Clinical Research Leadership programme

The Clinical Research Leadership (CRL) fellowship programme, launched in 2023, is based on four pillars:

Pillar 1: Improved clinical research skills obtained through flexible placement of fellows at Training Partner Organizations (TPOs).

Pillar 2: Strong clinical research leadership skills acquired through customized learning, coaching and leadership experience at the home institution, geared to each fellow’s needs and interests.

Pillar 3: Enhanced gender equity promoted through active measures to ensure fair participation of women and men and people who do not fit into these binary gender identities.

Pillar 4: Strengthened institutional capacity by maximizing the fellow’s contribution on re-entry.

This new fellowship programme will maximize the value of the clinical research skills obtained through the placement at a TPO by focusing on research leadership, with fellows using their clinical research skills, in conjunction with competencies and capabilities to effectively communicate with, and support, members of a multidisciplinary team. Several actions identified through the contest challenge and focus group discussions with previous fellows will be put in place to enhance gender equity, by increasing the participation of women. An institutional development plan will enable the fellows to maximize their contribution to strengthening their institution on re-entry, as well as developing and managing a research team to undertake a research study.

The CRL training will provide support for a maximum of 24 months to fellows selected through open competition, including placement with a TPO, re-entry at the home institution and institutional development.

The Clinical Research Leadership programme builds on the experience of the Clinical Research and Development Fellowship (CRDF) programme.

Since 1999, a cumulative total of 112 fellows (26 women, 86 men) from 36 LMICs have been selected to be placed with 31 partner organizations. All fellows returned to their home institutions except one who has played a pivotal role in a wide range of R&D projects, including trials for new candidate vaccines and drugs.

CRDF training programme helped to build country response to epidemics

TDR conducted an evaluation of the CRDF programme during the COVID-19 pandemic to assess how the research training skills of the people trained are contributing to various aspects of the emergency response, involvement in the COVID-19 response and the number applying their acquired skills and the countries involved. Of 68 CRDF who responded to the survey, 45 (66%) reported involvement in the COVID-19 response, with 38 (84%) applying their acquired skills in their respective country (27 countries). In terms of research, 74% of those involved with the CRDF training, were involved in clinical research, most commonly as a clinical trial manager.