University of California Launching Future Leaders in Global Health Research Training Program

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In response to RFA-TW-21-004, the University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI), including UC San Francisco (UCSF), UC San Diego (UCSD), UC Los Angeles (UCLA) and UC Davis (UCD), along with a network of 21 collaborating institutions in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs), proposes to continue our successful GloCal Health Fellowship (GloCal). Our LMIC sites are well-established, work in regions with some of the highest burden of disease, and stand to benefit from our program’s capacity building, mentorship training and alumni support. GloCal is the only UC-wide global health training program, and our track record shows that we: 1) Recruit pre- and postdoctoral trainees diverse in discipline and race [39% of U.S. trainees over the past 5 years identify as an underrepresented minority (URM)] who aspire to build interdisciplinary academic research careers in global health; 2) Provide outstanding, interdisciplinary education and training in global health in collaboration with faculty mentors from participating UC campuses and collaborating LMIC institutions; and 3) Provide each trainee with a rich and enduring mentored research experience that fosters scientific and career development in global health. The program also advances long-term objectives to 1) Develop models of interdisciplinary, innovative global health research and training designed to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all; 2) Enhance global health networks between the UC and our LMIC partners and recruit faculty leading innovative global health research; and 3) Strengthen a sustainable and equitable model of collaboration between the UC and our LMIC partners that develops research capacity that advances locally-led and locally-relevant research. GloCal will recruit candidates from a pipeline of 65 T32 and 13 D43 programs. GloCal trainees are at different career stages, but all receive: 1) A 9 or 12-month, hands-on research experience onsite with one of our LMIC partners—LMIC fellows will spend their first 2 to 3 months of the program at UC and earn a certificate in ‘conducting global health research’; 2) A strong, interdisciplinary mentored research experience; 3) Instruction in global health through onsite and online courses; and 4) Career development to ensure that they attain their short-term goals and succeed in transitioning to the next career stage. GloCal leadership and standing committees ensure that these program components form a seamless, integrated experience supported by evaluation and continuous improvement. Strengths and innovations of the program include: 1) A unified consortium under UCGHI that includes four UCs at the leading edge of global health 2) Recruitment of diverse U.S. trainees across UC and the UCLA-Charles Drew University partnership; 3) Mentors offering training across diverse disciplines (e.g., medicine, nursing, dentistry, public health, veterinary science, environmental and social sciences) and in research methods; and 4) Leveraging common resources across the four participating UC campuses (UCGHI, CTSAs and CFARs). UCGHI is committed to supporting the success of GloCal, as evidenced by their pledge of $600,000 in co-funding.