August 16, 2024

Enterics for Global Health (EFGH) leverages international research consortium to train and mentor investigators across career stages

The Enterics for Global Health (EFGH) research consortium, supported by faculty and staff at Global WACh, is an exemplary model of advancing institutional efforts to support research mentorship. The objective of EFGH is to establish the incidence and consequences of Shigella diarrhea in Bangladesh, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Pakistan, Peru, and The Gambia. EFGH also has a mission to ensure that the values, standards, and practices of science are effectively shared to the next generation of global health researchers.

Early-career investigators from EFGH partner institutions identified a need for seed funding, protected time, and support for scientific writing, data analysis, and mentorship to further advance their research careers. In response, EFGH developed structured programs to address those unmet needs. In September 2023, EFGH initiated a 16-month Manuscript Writing Certificate Program on the research-to-publication process and launched a second round of its Rising Star Program to support highly-talented junior scientists in becoming independent investigators.

The Manuscript Writing Program is now entering its twelfth month with 11 trainees representing all seven EFGH countries. Trainees have completed research proposals, developed statistical analysis plans, and are currently conducting data analysis with the support of matched mentorship teams to answer intriguing secondary research questions using existing EFGH data. Trainees plan to have full manuscript drafts completed by the end of 2024, with the goal of submitting for publication in the spring of 2025. They will also present their research at an EFGH Study Convening in early 2025.

The three current Rising Star awardees have developed study protocols and are at varying stages of gaining IRB approval and developing primary data collection tools, as applicable. They have attended several joint meetings with the adjacent Global WACh Rising Star cohort to build community, hear about each other’s projects and career goals, and learn about career-building topics, such as an overview of the NIH pre-award process, roundtable career talks with more senior scientists, and best practices in research project management. Awardees aim to complete their projects and submit manuscripts for publication within the next year.

In addition to the two mentorship programs, EFGH funded four senior investigators from study sites to participate in the ”Advanced Track: Fundamentals of Global Health Research” course of UW’s Global Health E-Learning Program during Spring Quarter 2024. Beyond the course, which offered individualized guidance for participants to begin writing a research proposal, the investigators developed a full proposal for submission to the NIH R01 International Research in Infectious Diseases grant funding opportunity (RFA-AI-23-023) with tailored support. Advanced Track participants have completed their coursework and two submitted R01 applications in early August 2024.

The EFGH coordination team will document processes, successes, and lessons learned from the past year of carrying out these investigator support programs.  We look forward to sharing those updates in future blog posts.