Research capacity strengthening activities are at the heart of the TDR Strategy 2024–2029, which aims to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage. Within the context of the TDR vision, the overall goal is to strengthen the capacity of individuals, institutions and communities to produce research evidence useful for reducing the burden of infectious diseases of poverty in low- and middle-income countries. Collaborations with partner universities and training institutions in these countries are critical to jointly achieving this goal.