Review Article
Mentored postdoctoral training in Zimbabwe: A report on a successful collaborative effort
Journal of Public Health in Africa | Vol 10, No 2 | a909 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2019.1081
| © 2024 Danai T. Zhou, Charles C. Maponga, Munyaradzi Madhombiro, Admire Dube, Runyararo Mano, Albert Nyamhunga, Ian Machingura, Justen Manasa, James Hakim, Z. Mike Chirenje, Tinashe Mudzviti, Charles Nhachi, Qing Ma, Robin D. Francesco, Rangarirai Masanganise, Gene D, Morse
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 15 November 2024 | Published: 31 December 2019
Submitted: 15 November 2024 | Published: 31 December 2019
About the author(s)
Danai T. Zhou, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, ZimbabweCharles C. Maponga, School of Pharmacy, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Munyaradzi Madhombiro, Department of Psychiatry, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Admire Dube, School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Runyararo Mano, Department of Pediatrics, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Albert Nyamhunga, Department of Radiology, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Ian Machingura, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Justen Manasa, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
James Hakim, Department of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Z. Mike Chirenje, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Tinashe Mudzviti, School of Pharmacy, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Charles Nhachi, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Qing Ma, Center for Integrated Global Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, United States
Robin D. Francesco, Center for Integrated Global Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, United States
Rangarirai Masanganise, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Gene D, Morse, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Full Text:
PDF (515KB)Abstract
Low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) have high disease burdens, necessitating increased research. However, LMIC research output constitutes only 2% of global total. To increase output, researchers must be capacitated. The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and the University at Buffalo (UB), developed and implemented the AIDS International Research Training Program (AITRP), in 2008, that focused on graduate scholars. The subsequent HIV Research Training Program (HRTP), begun in 2016, and piloted post-doctoral training to enhance research productivity at UZ. This report discusses the collaboration. As of 2016, prospective candidates applied by submitting letters of intent, research proposals, curriculum vitae and biographical sketches. The scholars research training included hypothesis and project development, completion of grant applications, research project budgets, research presentations to diverse audiences and the application of advanced statistics to research data. The first cohort of five postdoctoral scholars were trained at UZ and UB, between 2016 and 2019. Through the formalized postdoctoral training approach, scholars identified areas of focus. In 2017, one of the scholars obtained a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Emerging Global Leader Award and is now a highly-rated researcher based in South Africa. A second scholar made NIH D43 and K43 grant applications, while the remaining three are academicians and early researchers at UZ. Although research output in Africa and many LMICs is low, it can be built through cooperation similar to the UZ-UB HRTP. This manuscript reports on an effort aimed at building individual and institutional research capacity in Zimbabwe. This can serve as a model for building other similar training programs.
Keywords
formalized; HRTP; LMIC; postdoctoral; Zimbabwe
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