The Ghana-Michigan Post-doctoral And Research Trainee NEtwoRk-Investing in Innova

该提案的总体目标是加强加纳和密歇根大学（UM）的跨学科研究能力，以开发和测试培训方法和研究产品的创新，以更好地应对低收入和中等收入国家（LMIC）面临的全球卫生挑战。这一重点反映了西非区域的形势分析，表明：a）缺乏初级到中级的研究人员，他们有充分的准备为独立的研究努力寻求和获得校外支持，B）复杂的社会、环境和健康相关问题需要创新和跨学科的研究方法，以确定和快速实施解决方案，以及，（c）研究项目对成功的公共卫生干预具有很大的潜力。我们为实现加强创新研究能力的目标而采取的战略侧重于：（a）全面联合培训加纳和美国博士后科学家，使他们成为未来全球卫生研究的领导者; B）通过加强教师协作和指导技能以及开发、测试、（c）加强学术机构与负责循证实施已开发创新的政府组织的联盟。实现这些目标的具体方法包括：a）联合培训和指导加纳和美国博士后研究员，他们组成跨学科团队，在UM进行为期6个月的强化课程，然后在加纳进行为期6个月的实地测试创新; B）将加纳导师高级科学家与博士后学员带到UM，以巩固加纳与美国导师的合作，加强指导技能，并确保顺利过渡到在加纳进行实地研究; c）支持UM教师和信息专家花时间在加纳为博士后跨学科团队提供持续的指导。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall objective of this proposal is the strengthening of interdisciplinary research capacity in Ghana, and at the University of Michigan (UM), to develop and test innovations in training methods and in research products to better address global health challenges faced by low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This focus reflects the situational analysis of the West African region suggesting: a) a dearth of junior-to mid-level researchers adequately prepared to seek and obtain extramural support for independent research endeavors, b) complex social, environmental, and health-related problems requiring innovations and interdisciplinary approaches to research to identify and rapidly implement solutions, and, c) the high potential for successful public health interventions resulting from research projects. Our strategies for achieving the goal of strengthening of research capacity for innovation focus on: a) comprehensive joint training of Ghanaian and US post-doctoral scientists who will become future leaders of global health research; b) the building of institutional capacities through a combination of strengthening faculty collaboration and mentoring skills, and development, testing, and dissemination of research training materials using state-of-the-art distributed learning methodologies; and c) strengthening an alliance of academic institutions with governmental organizations responsible for evidence-based implementation of developed innovations. Specific methods to achieve these objectives include: a) joint training and mentoring of Ghanaian and US post-doctoral fellows organized into interdisciplinary teams in intensive programs of 6 months of study at UM followed by 6 months in Ghana to field test innovations; b) bringing Ghanaian mentor senior scientists to UM with their postdoctoral mentees to cement Ghanaian to US mentor collaboration, strengthen mentoring skills, and ensure smooth transition to the conduct of field studies in Ghana; c) supporting UM faculty and information specialists to spend time in Ghana to providing ongoing mentorship for the post-doctoral interdisciplinary teams.