VALIDATE Fellowships

Round 5 is now OPEN until 11 April 2025

The VALIDATE Network aims to accelerate vaccine research and development for three groups of complex neglected intracellular pathogens that cause significant mortality and morbidity throughout the world, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs): Mycobacteria (causing tuberculosis, leprosy and other diseases), Leishmania (causing leishmaniasis) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (causing melioidosis). A second, important aim of the VALIDATE Network is to facilitate career progression for its members, particularly Early Career Researchers (ECRs), and (recognising career progression inequity) researchers from LMICs and researchers identifying as female and/or non-binary.

To support these aims, we are running a VALIDATE Fellowships 2025 call for associate members from LMICs. The VALIDATE Fellowships will fund two years’ independent scientific research, with the aim of producing initial/pilot data and a funding and experience track record that can be used by the Fellow to go on to obtain independent external funding and launch their career as a Principal Investigator and/or Group Leader.

The Fellow’s proposed research must be scientifically excellent, and fall within the VALIDATE remit. Any aspect of research that will accelerate development of an efficacious vaccine for our focus pathogens is eligible, including biological, physical and social sciences, and humanities.

Applicants must:

Be an Associate member of VALIDATE based for work at an LMIC institute
Not have received a prior VALIDATE Fellowship

We strongly advise you to get input and seek help/guidance from more experienced Senior Scientists in your institute to review, and help you improve, your application prior to your submission. Ensure your application is focused, has clear objectives that are achievable within the timeframe, and that your hypothesis and methods are scientifically rigorous. You may need Institution/finance approval sign off for your application so ensure you leave plenty of time to obtain this prior to the call deadline.

Fellowships are via competitive application to the VALIDATE Network Management Board (NMB). Please submit your application form and associated documents as one pdf document by 4pm BST on the closing date to the Network Management Team at VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk.

It is important that you read the further details about this award and how to apply, in our Resources section below, and follow this guidance. Do contact the VALIDATE Team (VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk) with any further queries. There will be an online Q&A session about this Fellowship call on 5 February 2025 at 1400 GMT. Registrations details to follow in January 2025.

Please note that successful VALIDATE Fellows will be invited to present their project plans at the 2025 VALIDATE Annual Meeting (costs to attend will be covered by VALIDATE) – so please hold the date in your diaries!

Please contact the VALIDATE team at VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk with any queries about the grant call.

LMIC Support:

To encourage and support LMIC applications to this call, VALIDATE is offering the following to LMIC-based applicants:

VALIDATE can connect you with a grant writing mentor who will support you with your grant planning and writing. Please register your interest in the support by emailing VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk by 7 February 2025.
If English is not your first language, we may be able to offer translation services, if this would be helpful – contact VALIDATE@ndm.ox.ac.uk to find out more.

Resources:

VALIDATE Fellowship application template

VALIDATE Fellowship application guidance

VALIDATE Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions

UK Government information on ODA strategic objectives

List of LMIC countries

Grant writing tips and advice