Fellowships

What are the GFBR Fellowships?

 

The GFBR fellowships provide a unique opportunity for the Forum participants to explore ethical issues that have arisen during the course of a GFBR meeting and to establish new collaborations. There are three types of fellowship: travel, project and meeting. Please note: The scheme does not support research involving human participants.

 

The fellowship scheme has been running since the re-launch of GFBR in 2015. Past and current fellows are listed in the tabs below, along with their outputs. You can also hear from the fellows directly in this series of short videos in which they describe their work and its impact.

 

The latest round is now open for fellowship proposals on the GFBR 2025 topic: Reimagining research partnerships: equity, power and resilience. Apply using the application form and submit by 1 March 2026 5pm CET/Geneva to gfbr@who.int.

 

If you are interested in a travel fellowship, please note that some potential hosts receive several expressions of interest, but can only host one fellow. Therefore, they need to choose which fellowship proposal aligns best with their own and their organisation’s interests. In order to be considered, please contact the potential host and send them a one-page summary (Arial 10.5, single spaced) by the 15 January 2026 so they can perform this assessment and provide you with feedback.

 

General conditions

The following conditions apply to all three fellowships:

  • Applications for each round are only open to people who attended the most recent GFBR meeting.
  • Applications should fit in with the goals of the GFBR and be relevant to the subject matter of the most recent GFBR meeting.
  • The normal maximum that can be applied for is US$10,000 but a higher amount will be considered on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances if there is a strong justification. Applicants should not automatically request the full normal maximum.
  • Applications for conference attendance as a stand-alone activity will not be considered.
  • Applicants must be based in a low- or middle income country.
  • Applicants may only apply for one fellowship in any given year.
  • Current and former fellows should wait at least 2 years after the completion of their first fellowship before submitting another application.
  • An individual can receive a maximum of two fellowships throughout the lifetime of the scheme.

Travel Fellowships

The GFBR travel fellowships are intended to support visits to a country other than the country where the applicant is based. They are designed to give the applicant the time needed to develop a topic and also learn from being in a different research environment. The length of the visit is usually between 2 weeks and 1 months. One of the key aims of the GFBR is to promote new global South/South or North/South collaborations. The scheme is not designed to support travel from one high income country to another.

As part of your application you will be asked to:

  • Detail your career history, education and training and provide a list of your peer-reviewed publications or other academic outputs.
  • Detail your current work and the objectives of your visit.
  • Identify and explain why you have chosen the host organisation.
  • Say when you plan to undertake the visit and what you plan to do during your time (e.g. an itinerary).
  • Indicate what outputs you expect to produce (e.g. conference presentations, academic papers, policy document or public engagement activities).
  • Explain how this trip fits in with the goals of the GFBR.
  • Propose a budget (e.g. travel, accommodation and general living costs).
  • Provide a signed letter from your supervisor or management at your current institution (supporting your trip and confirming that it is necessary and relevant).
  • Provide a letter from the receiving institution confirming your invitation and explaining who will be available to support/mentor you during your fellowship.

Project Fellowships

The GFBR project fellowships are intended to support specific projects, the outputs of which may be conference presentations, academic papers etc. Please note that one of the key aims of the GFBR is to promote new global South/South or North/South collaborations. It is expected that any academic outputs are not sole-authored pieces or collaborations solely with others from your current institution.

As part of your application you will be asked to:

  • Detail your career history, education and training and provide a list of your peer-reviewed publications or other academic outputs.
  • Detail your current work and the objectives of your project (including an explanation of why you have chosen the topic).
  • Explain what you plan to do during your time on the grant (e.g. meetings, research).
  • Indicate what outputs you expect to produce (e.g. conference presentations, academic papers, policy document or public engagement activities).
  • Explain how your project fits in with the goals of the GFBR.
  • Propose a budget.
  • Provide a signed letter from your supervisor or management at your current institution (supporting your trip and confirming that it is necessary and relevant).

Meeting fellowships

The GFBR meeting fellowships are intended to support the costs of holding an event that builds on the annual GFBR meeting discussion and furthers the GFBR’s aim to promote new global South/South or North/South collaborations.

