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.

Funding and reimbursement

Grants provide up to $6,000 per collaborating team and are available until the end of the fiscal year. Awards are made through quarterly fund transfers on a reimbursement basis. Reimbursements must be requested by the department and include adequate documentation (e.g., receipts, proof of payment). Airfare expenses count toward the total budget.

Application Cycles

The application cycle operates on a rolling basis and is subject to the availability of funding. 

Update: Due to the current budgetary challenges, the next application cycle for the Collaboration Award is expected to open in Late Fall 2025. Please check back for updated deadlines and details.

For those interested in pursuing HIV-related research overseas, another available grant opportunity exists through UCLA-CDU CFAR, with funding from the UCLA AIDS Institute. The purpose of these grants is to provide opportunities for investigators to engage in collaborations that may instigate and initiate new international HIV research projects. For more information please visit: https://cfar.ucla-cdu.org/funding-opportunities/

Applications from a UCLA health faculty member or a UCLA trainee (resident or fellow) will be considered.

Faculty:

  • Must be a current DGSOM or UCLA Health faculty member
  • While vacation time cannot be used, vacation days can be added to a trip to facilitate travel

Resident/fellow:

  • Must be a current DSGOM or UCLA Health resident or fellow
  • While vacation time cannot be used, vacation days can be added to a trip to facilitate travel

Please send all relevant documentation by email to:

Required Materials:

  • Completed application
  • Proposed budget
  • Curricula Vitae for UCLA applicant and primary host
  • Letters of support (see guidance below)
    • Faculty applicants: Brief letter of support on official UCLA letterhead from your Department/Division leadership. The letter must be signed by the Department Chair or Division Chief.
    • Residents/fellows: Brief letter of support on official UCLA letterhead from your Program Director stating you are in good standing and that the experience is endorsed by program leadership. The letter must be signed by the Program Director or Associate Program Director.
    • Host institution: Letter of support on official letterhead from the collaborating institution/organization.
  • Departmental Fee Waiver Documentation (if applicable)
    • If hosting observers from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), you must obtain a waiver for departmental fees.
      • Submit proof of the waiver (e.g., email or letter from your department).
    • For guidance, contact your Department Chair, Program Director, or Departmental Administrative Officer.
    • Review the UCLA Health International Physician Observerships page 

Post-award requirements:

  • Reimbursement requests must be submitted within two weeks of returning to UCLA after travel.
  • Final report: Submit a one-page trip summary within four weeks, outlining activities and plans for continued collaboration with your partner site.