Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS 2022 is calling for applications from final year African PhD students and young investigators. The deadline for the submission of applications is July 31, 2022
MARS 2022, the Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit, will take place in Dubai with the goal of empowering women and youth in research.
African Union Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC), Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Graduate School, Advanced Center for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), India, and Merck Foundation will provide scientific support for the Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit MARS 2022.
The biennial summit aims to help the African research community strengthen research capability, with a particular focus on “The Role of Scientific Research in Responding to Cancer and Vaccine Development, Two Emerging Challenges in Africa.”
In addition, the organizing committee will offer the “Best Young, African Researcher Award” and the “Best African Woman Researcher Award” to honor excellent contributions of African Female Scientists with the goal of promoting women in research and advancing their contributions to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
The annual MARS Summit will kick off a discussion with Ministries of Health, Education, Information, Science and Technology, and Gender from across Africa to define policies aimed at empowering women and youth in STEM fields, as well as addressing the critical role of research in the improvement and long-term development of population health, with a focus on how to bridge the “know-do gap” to improve health and make a positive impact on society.
Eligibility for the Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit
Final-year African Ph.D. students and young investigators working on either of the following themes are encouraged to submit abstracts:
Cancer is a disease that affects people (specially in women)
Vaccine Research and Development
All should be headquartered largely at African research institutes and universities, with collaboration both inside and outside of Africa encouraged.
Benefits of the Merck Foundation’s Africa Research Summit
All abstracts will be peer assessed, and 15 winners will be selected to receive a MARS Summit sponsorship.
Research Awards will be given to the top three abstracts.
In addition, research awards will be given to the best African women researchers.
How to Get Involved in the Merck Foundation’s Africa Research Summit
Interested candidates should apply by clicking on the “Apply” button below if they match the above criteria:APPLY HERE
