EDCTP Call for Proposals: Mobilisation of funding for COVID-19 research in sub-Saharan Africa

The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) invites expressions of interest proposals for Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) to support research activities in sub-Saharan Africa to manage and/or prevent the spread of the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Proposals must demonstrate the following:

• Addressing urgent research questions in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak, in line with the research priorities of the Global Research Roadmap and the WHO R&D Blueprint for rapid activation of R&D activities during epidemics.
• Strengthening of national and local research capacity.
• Coordination and collaboration with other research and/or humanitarian activities operational in the countries affected, following principles of good participatory practice for emerging and re-emerging pathogens.
• Compliance with International Council on Harmonisation – Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP), regulatory and ethical standards.
• Commitment to open access and data sharing principles.

Eligibility

A proposal/application will only be considered eligible if:

1. Its content corresponds, wholly or in part, to the topic/contest description for which it is submitted
2. It complies with the eligibility conditions set out below, depending on the type of action:
   • Consortia comprising a minimum of three independent legal entities are eligible to apply. Two of the legal entities shall be established in two different Participating States (European Partner States) (6) and one of the legal entities must be established in a sub-Saharan African country (7). All three legal entities shall be independent of each other.
   • ‘Sole participants’ formed by several legal entities (e.g. European Research Infrastructure Consortia, European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation, central purchasing bodies) are eligible if the above-mentioned minimum conditions are satisfied by the legal entities forming together the sole participant.
   • Applicants from non-EU and non-sub-Saharan African countries are free to take part in the EDCTP2 programme, however, they are not automatically entitled to funding. Applicants may be granted funding if their participation is considered essential for carrying out actions in the grant. It has to be demonstrated that participation by the applicant has clear benefits to the consortium such as outstanding expertise/competence, access to research infrastructure, particular geographical environments and/or data.

Proposals should provide novel, critical and timely insights into the COVID-19 outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa and/or potential avenues for its management or prevention. Proposals must be timely, with rapid activation, to enable early and valuable outcomes to be established and/or to access time-dependent resources.

Read more here. 

Applications deadline April 17, 2020.