Welcome to the June 2024 newsletter!
Please contact info@ammnet.org if you would like to contribute any items to next month’s newsletter.
Register for the next AMMnet Monthly Seminar | July 2, 15 hr UTC
ITN Distribution Updates
Mainland Tanzania: Logistics, Process and Accountability Systems
Speaker: Benjamin Kamala, MD, MPH, PhD
Dr. Kamala is a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director for the USAID/Tanzania-funded bilateral project known as the PMI Vector Control Project implemented by Johns Hopkins University CCP (currently the largest vector control program in the country). He is a medical doctor (MD) with a Master’s in Public Health and a Ph.D in Global Health. Dr. Kamala is also a lecturer at the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics in the School of Public Health at Muhimbili University. With over a decade of consulting experience, Dr. Kamala has honed his skills in qualitative and quantitative research and monitoring and evaluating health interventions. Dr. Kamala is also a member of the malaria vector control technical working group at the Tanzania Mainland Malaria Control Program and the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program.
Live interpretation to French and Portuguese will be available.
Register for the July 2 Seminar Here
Hackathon Series: Data Visualization
AMMnet will host its first hackathon in July! Members have already proposed their problems centered around data visualization; experts have considered these and drafted potential solutions.
Look for an announcement to come soon, which will include the session date, more details and registration instructions.
At the July 2-hour training session, experts will present potential solutions to the proposed problems. Members who wish to participate will work through the problems and learn data visualization techniques. After the training session, experts will spend about an hour summarizing the session, adapting solutions, and uploading them to the shared space.
AMMnet Leadership Opportunities
Join the Board and Contribute to the Direction of AMMnet
Would you like to hold a leadership role and work with members of the AMMnet Board to set the long-term strategy, oversee the committees and ensure the future and sustainability of the organization?
If you have participated in AMMnet’s committees, you are eligible to run for a Board member position!
If you are interested in running for a Board position but you haven't yet participated in an AMMnet committee, get involved now. Send an email with your interest to info@ammnet.org.
Look for a call for Board member applications to come soon!
Board Role & ExpectationsAMMnet Committees
Join the AMMnet Slack Workspace
Join the AMMnet Slack Workspace and connect directly with members, get announcements, including job, funding, collaborative opportunities and information about upcoming events.
Jobs and Grant Opportunities
Call for Applications: AMMnet Large Events Award
July 15 Deadline
AMMnet is offering members the opportunity to hold large events with a training or educational purpose consistent with AMMnet’s mission.
The types of activities that can be supported by this award include, but are not limited to:
- Implementation of a short course, summer school, or multiple workshops
- Development of training materials and curriculum
- Delivery of trainings related to malaria modeling and/or analytics
- Organization of an annual meeting of multiple chapters, as long as a training component is included
- Other activities with a strong educational or training focus that support AMMnet’s mission of exchanging knowledge to improve support offered to malaria programs and advance general malaria research.
This award has a budget range of up to $40,000, which must be expended within 18 months of the awarded date. Up to 10% additional facilities and administration fees may be added according to the policies of the awarded institution, for a total award of up to $44,000.
To be considered for this funding cycle, submit your application to info@ammnet.org by July 15, 2024, 23:59 GMT.
Application Guide and Instructions on the AMMnet website
AMMnet Small Event Award
September 1 Deadline
Submit by September 1 to be considered for the next funding cycle.
Submissions received by September 1 will be evaluated by the review committee. The committee aims to choose 5 events for funding at each funding cycle.
AMMnet Funding Opportunity for Small Local Events:
AMMnet would like to encourage the growth of local chapters and is looking to support small local in-person events such as meetings, conferences, or workshops.
Thus far, we funded 27 AMMnet events in 15 countries! An awardee list is available here.
You may find guidelines and requirements for submission on the AMMnet website at the link here.
We especially encourage our francophone and lusophone members to apply, and we accept applications in English, French, or Portuguese.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to info@ammnet.org with any questions. We look forward to receiving your application!
