Doris Duke Charitable Foundation - International Clinical Research Fellowships in Africa

The Office of Student Research at Yale University School of Medicine has been awarded a Doris Duke Charitable Foundation International Clinical Research Fellowship for medical students conducting research in Africa. Up to 3 one year fellowships will be awarded to medical students each year to study HIV/AIDS and related diseases in Africa.

Students will be paired with two mentors, one at Yale and the second at the African institution. The fellowship year is expected to begin on on July 1, 2009, with formal courses that will begin in July, 2009 at Yale followed by at least 8 months of research conducted in Africa.

Students must complete an application via the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation website and also submit additional materials that are requested below. Information on mentors at Yale and the African institutions and projects are also available below.

Application Information

Interested students should complete the Doris Duke Common Application Package. The Doris Duke Common Application formal deadline is January 15, 2009.

In addition to the electronic submission of the Common Application to the Doris Duke Foundation, we will require the following sent to our office:

1. A hard copy of the DDCF Common Application (including personal statement) The personal statement should indicate why you wish to conduct clinical research in HIV/AIDS and related diseases in Africa.
2. An official medical school transcript.
3. A letter of support from your Dean of Students, including notation of MCAT scores.
4. Two letters of reference from faculty members who can comment on your academic performance and potential for clinical research.
5. Your Curriculum vitae.
6. Names of 2-3 potential faculty research mentors from the list below. You can add this to your personal statement or include it as a separate component of the application packet. (see Mentor Selection section below for further information)

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

All applicants should have completed two or more years of medical school prior to beginning the Doris Duke Fellowship. Students in good standing, enrolled at any accredited U.S. medical school, are eligible to apply. A completed application, official medical school transcript, and two recommendation letters will be required for consideration.

Interviews will be conducted in February after all applications are received.

Mentor Selection and Projects

Listed below are Yale Faculty Mentors and projects. Applicants should select 2-3 potential faculty mentors from the list below:

Gerald Friedland, M.D., ., Director, Yale AIDS Program, Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology & Public Health, Yale.
	Collaborating African Investigators	At Tugela Ferry: Tony Moll M.B., Ch.B., Physician, Church of Scotland Hospital, Director, Philanjalo; At the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu Natal; Umesh Lalloo M.B., Ch.B., M.D., Professor of Medicine, Director of Pulmonary Medicine; Prashini Moodely, M.D. Ph.D., Professor of Microbiology, Director of Department of Microbiology; Wilhelm Sturm M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Microbiology; Dean, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine At the KewaZuluNatal Department of Health:Claudio Marra Ph.D., Epidemiologist
	Other US Investigators	Neel Gandhi M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Sarita Shah, M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine
	Title of Research Program	“Confronting Multiple and Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis ( MDR and XDR TB) in rural South Africa”
Brian Forsyth, M.D., Ch.B., Medical Director, Pediatric Primary Care Center, Professor of Pediatrics and Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine.
	Collaborating African Investigators	Bridget Jeffery, M.B., Ch.B., University of Pretoria.
	Title of Research Program	“Promoting resilience in young children of HIV-infected mothers in South Africa”; “Building Capacity for HIV-related Research in South Africa”.
Michael Merson, M.D., Director, Global Health Institute at Duke University.
	Collaborating African Investigators	Mary Crewe, M.D., Director, Center for the Study of AIDS University of Pretoria, South Africa.
	Title of Research Program	Training in HIV Prevention & Care Research in South Africa, HIV/AIDS-Related Medical Research and Community Projects in Nine Western and Southern African Countries
	Current Funding	Fogarty International Center, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, NIH, NIH/FC, NIMH.
Michael Cappello, M.D., Director, Program in International Child Health, Professor of Pediatrics, Yale. Elijah Painstil, M.D., Associate Research Scientist of Epid. & Public Health and Pediatrics, Yale.
	Collaborating African Investigators	David Oforei-Adjei Ph.D. , Director, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Professor, University of Ghana Medical School; and Michael Wilson Ph.D., Associate Director, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
	Title of Research Program	The Yale-Africa Child Health Initiative To Improve Child Health In Africa Through Yale-Sponsored Collaborative Research. The goal is to strengthen the health research infrastructure in African Universities, thereby reversing the African “brain drain” that is depleting the continent of its most talented investigators.
Jeffrey Fisher, Ph.D., Director, Center for Health Intervention & Prevention, Professor of Social Psychology, University of Connecticut
	Collaborating African Investigators	Wilhelm Sturm M.D., Ph.D., Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of Kwazulu, Natal
	Title of Research Program	Theory based intervention in which HIV counselors at McCords Hospital in Durban South Africa.
Majid Sadigh, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine.
	Collaborating African Investigators	Harriet Mayanja-Kizza , M.B., Ch.B., M. Med.(Internal Medicine),M.S., Chair, Internal Medicine, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Makerere University
	Title of Research Program	HIV/AIDS Treatment and Outcome.

 
Financial Information

A stipend of $27,000 annually will be provided to all Fellows. The policy of Yale University School of Medicine is to charge medical students an extended registration fee of $400 during the year of their fellowship. Applicants from other medical schools will not be charged tuition and should consult with their home school for information regarding tuition and fees. Funds are available to offset health insurance, travel, research expenses, and relocation expenses.

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