Global Research Administration Practicum (GRASP)

• GRASP Slides
• GRASP Training Resources
• GRASP Partner Shared Resources

Session 1: Welcome & SRAI report out

Objectives: 

• SRAI Conference report out to the group

Description: This session will focus on group share of the key takeaways from the SRAI conference. 

Pre-Session Activities: 

• Attend SRAI sessions. Each team to create a presentation listing their top three SRAI sessions as a group with three takeaways.

Objectives:

• Understand the purpose and elements of effective SOPs
• Enhance existing/develop new SOPs

Description: This session will focus on best practices for developing SOPs and group work sharing existing SOPs and drafting new SOPs. 

Pre-Session Activity: 

• Bring research administration SOPs from your organization and/or list of desired SOPs.

Objectives:

• Identify funding agency registrations (SAM.gov UEI, eRA commons, grants.gov, ORCID) and learn how to register your institution.
• Participants will discuss their experiences with the registration processes. 

Description: This session will focus on tools and knowledge related to USG required registrations and share best practices. 

Pre-Session Activity: 

• Check your institution’s registration status for SAM.gov, and your registration status with eRA Commons, grants.gov, ORCID.

Required Readings/Videos:

Objectives:

• Understand the elements of the Vanderbilt Subrecipient Questionnaire
• Identify common elements in a subcontract (FDP template)

Description: This session will focus on practical skills completing required documents to be a subrecipient with VUMC and guidance on best practices when developing subcontracts at your own instutition. 

Pre-Session Activity: 

• Bring subcontract examples from your organization if possible.

Objectives:

• Discuss USG regulations and identify where to find them
• Understand NIH Conflict of Interest policy and organizational and individual level compliance; Discuss organizational COI policies 
• Understand NIH Public Access Policy and discuss best practices and tools for managing compliance
• Understand Policies related to Human Subjects Research and discuss best practices and tools for managing compliance
• Understand NIH Data Privacy regulation changes and discuss how it impacts global research partnerships

Description: This session will focus on key USG and NIH policies and compliance pertinent to global collaborative projects and group work including enhancing existing and drafting new organizational policies (COI, anti-harassment).   

Pre-Session Activities: 

• Bring relevant policy documents from your organization.

Required Readings/Videos:

Review NIH website “Policy and Compliance” https://grants.nih.gov/policy/index.htm  

NIH FY 2022 Updated Guidance: Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-22-055.html   

NIH Public Access Policy https://publicaccess.nih.gov/ 

NIH FInancial Conflict of Interest Policy https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/coi/index.htm  

Optional Readings/Videos:

Current Issues at NIH: Grants Policy Updates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpStsmZ5ym0&feature=youtu.be 

Update on Implementation of the New NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcD641ptWIY 

An Overview of NIH Policies on Human Subjects Research https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDy0kJ9K0zM&feature=youtu.be 

Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) - What You Need to Know https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D292YZ6BX24 

Objectives:

• Learn the services and structure of VUMC Office of Sponsored Projects: Services,  Roles and Responsibilities 
• Identify areas for organizational grants office enhancement
• Understand how to develop a grant submission timeline/tracking form

Description: This session provides an in-depth orientation to the Office of Sponsored Programs (VUMC’s central grants office) services and structure. Attendees will discuss their grants administration practices and grants office models, and time will be provided for self-reflection and group discussion activities. Participants will discuss how they manage grant development tracking and timelines and group work will include practical experiences developing a grant submission tracking form and timeline. 

Pre-Session Activity: 

• Bring grants management organizational chart or structure document
• Bring grant grant proposal development tracking timeline examples from your organization

Objectives: 

• Understand allowable and unallowable costs
• Understand US Federal regulations and cost principles and where to find them
• Understand monitoring requirements for management of sponsored programs
• Discuss common pitfalls and best practices related to management of grant funds

Description: The sessions will focus on tools and knowledge to support post-award grants administration monitoring and accounting best practices. The first session will be spent learning about financial best practices and monitoring and compliance regulations. The second session will focus on reviewing accounting software. Participants will participate in practical exercises, and group discussion. 

Pre-Session Activities: 

• Prepare a brief overview of your accounting system for tracking grant expenses.

