Organisation: Research and Training in Tropical Diseases(TDR)

Duration: 6-12 months

Application Deadline: September 15, 2025

Overview

TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, is a global programme of scientific collaboration that helps facilitate, support and influence efforts to combat diseases of poverty. It is co-sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO). The CRL Fellowship Programme supports researchers from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by placing them for 6–12 months in pharmaceutical companies, product development partnerships, or research organizations worldwide to enhance their clinical research and leadership skills. Fellows also receive a 12-month reintegration plan to strengthen their home institutions and lead research teams.

Scope

The CRL Fellowship Programme supports mid-career clinical researchers and trial staff from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to develop leadership skills in clinical research through 6–12-month placements in Training Partner Organisations (TPOs). Funded by TDR, the fellowship focuses on infectious diseases such as NTDs, emerging diseases, and antimicrobial resistance. Fellows must return to their home institutions for at least two years post-fellowship and show how they will apply the skills gained. Each individual can receive this grant only once, and it is non-transferable.

Expected impact

The CRL Fellowship Programme aims to strengthen research capacity in LMICs by developing skilled researchers to advance high-quality research on poverty-related and emerging infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, and NTDs. It supports promising individuals to enhance their institutions and train peers, fosters collaboration among researchers, institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and PDPs, and contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health and well-being.

Placements

TPOs may offer placements in the following areas: design and conduct of clinical trials, including operational planning, management and evaluation; clinical development of vaccines, including associated epidemiological studies; assessment of drug development programmes; diagnostics; biostatistics; data management and pharmacovigilance. TPOs that have agreed to participate in this programme are listed below:

Eligibility 

• be a national of, and resident in, an LMIC {low and middle-income country(s)}.
• be an MD or postgraduate with a PhD or master’s degree in clinical trial, pharmacy or other related field, with proof of experience of clinical research and or clinical trial related activities in the scope of TDR.
• have been a researcher or clinical research staff member employed for the last 24 months in an institution with a registered legal entity in an LMIC conducting clinical research activities in poverty-related infectious diseases, emerging infection diseases, pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance and NTDs.

Benefits

-Each grant covers one economy class return ticket (home – TPO – home); a monthly stipend based on the location of the placement; health insurance and support to present at the relevant international conference during the fellowship, and access to an alumni network.

-A break at six months can be offered to allow the fellows to go back to their home institution to present to their peers the acquired training and the scientific progress made so far.

-The grant also includes provisional funds for reintegration, conditional upon the approval of a progress report and reintegration plan.

How to Apply 

Complete and upload the Word version of the Application Form below:

Salesforce

Please note:

1. If you have not used eTDR portal before, please setup your user profile on the eTDR community site following the guidelines

2. Upload the remaining documents listed below:

• One signed recommendation letter from your current institution as outlined in section one (in pdf format)
• Two referees’ letters as outlined in section three (in pdf format)
• CV (in pdf format

For more information, please contact Dr Mahnaz Vahedi:

vahedim@who.int