Global Health Collaboration Award
Supporting bilateral clinical, educational, and training initiatives in global health
Supporting bilateral clinical, educational, and training initiatives in global health
The DGSOM Global Health Program (GHP), in collaboration with UCLA Health International Services, is committed to pursuing meaningful opportunities to promote equity in sponsored global health collaborations, particularly when involving historically disadvantaged and under-resourced international health care institutions. U.S.-based academic medical centers that participate in global health activities need to better demonstrate how they are shifting institutional norms and operational paradigms that traditionally serve their interests more than those of their partner communities. To help meet this explicit aim, we have redesigned our former Travel Grant program and have renamed it the Global Health Collaboration Award.
This new program prioritizes bilateral clinical, educational, and training initiatives with international partners, with a specific focus on settings with less access to such resources. Limited, competitive funding will be made available for DGSOM and UCLA Health faculty, residents, and fellows in a joint application with a corresponding clinician at a collaborating international institution or organization.
The joint application should articulate a set of activities centered around improving clinical care delivery in the host community that has the potential for sustained impact through enabling the host collaborator and/or institution to utilize an equal portion of the award as they see fit to advance care capacity at their institution. Activities eligible for funding include, but are not limited to:
- Participation in clinical specialty training or workshop
- Participation in a bilateral clinical education initiative
- Development and implementation of a quality improvement initiative
- Observerships at UCLA for partner trainee or faculty, to be arranged through UCLA International Services (Physician Observerships)
- Limited-scope research*
*The primary funding source for global health research proposals is the Global Health Seed Grant Program. However, limited scope research may be considered for this award. Please note that research programs with existing grant support are not eligible for this award.
To be competitive, proposals must emphasize bilateral collaboration between UCLA and the global partner site. There must be a clear benefit and learning gain at the global site and among trainees and/or faculty at UCLA. In addition, all proposals must be developed in close partnership with the international collaborator and driven by the specific goals of the collaborating partner.
GHP and International Services will award up to 16 grants per year. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding; teams may only receive one grant per academic year. Grants are offered for up to $6,000 for 1 year per collaborating team and are provided on a cost-reimbursement basis. Please note, airfare counts towards the total budget. Reimbursement requests and paperwork should be emailed to Vijeta Vaswani, GHP Program Coordinator, at VVaswani@mednet.ucla.edu.
Application Cycles
The application cycle is on a rolling a basis, but is limited to a maximum of 8 awards during a particular cycle. Please see below for deadlines:
- Cycle 1: Application deadline August 31, 2024, for collaborative activities between September 15, 2024, and January 31, 2025
- Cycle 2: December 1, 2024, for collaborative activities between February 1, 2025, and May 15, 2025
- FOR 2025 (note the cycle change; subsequent cycle dates will be posted online closer to Fiscal Year ’25-26): Cycle 1: June 1, 2025, for collaborative activities between July 1, 2025, through October 31, 2025
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 note the application requirements, and send all relevant documentation via email to two email addresses: GHP Program Coordinator, Vijeta Vaswani at VVaswani@mednet.ucla.edu; and copy Dr. Fola May, GHP Director of Grants at FMay@mednet.ucla.edu.
The application cycle is on a rolling a basis, but is limited to a maximum of 8 awards during a particular cycle. Please see below for deadlines:
- Cycle 1: Application deadline August 31, 2024, for collaborative activities between September 15, 2024, and January 31, 2025
- Cycle 2: December 1, 2024, for collaborative activities between February 1, 2025, and May 15, 2025
- FOR 2025 (note the cycle change; subsequent cycle dates will be posted online closer to Fiscal Year ’25-26): Cycle 1: June 1, 2025, for collaborative activities between July 1, 2025, through October 31, 2025
Application requirements:
- Completed application
- Proposed budget
- Curricula Vitae for UCLA applicant and primary host
- Written letter of support on official UCLA letterhead
- Faculty: A brief written letter of support should come from your Department or Division stating that the experience is endorsed by Department/Division/leadership. The appropriate individual (Department Chair or Division Chief) should sign all letters.
- Residents/fellows: A brief written letter of support should come from your Program Director stating you are in good standing and that the experience is endorsed by program leadership. All letters should be signed by the residency or fellowship Program Director or Associate Program Director.
- Letter of Support from Host Institution: Written letter of support from host individual’s institution/organization, on official letterhead
- Departmental Fee Waiver Documentation (if applicable): If your project involves hosting observers from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), you must obtain a waiver for any departmental fees associated with hosting them. This waiver is essential to facilitate your global partner’s training without financial barriers.
- Provide Documentation: Submit proof of the fee waiver (e.g., an email or letter from your department confirming the waiver).
- Guidance:
- Contact your Department Chair, Program Director, or Departmental Administrative Officer to request the fee waiver.
- Review the observership application process and departmental fees at the UCLA Health International Physician Observerships page.
- Submit reimbursement requests within two weeks of returning to UCLA after travel
- Submit a one-page summary of your trip, including plans for collaboration with your partner site, within four weeks.