As part of your application you will be asked to:

  • Detail your career history, education and training and provide a list of your peer-reviewed publications or other academic outputs.
  • Detail your current work and the objectives of your meeting.
  • Say who you plan to invite and what you plan to do in the meeting (e.g. a draft agenda with key topics).
  • Indicate what outputs you expect to produce (e.g. reports, publications, network development).
  • Explain how this meeting fits in with the goals of the GFBR.
  • Propose a budget.
  • Provide a signed letter from your supervisor or management at your current institution (supporting your trip and confirming that it is necessary and relevant).

How do I apply?

 

Apply using the GFBR 2025 fellowship application form. The form contains guidance notes and explains which supporting letters are required.

Please complete and submit the form, along with all relevant supporting letters, by 1 March 2026 5pm CET/Geneva. 

Applications and any questions should be sent to gfbr@who.int.

How will the successful applications be selected?

Selection of the applications will be through a competitive process. Applicants must have attended the most recent GFBR meeting.

The GFBR Steering Committee will review the applications and make a selection based on the following criteria:

  • Relevance of application to the subject matter of the previous GFBR meeting.
  • Appropriateness of fit between applicant and host institution (for travel fellowships only).
  • Whether collaboration will help to develop new and valuable connections between countries and institutions.
  • Reasonable cost calculations.
  • Value of anticipated outputs.

 

The Steering Committee will make a decision and aim to inform applicants of the outcome within two months of the submission deadline.

Fellowships 2015-16: Emerging epidemic infections and experimental medical treatments

Dr Derrick Aarons – The Caribbean Public Health Agency – for a project entitled “Ethics oversight of research on emerging epidemic infections and experimental medical treatments.”

Outputs:

Dr Julio Canario – Centro Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Materno Infantil, Dominican Republic – for a project entitled “Ethical challenges for international collaborative research in the context of Zika in the Caribbean.”

Output:

Dr Ama Edwin – Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana – for a project entitled “Development of operational guidance for epidemics ethics.”

Output:

  • Dr Edwin visited the Global Health Ethics Team at the World Health Organisation. She produced case studies, including adaptations from two cases presented at GFBR 2015, as part of a WHO Implementation Guidebook. The Guidebook is a companion to the WHO’s ‘Guidance for managing ethical issues in infectious disease outbreaks’.

Dr Morenike Ukpong – Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria – for a project entitled “Ethical considerations and community engagement when conducting research during an infectious disease emergency.”

Output:

 

Mr Aminu Yakubu – Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria – for a project entitled “KAP of RECs and Policy Makers on Research Studies during Epidemic Outbreaks.”

Output:

  • Abstract presented at the 2018 Annual International Bioethics Forum, Nigeria. Yakubu, A., Makinde, O., Haire, B., Azodoh, N. and Folayan, M. ‘Ethics of conducting research during disease outbreaks – perceptions and recommendations from policy makers in Nigeria’.
  • Publication in progress.

Fellowships 2016-17: Ethics of research in pregnancy

Dr Irene Melamed – Latin American School of Social Sciences, Argentina – “Open Educational Resources: a strategy to reduce the know – do gap in “Ethics of Research in Pregnancy”

Output:

  • During her time visiting the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, USA, Dr Melamed designed and created the blog: www.etiemb.blogspot.com (in Spanish). This is an open educational resource on the ethics of research in pregnancy and includes a bibliography and related materials.

Dr Jackeline Alger – Instituto de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitologia Antonio Vidal, Honduras – “Forum on research integrity and ethics of research in pregnancy in Mesoamerica”

Outputs:

Dr Kenneth Ngure – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya – “Enrolling pregnant adolescents in biomedical research: Ethical considerations for HIV prevention studies”

Output:

  • Publication in progress

Dr Mary Kasule – University of Botswana – “Ethical and Scientific complexities in research involving pregnant women affected by HIV and women with the potential to become pregnant during HIV-related research: a case of Botswana”

Outputs:

  • Two seminars held in Botswana, one involving 30 people held at the University of Botswana facilitated by Dr Kasule’s collaborator, Dr. Kristen Sullivan from the University of North Carolina Centre for Bioethics. The second seminar was attended by 34 senior management staff at the Ministry of Health Botswana facilitated by Dr Kasule.
  • Presentation by Dr Kasule titled “Advancing Responsible Research with Pregnant Women in Botswana: Respecting Bioethics Principles, Human Rights and Culture” at the 13th World Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics & Health Law. November 27-29, 2018. Jerusalem, Israel
  • Publication in progress.