Objectives: 

• Learn the elements of designing an effective training workshop
• Practice workshop design utilizing this approach
• Explore internal employee training systems to ensure high turnover rates do not negatively impact upon the project
• Discuss plans for external training that will be led by your team
• Outline a training plan for the current project year

Description: This session will begin by breaking down the process of workshop design, identifying learning objectives and goals for the course all the way through course evaluation. The latter portion examines the need to establish a training plan within our teams to account for turnover and maintaining institutional memory (internal training) as well as exploring training plans for utilizing the skills from this workshop and sharing them with faculty/ staff/ students (external training). Participants will apply their local context toward assessing training needs and planning for next steps upon completion of this training series.

Pre-Session Activity: 

• Bring your institution’s current training plan if available.

 Required videos: 

• Watch: Training Program Design | GreggU (5 min)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3SXxd4XzQ4

Objectives: 

• Understand the components of an NIH biosketch and how to create and optimize them 
• Understand how to develop an NIH Other Support document

Description: Group work will include practical exercises developing NIH Other Support and NIH biosketch documents 

Pre-Session Activity: 

• Read required readings (see below)
• Secure a curriculum vitae (CV, resume) from an investigator at your institution - we will develop these into NIH biosketches together during the workshop

Required Readings and Resources:

• “Instructions for Biographical Sketch” for applications submitted after January 25, 2022. 

• “Other Support” for applications submitted after January 25, 2022.

Objectives: 

• Understand the importance of a grant review process
• Review the learning objectives for the week related to designing an appropriate grant review process at your institution

Description: This session will provide background on how many academic institutions have implemented grant review processes to support researchers at the institution. We will contextualize this for partners and give an overview of plans for the week. 

 

Objectives:

• Introduce the VICTR institute and its current services provided to Vanderbilt investigators
• Consider application of VICTR services to your institution’s local context

Description: This session includes an introduction to the VICTR Research Support Services team as well as an overview of their mission and operational activities conducted to support Vanderbilt researchers.

 

Objectives:

• Understand the setup and implementation of the VICTR studio review process for investigators grant application documents
• Understand the setup and implementation of the VICTR mock study section process for grant proposals prior to submission

Description: These sessions will be led by the VICTR teams that oversee the studio review process and the mock study section reviews. Each team will provide background details on their office and the services it provides to investigators, detailing their process for running each type of proposal review.

 

Objectives:

• Observe a VICTR studio review process for investigators grant application documents and discuss
• Observe the VICTR mock study section process for grant proposals prior to submission

Description: During these sessions the group will observe actual sessions of investigator grant proposal reviews. Following observations we will discuss potential application to local contexts.

 

Objectives:

• Reflect on appropriate next steps for your institution to have a formal process by which to support investigators strengthen grant proposals
• Understand the steps to grant writing and review helpful tips for guiding investigators through the process

Description: These sessions will offer space to reflect on sessions thus far and brainstorm ideas for appropriate application. The second session will outline typical steps to the grant writing process and how research administrators can offer support to those processes for investigators.

 

Objectives:

• Explain the VICTR funding program
• Brainstorm application of the funding program concept to your local context

Description: These sessions will offer space to reflect on sessions thus far and brainstorm ideas for appropriate application. The second session will outline typical steps to the grant writing process and how research administrators can offer support to those processes for investigators.

 

Objectives:

• Observe the VICTR mock study section process for grant proposals prior to submission
• Observe a VICTR studio review process for investigators grant application documents and discuss
• Reflect on appropriate next steps for your institution to have a formal process by which to support investigators strengthen grant proposals
• Design a grant review system for your institution

Description: During these sessions the group will observe actual sessions of investigator grant proposal reviews. Following observations we will discuss potential application to local contexts.

 

Objectives:

• Teams to present on their respective grant review plans

Description: This session will allow team an opportunity to share out their plans for a grant review system at their institution and how they will implement them.

 

 

• You will stay at the Element Nashville Vanderbilt West End, located about one mile from Vanderbilt at 4 City Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209. The hotel phone number is +1 615-320-8400.
• Your stay includes free breakfast from 7:00-10:00am. Each room has a kitchenette and there is a laundry facility, restaurant, fitness center, and outdoor pool at the hotel. Smoking is not permitted on the property.
• We have arranged for a shuttle to/from Vanderbilt. The shuttle will leave the hotel once in the morning to take everyone to Vanderbilt and then pick up at Vanderbilt once in the afternoon to take everyone back to the hotel. We have arranged the following shuttle schedule based on our workshop schedule. Please note that times are subject to change. You may also walk between the hotel and Vanderbilt. It's about a 20-minute walk (see directions below the shuttle schedule).

