German-African Cooperation Projects in Infectiology: DFG Launches Annual Call for Proposals
Programme supports collaborative projects addressing neglected infectious diseases in humans and animals that bring together researchers from Germany and Africa.
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG – German Research Foundation) has issued an annual call for proposals on German-African Research Collaboration in Infectious Diseases that supports joint research projects between scientists in Germany and Africa. The thematic focus is on infectious diseases and their social implications.
The focus of the programme is on the following aspects:
- Investigation of neglected infectious diseases in humans and animals and research on topics of their social and economic impact.
- Establishment or consolidation of mutually beneficial equal partnerships that allow African researchers to investigate topics of local significance and that open up research opportunities in Africa to German scientists in the long term.
- Providing of support and funding for the academic and professional careers of young African researchers in their home countries in order to contribute to building research capacities in Africa.
- Strengthening of research networks within Africa – therefore several African partners may participate in one project.
African project partners should be located at strong international research centres in Africa so as to enable collaboration between institutions.
DFG is seeking to encourage research of neglected infectious diseases, both within the fields of human and veterinary medicine and related humanities disciplines. As such, projects involving well-funded infectious diseases, such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, will only be considered in the scope of the call if they study mechanisms of virulence or the immune response against them. Projects addressing co-infections are also encouraged, as are projects with a social science or humanities approach if they investigate consequences of neglected tropical infectious diseases.
Eligible to act as the principal investigator are qualified researchers (as a rule, those holding a doctorate) who are integrated into the German research system. The Principal Investigator submits the proposal to the DFG and is in charge of the project.
Funding is allocated to project partners in Germany and Africa. Participation of scientists from other countries is possible, but must be funded from other sources. The maximum initial funding duration is three years and covers direct project costs, project-specific staff and instrumentation. The majority of funding should ideally be allocated to the African partners.
The application deadline is 30 October 2023.
(This report was the subject of a RESEARCHconnect Newsflash.)