Dr Titus Divala – University of Malawi – “Ethical implications of the presumption of exclusion of pregnant women in malaria clinical trials”

Outputs:

  • Presentation: Divala, T.H. ‘Ethical implications of presumptive exclusion of pregnant women in malaria trials’ at the Sixty-sixth annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2017).
  • Presented at host institution, McMaster University, and at home institution, the Blantyre Malaria Project.
  • Nampota, N., Emerson, C., Roberts, A., Phiri E., Tsirizani-Galileya, L., Mungwira, R., Kandulu, C., Mosoff, R. & Divala, T.H. Presumptive exclusion of pregnant women from clinical trials: evidence, the moral case, and moral and scientific remedies. PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019148649  
  • Publication in progress.

Ms Sithembile Ruzario – Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe – “Developing guidelines for promoting inclusion of pregnant women in clinical trials in Zimbabwe”

Output:

  • Draft guidelines were prepared during Ms Ruzario’s visit to the National University of Singapore. The guidance has been presented to the Zimbabwean Medical Research Council and has been further developed and adopted by the National Ethics Committee.

Mrs Jennyfer Ambe – “Dependence or Culture: Examining the impact of socio-cultural practices and the effects of pregnant women’s participation on clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa”

Ms Haihong Zhang – Peking University Health Science Center, China – “Empowering ethical review of research involving pregnant women in China: challenges and possible strategies at the institutional level”

Outputs:

Dr Ricardo Palacios – Instituto Butantan, Brasil – “Development of reference documents to incorporate pregnant women in vaccine clinical development plans”

Fellowships 2017-18: Ethics of alternative clinical trial designs and methods in LMIC research

Miss Jackeline Bravo Chamorro – Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicas, Colombia – Regional meeting on “Ethical considerations of alternative clinical trial methods and designs: Challenges and opportunities”

Mrs Tiwonge Mtande – University of North Carolina Project-Malawi, Malawi – “Understanding ethical issues involved in HIV implementation research that have used cluster randomisation trial design and step wedge trial design in Malawi”

Output:

Dr Vina Vaswani – Yenepoya University, India – “A white paper on ‘Developing ethical guidelines for Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) studies for India’”

Output:

  • Draft guidance developed during Dr Vaswani’s visit to the John Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. Final guidance forthcoming.

Dr Cristina Torres – Forum For Ethical Review Committees in Asia and The Western Pacific, Thailand – “Asian regional workshop on ethical issues in innovative designs in health research”

Outputs:

Fellowships 2018-19: Ethics of data sharing and biobanking in health research

Ms Syntia Nchangwi Munung – University of Cape Town, South Africa – “Data sharing in health research in Africa: motivations, barriers and incentives”

Dr Fabiana Arzuaga – Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, Argentina – “Towards the construction of a governance framework for biobanks and data sharing in Argentina”

Output:

Dr Manjulika Vaz – St John’s Research Institute, India – “Developing a people-centred governance mechanism for biobanks and genetic research with stored samples and data in India”

Output:

Ms Haihong Zhang – Peking University Health Science Center, China  – “Developing ethical guidelines for promoting specimen and data sharing in health research”

Dr Ahmed Abdelhafiz – Cairo University, Egypt – “Developing biobanking ethical guidelines in Egypt”

Output:

Ms Hellen Nansumba – Central Public Health Laboratories/ Uganda National Health Laboratory Services, Uganda – “Evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of broad consent for bio-specimens and associated data in Uganda”

Prof Ravi Vaswani – Yenepoya University, India – “Gap analysis of perceptions of researchers and lay public on use of stored samples and biobanking in India”

Mr David Wanjeri – Egerton University, Kenya – “The cultural value of human tissues for select indigenous African communities and its implications for bio-banking”

Mr Julio Canario – Etikos, Dominican Republic – “Comparative analysis of regulatory framework on data sharing and biobanking to inform policy makers in the Dominican Republic”

Output:

Fellowships 2019-20: Genome editing for human benefit: ethics, engagement and governance

 

Mr Sebastian Barbosa – Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation – “Outreach event of gene editing aimed at the general public in two main cities of Argentina”

Prof Simisola Akintola – University of Ibadan – “Genome editing in Africa: Issues arising from ethics, governance and engagement”

Dr Ana Palmero – Center for the Study of State and Society – “Community and stakeholders perceptions towards human gene editing. An explorative study in Argentina”

Dr Noor Munirah Isa – University of Malaya – “Ethics of human genome editing from Islamic and Confucian perspectives”