It is about a 20-minute walk from the hotel to Vanderbilt. Some of the walking routes pass through Centennial Park, which is located between the hotel and Vanderbilt. Please see the map below for walking options. Directions for the path in blue are as follows: 

1. Head northeast on City Blvd towards 28th/31stAve Connector
2. Turn right onto 28th/31st Ave Connector
3. Slight left to stay on 28th/31st Ave Connector
4. Continue onto 31st Ave (be careful - there is no sidewalk)
5. Turn left toward 29th Ave
6. Turn right onto 29th Ave
7. Turn left onto West End Ave (walk pass Newk’s Eatery and McDonald's)
8. At the next traffic light (be sure to press the crosswalk button and wait for the light to change), turn right onto Natchez Trace (at Wendy’s)
9. Cross Natchez Trace and the big building is 2525 West End Ave

Once you reach the 2525 West End building, the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH) is located on the 7th floor. Here are detailed directions to find the VIGH offices:

1. Enter the 2525 building through the double doors next to Starbucks. 
2. Take the escalator up to the 2nd floor. 
3. Walk past the security desk on your left and the elevators will be located around the corner.
4. Take the elevator to 7th floor. 
5. VIGH offices are located in Suites 725 and 750.
6. The VIGH conference room is in suite 725, which is halfway down the long hall (pass by the restrooms on your left).   

 

