Master's Research Fellowships — Rheumatic Heart Disease

Makerere University, in collaboration with the Uganda Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Children's National Hospital, DC, has received funding from the National Institutes of Health's Fogarty International Centre to implement the Impact Training Program (Grant Number D43TW012255).

About the programme The goal of the Impact Program is to equip and nurture emerging research leaders and professional scholars in Uganda to generate high-quality, contemporary evidence on rheumatic heart disease (RHD) across the lifespan, and to create an enduring research training centre on the African continent that will rapidly advance progress towards the elimination of the disease within a generation. As part of this mission, the programme is soliciting applications from Master's students at Makerere University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Gulu University for one (1) year of research support.

Eligibility Applicants must satisfy the following criteria: - Be enrolled in one of the following programmes: Master's degree in Medicine, Paediatrics, Surgery, Nursing, Public Health, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, or a Biomedical/Health related field. - Have a good concept on RHD research and have completed the 1st or 2nd year of graduate training. - Demonstrate willingness to undertake and complete all training mandated by the Impact program. - Demonstrate interest in RHD research and commitment to developing a productive career in cardiovascular medicine and research. - Commit to publishing research conducted under this training in open access, peer-reviewed journals.

What the fellowship offers Selected fellows receive one year of research support to conduct studies on rheumatic heart disease across the lifespan, with mentorship from an international network of cardiovascular and research experts. The programme includes structured training designed to build research leadership capacity and to support fellows in publishing their findings in open access journals, contributing to the global effort to eliminate rheumatic heart disease.

Why this programme matters Rheumatic heart disease remains a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and premature death among young people in sub-Saharan Africa, even though it is preventable through early detection and treatment of streptococcal infections. By training a new generation of Ugandan researchers in RHD, the Impact Program aims to close critical evidence gaps in screening, prevention, diagnosis and care, and to build a sustainable research training centre that will accelerate progress towards eliminating the disease within a generation. Fellows become part of a collaborative network linking leading cardiovascular institutions in Uganda and the United States.

How to apply Interested students should find more details in the attached flyer, which outlines the application procedure and the documents required for submission. Applicants are encouraged to ensure their research concept is well aligned with the programme's RHD focus and to demonstrate a clear commitment to a career in cardiovascular research.

About the institutions Makerere University College of Health Sciences, based in Kampala, partners with the Uganda Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Children's National Hospital to build RHD research capacity across Uganda, including at Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Gulu University.