Dr Setlhomo Koloi-Keaikitse – University of Botswana – “Engaging with Local Communities in Botswana: Understanding Cultural Values, Norms and Beliefs that may impact Genome-Editing Research in Botswana”

Dr Natasha Anwar – The Aga Khan University – “Decoding Genetic Studies from Pakistan – A Review of International, Regional and Local Guidelines and Compliance”

Dr Gerald Ssebunnya – Africa Institute for Human Dignity – “Towards an Appropriate African Framework for Public Engagement with Human Genome Editing”

Mrs Ruby Ng’ong’ola – Center for Bioethics in Eastern and Southern Africa (CEBESA) – “The governance framework of genome research in Malawi”

Fellowships 2021-22: Ethical issues arising in research with people with mental health conditions

Ms Dimpho Ralefala – University of Botswana – “Opinions of patients with psychosis, caregivers and key stakeholders on informed consent for research involving people with mental health conditions”

Prof Maria Rodriguez Verdugo – National Institute of Psychiatry Ramon de la Fuente Muñiz – “Stigma-Discrimination Complex (SDC) and ethical implications of the language used in research on mental disorders: opportunities and challenges”

Ms Sarah Carracedo – Pan American Health Organisation – “The impact of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the ethical conduct of research involving people with mental health conditions in Latin America”

Dr Pallab Maulik – George Institute for Global Health – “Identifying ethical issues in conducting research on mental health with transwomen in India”

Dr Margaret Ojeahere – Jos University Teaching Hospital – “A systematic review and qualitative study investigating children and adolescents mental health research and governance in three African countries: Revisiting guidelines”

Fellowships 2022-23: Ethics of artificial intelligence in global health research

Dr Mohd. Adli Bin Md. Ali – International Islamic University of Malaysia – “Advancing Ethics Oversight of AI-Driven Health Research in Malaysia”

Outputs:

 

Dr Manjulika Vaz – St John’s Research Institute – & Ms Niyoshi Shah “Operationalizing ICMR’s Guidelines on AI in Biomedical Research and Healthcare”

Outputs:

 

Starting from September 2023, St John’s Research Institute; Quicksand Design Studio; and Anant Bhan hosted a series of stakeholder engagements to discuss the implementation of the Indian Council of Medical Research’s Guidelines on the ethical use of AI in health and health research (ICMR, 2023). These engagements included experts from bioethics, medicine, technology, law, research, design, and media to foster an interdisciplinary discourse.

 

The inaugural workshop in Bengaluru focussed on the practice of bioethics in India. The main objective was to align policy intent with action. The participants examined six projects on AI to understand the ethical trade-offs at play along with the impact on various stakeholders.

 

 

The main findings from this workshop were presented in Malaysia, at a conference by the SEA Bioethics Network. Following which the team conducted a virtual session with speculative design to explore the attendees preferred futures for bioethics. Who is responsible for responsible AI in our ideal world, and how do we bring that world into being?

 

 

The collaborations and dialogue generated through these engagements were invaluable; the team has therefore documented their project in the form of a toolkit for anyone who is interested in doing similar work in their context. 

 

Ms Rose Mwangi – Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College – “Implementing AI research models in LMICs: Urgent need for training interventions among health professionals in Tanzania”

Output:

 

Ms Harriet Nankya – Makerere University – “Regulation of health data for AI in Africa”

Output:

 

Dr David Nderitu – Egerton University – “Leveraging African Spiritualism to broaden the conceptualization of AI innovation in health research”

 

Ms Sylvia Nabukenya – Makerere University – “Strengthening research ethics committees’ capacity to review AI-related research projects involving human participants”

 

Fellowships 2023-24: Ethics of health research priority setting

Mr Ramón Ponce Testino – University Press of the University of Lima, Peru – “Development of a normative guidance document that aims to include a more robust and sustainable ethical approach to health-related research priority-setting processes within the Latin American region”

 

Ms Kim Sales – Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes, Philippines – “Ethical considerations in setting health research priorities: a Philippine case study”

 

Dr Teguh Haryo Sasongko – International Medical University International Medical University, Malaysia – “Bridging global disparities: exploring ethical dimensions of rare inherited disease research priority setting in LMICs”

 

Dr Abhishek Ghosh – Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, India – “The ethics of setting priorities for substance use research: a scoping review”

 

Dr Gugulethu Shezi – University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – “Determining health research priorities for KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – The ethics of inclusion and fair process in research prioritization”