		Lesa Black, PhD is a Principal Research Strategy & Program Specialist for the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR).  She began at VUMC as a post-doctoral fellow in Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, and later transitioned to Clinical Pharmacology.  In 2010, she joined VICTR as a Research Support Services team member and now leads both the VICTR Funding and Studio programs. She is also the Director of the Clinical Research Center Research Skills Workshop series and a leading member of the VICTR Education team supporting the VICTR Clinical Research Immersion Boot Camp, education sessions and VICTR/VUMC Town Halls.
		Clint Brown, MBA serves as Director in the Office of Sponsored Programs. OSP supports all Medical Center community members with submitting grant proposals and award management activities.  Clint came to VUMC in 2006 as a manager in the former Office of Research: Grants and Contracts Management. Over the subsequent years, Clint has held various leadership positions in academic departmental and central office areas.  Before joining Vanderbilt, Clint served as Director of Financial Affairs for Tennessee State University’s Center of Excellence for Research and Policy. He also has experience in conducting on-site programmatic reviews of grantee’s fiscal management practices as a Fiscal Management Reviewer for the U.S. DHHS. Clint holds an MBA in Business Information Systems and Quantitative Methods from TSU and a BS in Finance from the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa). He is also a Certified Research Administrator.
		Holly Cassell, MPH (Assistant Director for Collaborations and GAIN Course Director, Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health), has 18 years of pre- and post-award administration experience developing and directing global public health grants and programs in academic institutions. She is the founder and director of VIRDE, Vanderbilt’s highly successful annual grant development and ethics workshop for LMIC faculty. She has trained and mentored grant administrators from Africa and Asia and she has experience conducting training workshops in grant writing and administration.
		Marc Crosby, MBA joined Vanderbilt in 2014 and leads the Business Education Research team.  His primary focus is on process improvement within the research community at Vanderbilt.  His focus is on Grant and Research compliance. His classes include the Financial Foundations DMS series, Leadership classes, VPRAD, eSMART, Clinical Trials Reconciliation, Direct Charge Guidelines, and Effort Reporting. Marc's experience before joining Vanderbilt includes 8 years working in Higher Education where he served as Campus President, Campus Director, Director of Finance, and Finance Manager for proprietary colleges throughout the Southeast.
		Shane Crounse, Ed.D., M.S. (Principal IT Project Manager- Vanderbilt Office of Sponsored Programs), is a research administrator, trainer, and IT project manager with 20+ years of experience at research universities and academic hospitals. Shane leads the technology team within the Vanderbilt Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). He also teaches in the Vanderbilt Program in Research Administrator Development (VPRAD), a 12-week long, immersive training program covering all major areas of research support and compliance for Vanderbilt research administrators.
		Lynn Garrett, MS, BBA (Administrative Officer, Institute for Medicine and Public Health) Lynn oversees administrative functions for investigators, research, and research training programs and manages operations. She provides guidance to principal investigators and grant administrators, directs staff on pre-and post-award activities, and administers research accounts while analyzing administrative research activities. Lynn ensures compliance and excellence by establishing enforceable policies, procedures, and practices while creating sustainable infrastructure to support a robust research-oriented academic enterprise.
		Ann Green, MPH (Lead Program Manager and GAIN Course Director, Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health) is a public health professional with over 16 years of global health experience in 10 countries in Africa, South America, and Asia. She has led pre- and post-award grant administration and program implementation and evaluation at both community and health facility levels, managing projects funded by the NIH, CDC, USAID, WHO, UNICEF, and several other non-governmental organizations. Her current focus is on training and education in the areas of grant administration, research utilization, research ethics, implementation science, medical simulation and lab capacity in LMICs, and research on HIV, TB, viral hemorrhagic fevers and respiratory viruses.
		Rebecca Helton, MA has been with the Edge for Scholars office for 10 years and manages multiple programs for trainees and early career faculty, including an internal funding program, mock study sections, seminars, workshops, and other events. She has an MA in English and a certificate in medical writing and editing and is the managing editor of and a prolific blogger for EdgeforScholars.org. Outside the office, she is a big fan of science fiction and is a competitive ice skater.
		Neal Hunt
		Annette Lantz, BS – Associate Research Strategy Program Specialist with the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR) since 2013.  Currently, the VICTR Voucher and Pilot Program are working with the research community to assist them with securing funds for their pilot studies. The goal is to help young investigators obtain funding to gather the preliminary data needed to apply for larger grants down the road.  Annette desires to make the VICTR funding process work smoothly for each applicant and seeks to provide the best service possible along the way.  Outside of work, Annette enjoys watching Alabama football and anything true crime, as well as loving on her two spoiled rotten doxies Al and Copper.
		Colleen Lawrence, PhD is a Manger of Translational Research at the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR).  She earned her PhD in Biochemistry with a minor in Chemistry at Cornell University.  Colleen has over 12 years of experience in research administration and serves as a project manager for several national initiatives, including the CTSA Accelerated Research Agreements (ara4us.org) Working Group, the Trial Innovation Network (TIN) Standard Agreements & Streamlined Budgeting Working Group, and Rare Disease Clinical Activity Protocol Program (RareCAP).  Colleen specializes in building tools to support the research enterprise.   Her current project includes building a REDCap-based model for electronic consent of research participants.  Colleen is the service lead for eConsent within the TIN Recruitment Innovation Center (RIC) and provides guidance to researchers on building eConsents within REDCap and best practices in design/use of eConsent for recruitment.
		Elizabeth S. Rose, Ed.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., is a Co-director for the Global Health track in the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) Program and an Assistant faculty member in Pediatrics.
		Christelle Scott, BS – Research Strategy Program Specialist with the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR) since 2017.  Currently, the VICTR Voucher and Pilot Program are working with the research community to assist them with securing funds for their pilot studies. The goal is to help young investigators obtain funding to gather the preliminary data needed to apply for larger grants down the road.  Christelle is also a part of the VICTR studio management team and one of the ClinicalTrials.gov administrators.  Christelle’s goal is to provide everyone she works with the best customer service she can offer.

		Adeniyi Adeyemo, BSc Psychology and Post Graduate Diploma In Education (Project Manager- Vanderbilt/Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Nigeria) is a seasoned administrator with more than 16 years of experience in management positions with a focus on the development of policy, enhancement of processes and increased funding. He has achieved success through strength in prioritizing, commitment, decision-making and stewardship of all resources. With a background in Psychology and Educational Administration and Planning, he has proven his mettle as an administrator and an achiever. Adeniyi currently works as a Program Manager on the Vanderbilt-Nigeria Research Administration and Management Training Program (VRAMP). Email: deniyi24@gmail.com
		Betty Feimata Brima, Masters in Accounting & Finance (Senior Research Finance Officer- College of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences, Sierra Leone) She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Accounting (2013) and a Master’s Degree in Accounting and Finance (2017) from the Institute of Public Administration and Management, University of Sierra Leone. She has been a Senior Research Finance Officer for the Research Support Office since March 12th, 2015. She leads the Finance Department at the Research Support Office under the supervision of the Finance Director and Research Coordinator. Email: boimabetty27@gmail.com
		Beatríz Almeida De Frenk Manuel Chongo, MD, MHPE, PhD (Head of Project Support Department- Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique) is a medical doctor, lecturer, consultant, and researcher. She holds a PhD in Health Sciences and in Educational Sciences from Ghent University in Belgium. The aim of her doctoral research was to identify ways to improve curricula on IPV curriculum content to enhance prevention and medical care in Mozambique. She holds a master’s degree in Health Professions Education from the Maastricht University in the Netherlands investigated the strategies of human resources training approach to People Living with HIV. Email: chonguile@gmail.com
		Barbara Juah Doe-Quarbo, MBA in Accounting (Director, Office of Fiduciary Services - ULCHS- University of Liberia College of Health Sciences, Liberia) currently serves as the Director for Fiduciary Services, University of Liberia College of Health Sciences. Prior to this, she served as a consulting Programme Manager with Family Health International (FHI-360) where she began building systems for grants management. Preceding her services with the ULCHS, she served as Country Finance and Administration Manager with Stitching Spark Liberia, having worked as Accountant and Subaward (grants) Officer with Last Mile Health and Mercy Corps, respectively. Email: juahdoe25@gmail.com
		Ummi Musa Gwadabe, B.A, MPPA, Dip. Ethics, is an Assistant Registrar at Bayero University Kano (BUK), Secretary for the BUK Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), and Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Management. She is a BUK graduate and has attended trainings in research ethics, both national and international. She recently attended the Vanderbilt-Nigeria Research Administration and Management Training (V-RAMP) Pre- and Post-Award Workshops. She also had the opportunity to attend the virtually held Vanderbilt IRB/REC Human Research Protections Program.
		Sale Habu Gumel, MPPA, BSc, GCE, is Deputy Director of Administration at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and Associate of the Institute of Health Services Administrators of Nigeria (IHSAN). He works on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), which is the salary structure used by the federal government of Nigeria to pay healthcare workers and doctors. His responsibilities include managing a branch of special duties, maintenance of contract agreements, ensuring prompt renewals, monitoring and compliance of agreements and insurance matters, and stock and asset management.
		Alexander T. Johnson
		Adnésio Michel Alfredo Machiana, Lic. (Administrator- Faculty of Medicine at Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique) is an accountant, has a licentiate degree and now is working on an MBA degree. Email: adnesiomachiana@gmail.com
		Edmund Gwedeh Manston, MBA, Finance and BSc, Economics and Management (Director, Office of Sponsored Research Services- University of Liberia College of Health Sciences, Liberia) holds an MBA in Finance coupled with certificates in varying professional courses and has nine years of professional experience in Liberia. He is the director of OSRS, which supports basic, clinical, and translational health research in Liberia by identifying and developing research proposals and administering research grants and contracts. He is a result-focused person with a strong level of administrative, managerial, and financial management skills. Email: emanston13@gmail.com
		Nuelma Georgina Muhate, Mestrado (Técnica Administrava, UEM - Direção Cientifica, Mozambique)  Graduated in Veterinary Medicine at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, with a Master's in Biotechnology. I am currently a collaborating assistant at the Faculty of Veterinary in the area of Food Technology. I am part of the technical staff of the Scientific Directorate of Eduardo Mondlane University where I work in the Project Support Department. At the department level, I have participated in the elaboration of institutional projects as well as in the institutional support of the different organic units in the search for funding and support in the project elaboration process. Email: nuelmamuhate@gmail.com
