CfPs: Science, Technology and Innovation in Neglected Diseases: Policies, Funding and Knowledge Creation; 17-20 Nov, Brazil

International Workshop for Early Career Researchers

Call for Participants
Science, Technology and Innovation in Neglected Diseases: Policies, Funding and Knowledge Creation

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/newsandevents/events/ecrworkshop

Introduction

Under the British Council Researcher Links scheme there will be a bilateral workshop on the above theme in Belo Horizonte, Brazil from the 17th to 20th November 2015, bringing together early career researchers to discuss their work and to build international relationships.

The workshop, coordinated by Eduardo Albuquerque (Cedeplar, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) and Parimal Patel (SPRU), will bring together a multidisciplinary group of dynamic early career researchers from Brazil and the UK to discuss their research on neglected diseases. It will have major contributions from Michael Hopkins (SPRU) and Carlos Morel (FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro).

This is an invitation for researchers from the UK or Brazil who are within 10 years of receiving their PhD (or with equivalent research experience), and currently employed in either country, to apply to participate in this workshop. All travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the Researcher Links programme.

The Workshop 

There have been spectacular step changes in innovation in health care in developed countries over the last fifty years. However in the same period, the pace of introduction of new drugs related to neglected diseases in low and middle-income countries has been slow. The main aim of the workshop is to discuss research related to a key element of this puzzle: the role played by public policies and funding regimes in creating scientific and technical knowledge related to neglected diseases. The underlying rationale for focusing on this element is that creation of new knowledge is critical to the development of new drugs, and that a better understanding of the processes involved will have an impact on the efficiency and productivity of the health care system.

The main themes of the workshop are:

• Changing dynamics of the key elements of the national systems of innovation in relation to health care in the UK and Brazil
• Trends in the creation of knowledge related neglected diseases
• Translating knowledge into innovation and practical health interventions
• Changing dynamics of  funding systems underlying health care R&D
• Role played by public-private partnerships in stimulating knowledge creation and transmission

The main objectives of the workshop will be to: (a) discuss recent research on innovation in neglected diseases; (b) develop new ideas for future collaboration between innovation scholars in Brazil and the UK; and (a) build research capacity in the field of health sector innovation.

During the workshop early career researchers will have the opportunity to present their research in the form of a poster/short oral presentation and engage in discussions with established researchers from the UK and Brazil. 

Application and Deadline

We are recruiting early career researchers based in the UK or Brazil to apply to attend the workshop. The British Council, under the Newton Fund, will cover the costs related to the participation to the workshop, including: travel (both international and local), accommodation and meals.  Travel and medical insurance are not covered by the British Council.

Applicants need to fill the application form by 17 August 2015.

UK applicants need to submit this form to: workshopbrazil@sussex.ac.uk, and Brazilian applicants to workshop2015@cedeplar.ufmg.br

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applications must be submitted using the attached application form
• Application must be submitted before the above deadline
• Participants must be early career researchers: these are defined as holding a PhD for less than 10 years on the start date of the workshop.
• Participants must be affiliated to UK and Brazil higher education or research institutions at the time of the application.

Assessment of the Application 

Each application will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• Experience and relevance of the applicant's research area to the workshop
• Motivation and contribution to the aims of the workshop
• Description of the expected impact through the participation in the workshop
• Ability to disseminate workshop's outcomes

Notification of results:

Applicants will be notified by e-mail by the 4 September 2015. 

Equal Opportunities 

The British Council is committed to equal opportunities and diversity in all its activities and this includes the avoidance of any bias in the assessment of applications due to gender, disability, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or religious belief. Participants' selection undertaken by workshop organizers must not contravene this policy. Extra support to enable participation of early career researchers with special needs will be given.