The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Hamish Ogston Foundation have embarked on an exciting collaboration aimed at supporting emerging health researchers in Africa and tackling health inequalities in the region. The joint effort, known as the Hamish Ogston Foundation Platinum Jubilee Early Career Awards Scheme, will aid the development of twenty researchers working within LSHTM's international partnerships in Malawi, Kenya, and Cameroon.
Each of the selected researchers has been granted up to £5000 to pursue innovative projects that enhance their research capabilities, contribute to the understanding of their field, and serve as a launching pad for their future work. The twenty projects cover diverse areas of investigation, such as malaria in children, pulmonary tuberculosis in adults, insecticide resistance in mosquitoes, anti-malarial drug resistance, and the role of probiotics in combating multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Professor Charles Wondji of Cameroon's Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID) expressed enthusiasm for the Foundation's grants, highlighting the exceptional opportunity they present for Cameroonian scientists to kick-start their careers. By generating key evidence, these projects will contribute to improving the control of various infectious diseases in Cameroon.
The Hamish Ogston Foundation, with its primary health objective of eliminating disparities in medical treatment access and health awareness among disadvantaged populations, aims to drive change in health policy and practice. The Foundation believes in nurturing the next generation of global health professionals and is proud to provide these early career grants to address the challenges faced by young researchers in obtaining financial support for their research.
Michael Vaughan, Health Project Director at the Hamish Ogston Foundation, emphasized the importance of these Platinum Jubilee early career grants, which offer valuable opportunities to the next generation of health professionals. Amid the current difficulties in securing research funding, these grants enable beneficiaries to gain essential research experience necessary for advancing their careers.
The awards were established in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and aligned with LSHTM's 125th-anniversary celebrations in 2023. Professor Hilary Ranson of LSHTM expressed gratitude to the Hamish Ogston Foundation for their funding, enabling the support of numerous young researchers in launching their independent research projects. The combination of financial resources and a supportive research environment has the potential to be transformative, and the outcomes of this research, as well as the future career paths of the recipients, are eagerly anticipated.
A total of 70 Platinum Jubilee Grants are available for early-career health professionals interested in conducting scientific research projects in Tropical Medicine and Global Health. The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) are also involved in administering the scheme.
Article by Jed Mwangi
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