Global Health Collaboration Award

Supporting bilateral clinical, educational, and training initiatives in global health

The Global Health Collaboration Award was established in 2024 through the support of the Dean’s Office and UCLA Health International Services.  These awards are primarily intended to support opportunities for UCLA faculty, post-graduate trainees and global colleagues to jointly create clinical educational programming, quality improvement projects, or other learning exchanges grounded in equitable partnership.

Examples of Global Health Collaboration Grants in action:

Julia Posadas, medical physicist from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, joins medical physicists from the UCLA Department of Radiation Oncology (Dr. Jonathan Pham, Dr. John Charters, Dr. Mike Lauria, and Dr. Steve Tenn) to learn radiation machine calibration and quality assurance testing.
Julia Posadas, medical physicist from the University of the Philippines–PGH, joined UCLA Radiation Oncology faculty to learn radiation machine calibration and quality assurance testing.
Dr. Yiwombe (second from left) and Mr. Gama (with ultrasound probe, far from right) participated in a special simulation session led by DoM Global Health faculty Daniel Kahn, MD (second from right), Faysal Saab, MD (far left), and Dr. Brook. One case was written by third-year internal medicine resident Richard Brach, MD (center), and Dr. Hodson (third from left) also assisted with the cases. Cardiology faculty Samuel Daneshvar, MD (right) joined as well.
From Partners in Hope, Malawi, Physician Dr. Isaac Yiwombe, MBBS (second from left), and radiology technician Khumbo Gama (with ultrasound probe, far right) joined a simulation session led by UCLA Health faculty Drs. Daniel Kahn, Faysal Saab, and Rachel Brook.
Peru Ultrasound
UCLA Health resident Dr. Elena Drews (right) showing physicians at Hospital de Loreto in Iquitos, Peru, how to use point-of-care ultrasound.

Examples of recent collaboration awards:

  • Anesthesiology – Black Lion Hospital & Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (Ethiopia)
  • Radiation Oncology – University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital (Philippines)
  • Pediatrics – Vivekananda Memorial Hospital, Sargur (India)
  • Internal Medicine / Pediatrics – Partners in Hope (Malawi)
  • Medicine / GIM–HSR – Centre of Public Health, University of Santiago (Cape Verde)
  • Radiology / Interventional Radiology – Hospital Regional de Loreto, Iquitos (Peru)
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology – Narendra Modi Medical College, Ahmedabad (India)
  • Pathology and Laboratory Medicine – Partners in Hope (Malawi)
  • Infectious Diseases – Chainama Hills Hospital (Zambia)
  • Radiology – National Cancer Center (Mongolia)
  • Emergency Medicine – Aga Khan University Hospital (Kenya)
  • Surgery – Universidade Eduardo Mondlane / Hospital Central Maputo (Mozambique)

Learn how to apply for the next cycle of Collaboration Awards below.

The Collaboration Award supports bilateral clinical, educational, and training initiatives with international partners, with a particular focus on settings with limited resources. Competitive funding is available to DGSOM and UCLA Health faculty, residents, and fellows who submit a joint application with a clinician or partner from a collaborating international institution or organization.

Proposals must:

  • Clearly emphasize bilateral collaboration between UCLA and the global partner site
  • Clearly articulate the benefits to the partner site
  • Ensure collaborators have full discretion to determine how at least half of the requested funds are used to serve their priorities

Eligible activities include (but are not limited to):

  1. Partner-prioritized clinical specialty training or workshops where partner trainees are the primary beneficiaries
  2. Bilateral clinical education initiatives
  3. Development and implementation of a quality improvement initiative
  4. Observerships at UCLA for partner trainee or faculty, to be arranged through UCLA International Services (Physician Observerships)
  5. Limited-scope research*

*The Global Health Seed Grant Program is the primary funding source for global health research proposals. Limited-scope research may be considered for this award only if it is directly tied to advancing available clinical care. Research programs with existing grant support are not eligible.

Award Information

The Global Health Collaboration Award provides up to $6,000 per collaborating team to support bilateral clinical, educational, training, quality improvement, and limited-scope research collaborations between UCLA and international partner institutions.

Awards are provided on a cost-reimbursement basis. Airfare and all other project-related expenses must be included within the total award amount.

Reimbursement requests must be submitted by the applicant's department and include the required supporting documentation, such as receipts and proof of payment.

The award period ends on April 30, 2027. All funded activities and award-related expenses must be completed by this date. Reimbursement requests and supporting documentation must be submitted to the appropriate David Geffen School of Medicine Dean's Office Finance Team by June 30, 2027.

Extensions will not be granted. Applicants should ensure that all proposed activities can be completed within the award period before submitting an application.

Application Timeline

Applications for the 2026-2027 Global Health Collaboration Award will open on August 1, 2026.

Application Deadline: September 15, 2026.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline and include all required supporting documentation. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from current David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) and UCLA Health faculty, residents, and fellows. Each application must be submitted jointly with an international collaborator and reflect the priorities of the partner institution.

Faculty

Applicants must:

  • Be a current DGSOM or UCLA Health faculty member.
  • Conduct all award-supported activities within the approved award period. Vacation time may not be used for funded activities, although personal vacation days may be added to facilitate travel.

Residents and Fellows

Applicants must:

  • Be a current DGSOM or UCLA Health resident or fellow.
  • Conduct all award-supported activities within the approved award period. Vacation time may not be used for funded activities, although personal vacation days may be added to facilitate travel.

 

Other Funding Opportunities

Faculty interested in pursuing HIV-related research overseas may also be eligible for funding through the UCLA-CDU Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), supported by the UCLA AIDS Institute. These grants support the development of new international HIV research collaborations.

Learn more about CFAR funding opportunities.

 

Required Documents

Please submit a complete application and all required supporting documents by email to:

Required Application Materials:

  • Completed Global Health Collaboration Award application
  • Proposed budget
  • Curricula Vitae (CV) for UCLA applicant 
  • Curriculum vitae (CV) for the international collaborator
  • Letter of support from the UCLA applicant's department or program
  • Letter of support from the international partner institution or organization
  • Confirmation that the applicant has consulted with their department's grant team or pre-award office prior to submission

Letter of Support Requirements

  • Faculty Applicants: A brief letter of support on official UCLA letterhead from the applicant's department or division confirming departmental endorsement. The letter must be signed by the Department Chair or Division Chief.
  • Resident and Fellow Applicants: A brief letter of support on official UCLA letterhead from the applicant's Program Director confirming the applicant is in good standing and that the proposed activities are endorsed by program leadership. The letter must be signed by the Program Director or Associate Program Director.
  • International Partner Institution: A letter of support on official letterhead from the collaborating institution or organization confirming its support for the proposed collaboration.

Departmental Fee Waiver (If Applicable)

  • Applicants hosting observers from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) must obtain a departmental fee waiver for UCLA Health International Services observership fees.
    • Please submit documentation confirming the approved waiver (such as an email or letter from your department).
  • For additional guidance, please contact your Department Chair, Program Director, or Departmental Administrative Officer.
  • Review the UCLA Health International Physician Observerships page
Post-Award Requirements

Award recipients are required to:

  • Complete all funded activities by April 30, 2027.
  • Submit all reimbursement requests and supporting documentation to the appropriate Dean's Office Finance Team by June 30, 2027.
  • Complete the required post-project evaluation.
  • Participate in a brief video recording, if requested, highlighting the collaboration and project outcomes.