Global chronic disease research training for fellows: perspectives, challenges, and opportunities.

Abstract

The growing interest in global chronic disease research is not matched by workforce capacity at present.1 The dearth of researchers with global chronic disease backgrounds and training has led to the creation of novel funding opportunities for young researchers, particularly fellows. As 2 cardiology fellows in global cardiovascular disease research training through the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Clinical Research Fellows’ (FICR-F) program, we have a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in this area. Here, we present our perspective on potential funding pathways, areas of interest germane to global cardiovascular disease research, the importance of an overseas training component, forms of “home” institutional support that can be helpful, and personal challenges and opportunities that merit consideration. Global chronic disease research has garnered attention recently with several widely publicized reports describing its scope and importance.1–3 The creation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the United Nations in 2000 led to a groundswell of interest in pursuing data-driven research and goal-directed programs toward global development.4 Three of the MDGs have direct health targets: reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. The other MDGs have indirect effects on health through development. Since the creation and subsequent adoption of the MDGs by various global government, nongovernment, and research organizations, some have argued for the specific inclusion of chronic diseases in the MDGs, given their prevalence.5 Publications from the World Health Organization, the Global Alliance for Chronic Disease, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) have outlined the rationale for such global health research, particularly in chronic diseases.1,6–8 These organizations argue that global chronic disease research has the potential to blunt the economic impact of an unchecked epidemic of chronic diseases.3,9 …