1. Health Research Capacity Strengthening Initiative
National Commission for Science & Technology
Health Research Capacity Strengthening Initiative
Dr Mathildah Chithila
Programme Manager

2. Introduction HRCSI is a programme implemented by NCST
Five year programme
Funded by Wellcome Trust and DFID

3. NCST Mandate
To advise Government & other Stakeholders on all Science and Technology Matters in order to achieve Science & Technology led Development

4. Key Programs in NCST PROGRAM FUNDING
Health Research Capacity Strengthening Initiative (HRCSI)
DFID/WT
Biotechnology and Biosafety
USAID/PBS
Traditional Medicine Research (TRAMED) Programme
NAC
Ethanol-driven Vehicle Research Programme (EDVR)
Malawi Government/ETHCO/Press Cane
Sustainable Development Network Program (SDNP)
UNDP/Revenue
National Schools Science Fair
Malawi Government/Kamuzu Academy
Secondary Schools Science Competition
Malawi Government/Arkay Plastics
Women in Science and Technology Network (WISTNET)
Malawi Government

5. HRCSI Mission
To strengthen health research capacity and empower researchers to collaborate effectively within and across institutions through funding opportunities in Malawi

6. Governance of HRCSI NCST Board
oversight over implementation and financial management
Multidisciplinary Health Research Committee (MHRC)
review of applications and making funding recommendation to the Board

7. HRCSI KEY OUTPUTS Promotion of health research in Malawi
Enhanced institutional capacity for high quality multi-disciplinary health research
Promoting use of research in formulating of national health policies and programmes
Enhancing dissemination of scientific knowledge in Malawi
Strengthening regulation and coordination of the national research environment

8. Research Grants: Multidisc., Senior & Junior
HRCSI SCHEMES
HRCSI Grant Schemes
Research Grants: Multidisc., Senior & Junior
internships
Training Fellowships
Institutional Grants
Undergraduate grants

9. Other initiatives Research priority setting
Co-funding of research dissemination conferences
Bio-ethics training

10. Achievements Training fellowships HRCSI has awarded:
6 PhD and 31 MSc awardees.
8 of the MSc students have completed studies and resumed work in Malawi.
Health research career development
BSc to MSc
MSc to PhDs
Health research career

11. Achievements Research grants Capacity building through research grants
2 pursuing PhD degrees through MaRCH study
4 doing Msc degrees through a TB Health Education Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial in Ntcheu District

12. Achievements Dissemination of research results
Financially supported Research Dissemination Conferences
CoM, Poly, NCST and local researchers
Research papers presented at various national and international conferences by HRCSI grantees
Undergraduate student research grant
Training fellowship awardees
Research grant recipients
Publications emerging from both research grant recipients and training fellowship awardees

13. Achievements Undergraduate Research Grants
397 undergraduate students awarded grants
Further training opportunities for HRCSI funded undergraduate students
Increased research interest among undergraduate students and lecturers in constituent colleges of the university of Malawi

14. Achievements to date Health research priority setting
HRCSI facilitated development of the National Health Research Agenda.
NHRA now a policy document that will guide research priorities in Malawi for the period

15. Achievements Programme level collaboration and partnerships
COHRED and HRCSI: enhancement of health research information systems
CNHR and HRCSI : information sharing on lessons learnt
HRCSI and IDRC: technical assistance on knowledge management
HRCSI and MoH: NHRA development
HRCSI and CoM: bioethics training
HRCSI and PwC: grant systems strengthening

16. Partnerships and collaboration at Project levelPI
Research Project
Partnerships and purpose
Dr F Lampiao (CoM)
in vitro and in vivo investigation of medicinal herbs that could be used as a reversible male contraception.
Stellenbosch University, South Africa: technical support, laboratory supplies
Dr P Nyasulu (Wits)
Effectiveness of Health Education and Awareness Model on early TB diagnosis in resource-limited settings: Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
MoH- Ntcheu District Health Office: Involvement of health personnel in health centres, hospitals and communities; CHSU-TB Control Programme on programme coordination

17. Partnerships at Project levelPI
Research Project
Partnerships and purpose
Dr K Phiri (CoM)
Malaria rebound in cotrimoxazole prophylactic HIV exposed children
Queen Elizabeth Hospital on DNA testing
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine -mentorship; SACORE PhD funding for a co-investigator; Zomba Central Hospital – Project host

18. ENHANCING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY IN MALAWI
Contact the NCST/HRCSI… Website: Telephone: