Scholars Program

In 2003, the Fogarty International Center (FIC) issued the first solicitation for applications under the Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars Program for U.S. and developing country advanced degree students in the health sciences. This program, now in its 5th year, offers one year of mentored clinical research training at a site in the developing world. It expands upon international opportunities for new investigators seeking hands-on experience working in poor and transitional countries. Such experiences during a formative period will hopefully encourage these young researchers to pursue careers in global health-related clinical research.

The program also provides support for graduate-level clinical research activities at the foreign sites, as well as a stipend for a foreign graduate student to work alongside the U.S. trainee during the clinical research year. Initial training sites included Botswana, Brazil, Haiti, India (2), Kenya, Mali, Peru (2), South Africa (2), Thailand, Uganda, and Zambia. Since the first year, sites in Bangladesh, China, Russia, Tanzania, Brazil, and Argentina have participated as Scholar sites. These sites have the capacity to provide an outstanding clinical research training experience to one or more Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars. Specifically, sites are equipped with the following: an FIC international training grant and an NIH clinical research grant; strong ethical review and oversight of clinical research; committed interest and expertise in mentoring students; appropriate research facilities; and suitable infrastructure arrangements for housing, food, and transportation. 

The Fogarty International Clinical Research Scholars Program cycle:

The call for applications is announced in mid-summer with a deadline in early December. A Review Committee reviews and ranks the applications and meets in mid-January to discuss and select the top ranking applicants. In early March, the top ranking applicants meet and interview with the program PIs. The applicants that are matched and the selected foreign scholars commence training in July with a 2 to 2 1/2 week intensive orientation (Click here for more information about Orientation) and training session at NIH followed by a mini-orientation session at their respective U.S. Institution before departing for their foreign sites for 10 months.

The FICRS Support Center was established at the Vanderbilt University Institute for Global Health, and oversees overall program management, information dissemination and applicant selection, communications, program coordination and logistics, program monitoring and evaluation, organization of educational programs and conferences, and maintains relationships with program alumni. Partnering with the Vanderbilt, the Association of American Medical Colleges provides outreach, solicits applications, and conducts the applicant review for the Scholars program, as well as coordinates major FICRS events and meetings. Outreach to numerous health-science fields is also conducted by the Association of Schools of Public Health. The FICRS Support Center and its programming is supported by the FIC and over 12 National Institutes of Health.

To date: 128 U.S. Scholars and 123 foreign site Scholars 

Supporting NIH Institute Centers: FIC, OD, NCI, NIDA, NIMH, NHLBI, NINR, NCMHD, NIAID, NINDS, NICHD, NIDCR, OWHR