		Bilya Sani Musa, BSc, MPPA, MHE, CCRP (Research Manager- Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria) is an Assistant Director of Administration with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and Trials Manager for AKTH/Vanderbilt and St Jude Children Research Hospital collaborative researches as well as NIH funded clinical trials and Research such as Stroke Prevention in Children with Sickle Cell Disease (SPIN), Primary Prevention of Stroke in Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Sub Saharan Africa (SPRING), Secondary Stroke Prevention in Children with Sickle Cell Disease (SPRINT) and Optimal Management of HIV-Infected Adults at Risk for Kidney Disease in Nigeria (R3 study). He holds a first degree in Geography from Bayero University, Kano, and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) as well as in Health Economics (MHE) from the same University. He is a Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) by SOCRA USA. Bilya will serve in the secretariat of V-BRCH training. Email: bilyasani@yahoo.com
		Leonard Jusu Nyallay, BA, MA, MSc in Research and Policy (Assistant Deputy Registrar, Senior Administrator for Research Centre- College of Medicine Allied and Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone) as currently an administrator and HR officer working on HWI COVID 19 Study, ICARIA Trial and the Multiply Study. Prior to that, he worked as an acting estate officer for the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, an administrator and HR officer for the Prevac Trial, and an administrator & HR officer for Ebovac Salone, along with several other administrative and consultant jobs since 2007. Email: ljnyallay72@gmail.com
		Reney Peters, BA (Regional Grants Manager- The Aurum Institute NPC, South Africa) is the Regional Grants Manager at The Aurum Institute with more than 17 years’ experience in the administrative management and compliance requirements of health programs and research projects funded by donors across the globe. She is responsible for managing and training grants and contract staff, sourcing and aiding with continuous and sustainable funding, supporting PD/PIs and Technical Experts with the development and submission of new funding applications, pre-/post-award and closeout administrative management of all grants and contracts, compliance and reporting assurance. Before joining Aurum, she worked in the legal, finance, and corporate sectors as a Legal Officer, Senior Legal Secretary, Bookkeeper and Executive Secretary. Email: rpeters@auruminstitute.org
		Alfiado Joaneta Seventine, Degree in accounting and auditing (Administrator, University Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique) I’m an accountant and Auditor, from 2012 to 2014 I worked as an accountant and grants manager at the Faculty of Medicine of University Eduardo Mondlane, From 2014 to 2020 I played the role of Head of Financial Department and Grants Management office at University Eduardo Mondlane, to playing this role allowed me to be trained on the Grants Management (Pre-Award and Post Award) in South Africa, USA and Mozambique for USA grants (NIH, USAID, NIAID and PEPFAR, National Academy of Science grants mechanisms). Meanwhile, I was trained in UK (Liverpool, School of Tropical Medicine), Kenya (National Academy of Science) on the European Grants Mechanisms. From 2020 to 2021 I played the role of Finance Officer on ASCEND Project from Crown Agents, dealing with Neglected Tropical Diseases in Mozambique, this position allowed me to be experienced on the UKAID, Bill and Melinda Gates, Children’s Investment Founds Foundation (CIFF), Grants Mechanisms. From 2021 up to date, I work as Grants Manager at University Eduardo Mondlane. Email: aseventeen1@yahoo.com.br
		Emmanuel Dweh Togba, BSc Economics, M.A Economics, PhD (Cand.) Economics (Pre-Award Officer, University of Liberia College of Health Sciences, Liberia) Emmanuel is currently the Pre-Award Officer at the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences (ULCHS). He received his Master’s in Economics in 2017 from Anadolu University in Turkey and is currently a PhD candidate in Economics from Dokuz Eylul University in Turkey. He has over 7 years of experience in grant administration, proposal development, and research.
		Josephine Tata Theoway, BBA serves as the Post-Award Officer on the BRIDGE-U Liberia Project, at the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences (ULCHS). She acquired over 8 years of financial experience in the banking sector, before her joining the BRIDGE-U Team in May 2022. As Post-Award Officer she focuses on compliance by providing guidance and oversight on issues related to the fiscal, administrative and regulatory management of grants, contracts, and sponsored programs from award receipt through closeout. Education: Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, United Methodist University
		Daphne van der Wind, M.A. (International Business Development Grants Manager- The Aurum Institute NPC, South Africa) is a grants management and business development professional with 13 years of experience in the health development sector in South Africa. Over the years she has worked with a variety of international donors and has gained extensive experience in the administrative management and compliance requirements of projects and programs funded by USAID, CDC, NIH, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNITAID, EU, DfID and others. At The Aurum Institute, she is responsible for new business development, supporting technical experts and country directors with developing new funding proposals, as well as grants management for the international division of Aurum, supporting multi-country projects and ensuring compliance with contractual requirements and funder rules and regulations. Email: dvanderwind@auruminstitute.org
		Abubakar Muhammad Yakasai, Bsc, MPPA, MHE (Administrator/Research Manager- Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, Nigeria) is a Hospital Administrative Officer with experience in Hospital Management and Administration as well as management of research grants and the conduct in clinical trials with about 20 years experience in the field. He managed the successful conduct of numerous ongoing and completed clinical trials and studies. Email: yakasaiabubakar@yahoo.com

