Nurturing the Global Workforce in Clinical Research: The National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Clinical Scholars and Fellows Program

Abstract

The Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars and Fellows Program's goal is to foster the next generation of clinical investigators and to help build international health research partnerships between American and international investigators and institutions. Through June 2012, 61 sites in 27 countries have hosted 436 Scholars (American students or junior trainees from the host countries) and/or 122 Fellows (American and host country postdoctoral fellows) for year-long experiences in global health research. Initially, the program was oriented toward infectious diseases, but recently emphasis on chronic disease research has increased. At least 521 manuscripts have been published, many in high-impact journals. Projects have included clinical trials, observational studies, translational research, clinical-laboratory interface initiatives, and behavioral research. Strengths of the program include training opportunities for American and developing country scientists in well-established international clinical research settings, and mentorship from experienced global health experts.

The National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center Global Health Scholars and Fellows Program: Collaborating Across Five Consortia to Strengthen Research Training

“…Investment of NIH ICs into the FICRS-F program yielded substantial research productivity in the early years following the trainees' completion of support. 1,5,6 Using traditional metrics of peer-reviewed publications, new academic positions and grants awarded, the impact of the GHF program has been impressive. In the first 3 years, trainees have published 871 peer-reviewed publications, 320 of which were first-authored by the trainee (Table 2).…”

Recruiting Post-Doctoral Fellows into Global Health Research: Selecting NIH Fogarty International Clinical Research Fellows

“…The NIH FICRF Program was an expansion of the predoctoral FICRS Program, 7 which was in place for 4 years before the FIC converted both programs to a less centralized Global Health Program for Fellows and Scholars.…”

“…5,6 The Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars Program (FICRS) was initiated in 2003 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Center (FIC) as the FIC/Ellison Foundation Program. 7 The FICRS Program was a 1-year mentored training experience that provided opportunities for US doctoral students in the health professions to participate in clinical research and gain hands-on experience at NIH-funded research centers across the globe from Bangladesh to Zambia by working alongside twinned counterpart Scholars from the host low-and middleincome countries (LMICs). The purpose of the program was to foster the next generation of clinical investigators and further international health research collaborations in LMICs (www.fogartyscholars.org).…”

“…8 This interest, plus the conviction that LMICs research experiences may be equally strategic at more advanced stages of training, spurred the FIC to expand 7,9 To assess trends in global health research interest and factors associated with competitiveness among post-doctoral trainees who sought concentrated global health research training opportunities, we examined the FICRF applicant pool, proposed research topics, selection process, and characteristics of enrollees.…”

Training Programs Within Global Networks: Lessons Learned in the Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars and Fellows Program

“…15,16 We review challenges and considerations faced by such efforts, discuss program infrastructure and lessons learned by FICRS-F Program leaders, and describe an administrative framework for centralized training programs across universities and networks. The scope of this paper is limited to administrative aspects of the program, but it is part of a series of reports that will collectively describe FICRS-F in depth.…”