Award date – 11th December 2015
Grant close (and final deliverable) date: 31st December 2016
We list two areas of specific interest, ‘Assessing the impact of reaching SDGs on TB epidemiology’ and ‘Using natural experiments to identify mechanisms by which SE factors influence TB’, but these are in no way meant to limit the scope of applications. A broader, but also non-exhaustive, list of potential projects can be found here. An outline for the two specific areas of interest can be viewed at the bottom of this page.
The total funding available for this call is US$200,000. We anticipate funding at least two projects. Applications are therefore encouraged to propose budgets of no more than US$100,000 for the highest likelihood of funding, though we will consider applications with budgets up to US$200,000. Funds will be allocated to applications, based on application quality as assessed by independent external reviewers using the assessment criteria below. Projects need to complete their final deliverables and have invoiced before 31st December 2016.
We particularly welcome applications from multi-disciplinary teams, which include a partner from the Global South.
Assessment criteria (all equally weighted)
– Does the project advance the field of modeling of structural and socio-economic determinants in TB?
– Does the project have relevance to TB policy or practice?
– Can the research be completed before end 2016?
– Is the research question and plan well-described?
– Is the budget and timeline appropriate for the proposed activity? Note, preference will be given to proposals with a budget of US$100,000 or less.
– Is the proposal likely to meet the aim, objectives and deliverables?
– Does the project cover one of the two priority areas?
– Is the research team qualified to conduct this research?
– Does the proposal include a partner in the Global South (“partner” defined as someone who delivers intellectual contribution and ownership of a component of the project), or does the project build capacity within the Global South?
– Does the proposal explain how models / data will be shared for maximum public utility?
– Does the proposal show a clear understanding of the limitations of research?
Mechanism
A contract will be issued from LSHTM either to an institution or to an applicant personally in the form of consultancy fees.
Eligible costs
This call will pay Direct Costs and Indirect Costs only. Our ultimate funder is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and we would comply with the same Indirect Costs rule as they grant to us, which is up to 15%. See rules here.
Eligibility
Open to anybody, except members of the TB MAC Secretariat and Advisory Panel (Richard White, Rein Houben, Christina Albertsen, Jane Carter, Jaap Broekmans, Mehran Hosseini, Mario Raviglione, Lucica Ditiu, Amy Bloom, Bruce Levin, Phil LoBue, Peter Kim) who are not eligible for this award.
Format
Applications should include a proposal limited to three pages (excluding references, and with a minimum of 11 point font size). Proposals should include: (i) an introduction to the topic; (ii) description of previous work in the area by the applicants; (iii) description and justification of the intended approach; (iv) deliverables of the project (v) timeline for the proposed work; (vi) budget and its justification. In addition, the principal applicant should provide a separate short bio-sketch (one page summary of qualifications, research interests, key funding publications and major sources of research support). Note that publication costs will be covered separately, so should not be included in the budget.
Outlines for areas of particular interest
Title
Assessing the impact of reaching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on TB epidemiology
Research Gap to address
There is general support for cross-sectoral planning with SDGs, but need for actual dialogue on the most promising entry points. Better data is needed on the incremental effects of structural interventions to address structural and socio-economic determinants of TB. Few mathematical models have included upstream structural and socio-economic determinants.
Epidemiological data is available for assessing the association between risk of TB and, for example, poverty and undernutrition. Ecological (mainly cross-sectional and cross-country) analyses have been done on the association between TB rates and macroeconomic indicators, social protection spending and reduction in undernutrition prevalence. However, longitudinal analysis of the impact of change in these, or other socio-economic/structural parameters over time in a given country has not previously been done.
Projects in this area should address the effects on TB epidemiology of activities targeting at least one (and preferably more than one) SDG.
Title
Using natural experiments to identify mechanisms by which socio-economic and structural factors influence TB
Research Gap to address
There is evidence of association between structural and socio-economic determinants and drivers of TB transmission (e.g., time to diagnosis) and natural history (e.g., progression after infection). However, quantitative evidence of a mechanistic link is often lacking. Natural experiments that impact structural and socio-economic factors (e.g., UHC, tobacco, social policies, urbanization, war) are a potentially rich, but underused source of data to inform these links.
A project in this area would mine data from natural experiments to quantify the links between changes in structural and socio-economic determinants and mechanisms that can be included in TB mathematical models. If possible within the time frame, modelling work that illustrates the impact of this change will be preferred. If modeling is not possible, please clarify how the analysis conducted will feed into future models.
