Funding sources for research: A research primer for low- and middle-income countries

Afr J Emerg Med. 2020;10(Suppl 2):S130-S134. doi: 10.1016/j.afjem.2020.09.012. Epub 2020 Oct 2.

Abstract

Research is a fundamental component of the development of quality emergency care systems. Developing qualified professionals and programs to conduct emergency care research is essential to understanding epidemiology in low resource settings. This leads to evaluating research outcomes, developing clinical practice guidelines and program implementation. This paper aims to introduce the reader to opportunities for research funding at various stages of one's career. We will discuss concepts necessary to obtain funding for research, a crucial step towards initiating a research program. The chapter further describes competitive funding mechanisms including governmental agencies, foundations and private industry along with organisations that offer funding for global health and emergency care research. We describe categories of grants specific to a stage of an investigator's career, developing a team for a proposal and the grant application process.

Keywords: Emergency medicine; Low income countries; Mentorship; Research.