The Aurum Institute NPC, (Johannesburg, South Africa) - The Aurum Institute is a South African, public benefit organization with >20 years of experience leading the response, treatment and research efforts to eradicate TB and HIV. The Aurum Institute has a staff of > 3,400 researchers, implementers, and support personnel leading research and program implementation throughout Southern Africa. Aurum has worked extensively in the fields of HIV and TB, and more recently COVID. Operationally, the organization has an international unit that manages multi-national projects, with units in Ghana, Mozambique, and South Africa. 

Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital [AKTH] (Kano, Nigeria) - Established in 1988, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) is a 500-bed Teaching Hospital facility affiliated with Bayero University and located in Kano, the most populated state in Nigeria.  AKTH serves as the main clinical training site for the Bayero University medical school, the School of Nursing, School of Physiotherapy and School of Allied Health Sciences. 

Bayero University [BUK], (Kano, Nigeria) - Bayero University is the academic home for clinical and basic science programs at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. The College of Health Science comprises four facilities (Clinical Science, Basic Medical Science, Dentistry and Allied Health Science). The faculty of clinical science consists of 15 departments and 250 faculty members, a majority (>90%) of whom have dual appointments with AKTH. The faculty of Allied Health Science has 4 schools, including the School of Nursing and Physiotherapy, with a combined 80 faculty members. Together with Bayero University, Kano (BUK), AKTH hosts the Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Reproductive Health, Master of Science Pharmacology programs and the Community Health Officers training program, providing opportunities for hands-on training in service delivery, research and community service. 

Kenema Government Hospital [KGH] (Kenema, Sierra Leone) - Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) in Sierra Leone, West Africa is a 350-bed facility situated in the heart of the region with the world’s highest incidence of Lassa fever (LF). Because of the importance of LF as bioterrorism and public health threat, KGH has developed an advanced clinical and laboratory research capacity. This is one of the few facilities continuously operated and dedicated to the care of patients infected with a Category A Select Agent anywhere in the world. The KGH Laboratory has the capacity and quality control to perform diagnostic testing for LF and is the only facility with laboratory testing and clinical treatment of LF in the entire country. The necessary administrative infrastructure for research on LF in Sierra Leone is also well established. Sierra Leone has an ethics committee to review and approve research protocols and Federal Wide Assurances from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

University Eduardo Mondlane [UEM] (Maputo, Mozambique) - Established in 1962 as Mozambique’s first institution of higher education, UEM is the oldest, largest, and most respected university in Mozambique, located in the capital city, Maputo. UEM has played an integral role in developing the government’s strategic plan for higher education and continues to shape the face of professional education in Mozambique. Today, UEM comprises 11 faculties and 6 colleges and has nearly 40,000 students and 1,300 full-time academic staff members, 1,200 of whom are native Mozambicans. Over the past decade, UEM has established master’s degree programs in over 40 disciplines, of which 4 have also developed doctoral degree programs with a research focus. The Faculty of Medicine was one of UEM's original components at its founding in 1963, and since then, over 1000 physicians have graduated from UEM with a bachelor’s degree in medicine. Today UEM’s Faculty of Medicine has 10 Departments, including Anatomical Pathology, Community Health, Gynecology/Obstetrics, Internal Medicine, Microbiology and Parasitology, Morphology Sciences, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Physiology, Surgery, with approximately 1,100 students enrolled in the medical education program.  

University of Liberia College of Health Sciences [ULCHS] (Monrovia, Liberia) - ULCHS is the flagship public higher education institution responsible for training Liberia’s clinicians, researchers, health policymakers, and innovators. Led by Dr. Bernice Dahn, who spearheaded work to establish a resilient health system and fit-for-purpose health workforce during her tenures as Deputy Minister (2006-2015) and Minister of Health of Liberia (2015-2018), ULCHS is poised to become a globally-recognized leader in research utilization, meaningfully connecting academics with policy-making, innovation, and clinical practice. ULCHS is home to Liberia’s sole medical school and to schools of pharmacy, public health, nursing and midwifery. ULCHS has conducted curricular reforms and created teaching and learning programs including faculty development training in teaching skills.

University of Sierra Leone College of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences [COMAHS] (Freetown, Sierra Leone) - COMAHS is the first medical school in Sierra Leone and was founded in 1988 by the Government of Sierra Leone with the Nigerian Government and the World Health Organization. With the enactment of the 2005 University Act in Sierra Leone, COMAHS became a constituent arm of the University of Sierra Leone and now incorporates the Faculty of Nursing and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. COMAHS is mandated to produce doctors, nurses, pharmacists, biomedical scientists and laboratory technicians to improve the health care delivery system in Sierra Leone.