Strengthening research and science leadership capacity of African researchers —
IAVI, through its USAID-funded ADVANCE (Accelerate the Development of Vaccines and New Technologies to Combat the AIDS Epidemic) program, is cultivating a core group of researchers and scientists in African institutions, to participate in the global effort to identify, evaluate, and implement HIV vaccines and biomedical prevention products in the fight against HIV, and to contribute towards solving other pressing global health needs.
In order to build sustainable human capacity and institutional capability for high-quality research, IAVI’s Investigator-Initiated Research (IIR) platform strives to provide career development opportunities for junior investigators through funding for research. These funding awards for research, known as IIR Awards, are offered through a competitive call for proposals that are open to all IAVI partners, known as the Clinical Research Centers (CRCs). The awards may range from $10,000 to $100,000. Additionally, to foster mentorship of early-career investigators by more seasoned researchers, the IIR offers a grant of between $200,00 and $250,000 for innovative and collaborative research.
In this video, three IIR awardees – Dr. Omolara Baiyegunhi in South Africa, Dr. Andrew Abaasa in Uganda, and Dr. Clara Agutu in Kenya – share their experience with the IIR program.
