This D43 training grant addresses the rapid rise in non-communicable diseases (NCD) occurring in both Thailand and Indonesia. Tackling this escalating problem requires two important strategies: 1) Implementing multi-sectoral policies aimed at reducing population risk; and 2) effective and affordable health sector interventions. The success of each of these rests on the development of evidence-based interventions and require appropriate research produced by a committed, local scientific community. The proposed D43 training plan builds on a previous successful D43 in which the Praboromarajchanok Institute for Health Workforce Development (PIHWD) in Thailand and the University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN) collaborated to train a post-doctoral fellows who received high quality training in analytical methods and research designs.  In this iteration, PIHWD and UMSN are joined by the Padjadjaran University of Indonesia and Suranaree University of Technology (Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand).

Specific aims and activities for this five year program are to:

1) Implement an early-mid career post-doctoral traineeship for 15 Thai/Indonesian trainees – preparing them to conduct NCD research projects; (Please be aware that as a result of a lessening of travel restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, trainees will have the opportunity to receive grant support to spend the month of July 2023 at the University of Michigan.)

2) Strengthen the institutional research capacity for NCD research in the scientific hubs established in the prior D43 – activities include annual capacity building conferences, development of research networks and direct consultation to departments and research units to assist them in expanding research activities;

3) Expand capacity building activities to PIHWD D43 training affiliate, the Padjadjaran University of Indonesia, by including Indonesian scholars in the post-doctoral training program and all other activities of the D43; and

4) Provide consultation for infrastructure building to advance eLearning activities – a strategy that supports sustainability of training capacity in Thailand.

As 2024 will be the final year of this two-year training program, we can no longer accept applications.