The purpose of the Brain Disorders in the Developing World: Research Across the Lifespan program is to develop collaborative research and capacity building projects on brain disorders throughout life, relevant to low- and middle-income countries. Applicants are expected to develop innovative, collaborative research programs that would contribute to the long-term goal of building sustainable research capacity in nervous system function and impairment throughout life.
The first phase of a project consists of a two-year planning/development grant using the R21 grant mechanism. The R21 grant provides support to organize, plan for, prepare, and assemble an application for a more comprehensive R01 grant involving collaboration between developed and developing country investigators and which incorporates both research and capacity building. During the R21 award period, the applicant should:
- further define the type and area of research to be developed;
- conduct pilot studies;
- develop and solidify collaborative relationships and understandings with the partners in the developed and developing countries involved.
The applicant should also provide a plan to assess current resources and needs, and a plan to address those needs, to enable the proposed research and capacity building to be successfully carried out. Training and other capacity-building opportunities should be incorporated into the research application in the context of the proposed research.