most applicants were in clinical fellowships (41%) or residencies (24%). More applicants proposing infectious disease projects were supported (59%) than applicants proposing non-communicable disease (NCD) projects (41%), although projects that combined both topic areas were most successful (69%). The numbers of applicants proposing research on NCDs and the numbers of these applicants awarded fellowships rose dramatically over time. Funding provided to the FICRF varied significantly among NIH Institutes and Centers and was strongly associated with the research topics awarded.

Impact of Global Health Research Training on Career Trajectories: The Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars and Fellows Program

“…Additional demographics, graphs of trainees supported by year and of research topics proposed by Fellow applicants, and reports of factors associated with success in applying for the Program are included in our prior reports. 1,17,18 We achieved a survey response rate of 94%: 38 U.S. and 34 international doctoral Scholars and 15 U.S. and 7 international postdoctoral Fellows responded (Table 1) Table 1, 47% of U.S. Scholars and 80% of U.S. Fellows had returned to their training sites after completing the training period. They reported substantial ongoing collaboration with U.S.-based mentors (63%), sitebased mentors (66%), other FICRS-F trainees at the training site (45%), FICRS-F trainee alumni who were no longer stationed at the site (24%), and FICRS-F trainees/alumni stationed elsewhere (32%).…”

“…Any U.S. health sciences graduate student or postdoctoral candidate who met the Program's eligibility criteria could apply, along with foreign trainees who proposed to work at preapproved international field sites. 17,18 Thus, being from a less well-networked university did not preclude engagement with the FICRS-F Program. The successor Fogarty Global Health Program for Fellows and Scholars highlights trainees from 20 U.S. institutions in five consortia (four universities per consortium).…”

“…16 U.S. predoctoral Scholars and U.S. and LMIC postdoctoral Fellows were selected through centralized processes managed by the Support Center, and international Scholar "twins" were selected by the international sites to work alongside the selected U.S. Scholars. 17,18 Traineeships began each year with a 10-to 12-day orientation held on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, during which trainees were instructed in safety and cultural competence, interacted with NIH officials, and met their counterparts from the international site. Subsequent training experiences including monthly webinars, presented by veteran global health faculty mentors and FICRS-F Fellows, and competitive post-fellowship travel awards encouraged alumni to continue to interact with both junior and senior investigators.…”

Global Noncommunicable Disease Research: Opportunities and Challenges

“…The 32 U.S. fellows supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Centers of Excellence program for global NCD research published more than 70 manuscripts, and the 536 fellows supported by the NIH Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars and Fellows Program published more than 3000 manuscripts (6). This productivity improves the academic breadth and prestige of universities.…”

The Impact of the Fogarty International Clinical Scholars and Fellows Program Extends Beyond Borders

“…In the previous FICRS&F program, in contrast to the scholars, the fellows were older (average age 33 years), more often married (64%), and currently in residency or fellowship programs (65%) 1. Even though the fellows typically require a shorter time to becoming NIH grantees, there are downsides to focusing on this group.…”