Background

Neglected Infectious Diseases (NIDs, also known as Neglected Tropical Diseases) are a diverse group of diseases that affect an estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide. These diseases disproportionately affect the world's poor, causing significant mortality and morbidity. Global investment into research and development of new products for NIDs is limited and there is an urgent need to develop new or improved products and to optimise the use of existing products in order to achieve disease elimination.

Scope

The objective of this Call for Proposals is to provide funding for product-focused post- registration implementation studies for NIDs(1) in sub-Saharan Africa. Proposals that are in line with EDCTP's strategic research agenda are encouraged.

Proposals should focus on implementation research studies to translate medical interventions (diagnostics, drugs for treatment and prevention) of proven efficacy into routine care, or on improving population coverage and access to the intervention, retention in care and/or adherence to the intervention. Proposals including randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are encouraged, although other study designs and methodologies can be used, where the design is justified and appropriate to provide robust evidence to support policy changes.

Proposals should include detailed plans for uptake of research results in international, regional or national guidelines and/or obtaining World Health Organisation (WHO) endorsement for improved disease management upon successful completion of the project.

EDCTP considers that proposals for activities of between 24 and 48 months and requesting funding of up to € 3 million would allow the specific challenges to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting another duration and/or funding.

Expected impact

Projects funded under this Call for Proposals shall contribute towards the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3: 'Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages'). Projects should generate robust scientific evidence for the effectiveness and optimisation of existing drugs or diagnostics that can be translated into health policy and clinical practice in sub-Saharan Africa.

Eligibility

Consortia comprising a minimum of three independent legal entities are eligible to apply. Two of the legal entities must be established in two different European Participating States(2) of the EDCTP Association and one of the legal entities must be established in a sub-Saharan African country(3). All three legal entities shall be independent of each other.

'Sole participants' formed by several legal entities (e.g. European Research Infrastructure Consortia, European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation, central purchasing bodies) are eligible if the abovementioned minimum conditions are satisfied by the legal entities forming together the sole participant.

Notes:

1. For the purpose of this call, NIDs include: Buruli ulcer, cysticercosis/taeniasis, dengue, dracunculiasis, echinococcosis, foodborne trematodiases, leprosy (Hansen disease), human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma, onchocerciasis, rabies, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, trachoma, yaws.

2. Legal entities in the following European countries: Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

3. Legal entities in the following sub-Saharan African countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Documents

- Template of application form – Full Application (Word)

- Template for essential information to be provided for proposals including clinical trials (Word)

Financial provisions

The call budget is € 11.2 million. The funding level is up to 100% of eligible costs.

Procedure and application process

This is a single-stage application procedure. Proposals must be submitted online by 2 November 2017 via EDCTPgrants.