Guidelines for Small Event Award Applications
NIH Notice of Pre-Application Webinar for Fogarty HIV Research Training Program for LMIC Institutions and Planning Grant for Fogarty HIV Research Training Program for LMIC Institutions
The Fogarty International Center (FIC) will hold a free pre-application interactive Q&A webinar for the FIC Planning Grant for Fogarty HIV Research Training Program for Low- and Middle-Income Country Institutions (D71) and Fogarty HIV Research Training Program for Low-and Middle-Income Country Institutions (D43 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity. The next submission deadline is August 22, 2024. The FIC Program Officer will discuss the D71 and D43 funding opportunities at the webinar and will provide a broad overview of the program goals and details pertaining to the application requirements. There will be time set aside to answer questions from the attendees and potential applicants.
Date of virtual webinar: July 15, 2024, 9 AM-10:30 AM EST
All potential applicants (new and those considering re-submissions) are encouraged to attend the webinar. Participation in the webinar meeting, although encouraged, is optional and is not required for the submission of an application in response to the NOFO.
More information and webinar registration
Innovation to Impact (I2I) has launched the Vector Control Professional Placement Programme
Placements for Vector Product Development Associate with Vestergaard and Envu are now open.
I2I (based at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine) is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; it will place researchers from African research institutes with vector control product developers to build skills and knowledge. Placements are fully funded, 12-month secondments, allowing researchers to return to their home institute to support knowledge transfer.
There is funding to support child care too so this is a great opportunity for Women!!!
More information and how to apply
Imperial | Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis is looking for a Research Associate in Infectious Disease Modelling
An exciting new opportunity has arisen for a postdoctoral researcher to join the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis to undertake research in emerging infectious diseases.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis is an international resource and centre of excellence for research and training in the epidemiological analysis and modelling of infectious diseases. The Centre works closely with national and international agencies to support policy planning and response operations against infectious disease threats. The Centre is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Modelling and staff of the Centre work closely with WHO and a range of other global health agencies to support translation of academic work into tangible impact.
Apply before June 27, 2024!
More information and how to apply
Research Associate in Disease Modelling at Imperial
This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious Research Associate to contribute to ground-breaking research with the potential to transform malaria control strategies and improve the health of communities in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Transmission Zero (https://www.transmissionzero.org/) is an international research programme with the mission to pioneer innovative genetic vector control tools for combatting malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa.
Apply before July 4, 2024.
Find more information and apply
Workshops and Conferences
Third U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Symposium
Location: Serena Hotel, Kigali, Rwanda
The U.S.- Africa program brings together outstanding young scientists, engineers, and medical professionals from the United States and the member countries of the African Union for a series of symposia to discuss exciting advances and opportunities in their fields. The goal of these meetings is to enhance the scientific exchange and dialogue among young researchers in African countries and the United States, including the African science diaspora, and through this interaction, facilitate research collaboration within and beyond the region.
Applications are currently being accepted to attend.
Submit your application by July 7, 2024
Courses and Learning Opportunities
4-Year PhD Programme in Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases (1+3 MRes and PhD)
Fully funded studentships available for entry in October 2024. Infectious diseases remain a major contributor to the global burden of disease, with HIV, malaria, measles, diarrhoeal disease and respiratory infections responsible for over 50% of premature deaths worldwide. However, the availability of resources for interventions is limited in comparison with the scale of the challenges faced. Over the last decade, there has been increasing recognition of the value of epidemiological analysis and mathematical modelling in aiding the design and interpretation of clinical trials from a population perspective and, downstream, to guide implementation, monitoring and evaluation of intervention effectiveness.
The programme will begin at the start of the autumn term 2024. Closing date for applications is Monday 15th July 2024 with interview date on Monday 29th July 2024.
Find more information and apply
Subgroups, Working Groups, and Regional Activities
Congratulations to the latest recipients of the AMMnet Small Event Award!
Kenya: Training Workshop on Malaria Modeling Software’s to Develop Practical Skills in Combating Malaria within the Kenyan Context
Dennis K Muriithi and Mark Okongo, Chuka University
Zambia: A Planning symposium for local chapter activities
Chisulo Mwale, University of Zambia
Cameroon: Bootcamp training on R-package for data analysis and statistical modeling
Ivan Misonge, ACoMVeC at CRID / Health Organization Welfare
Burkina Faso: The Importance of Modeling for Malaria Control in Burkina-Faso : Goals, Vision and Opportunities of the AMMnet Network
Bertrand CHABI, Université Joseph KI-ZERBO
Burkina Faso: Première réunion de chercheurs sur la modélisation du paludisme pour la lutte contre le paludisme au Burkina Faso
Serge SOMDA, Université NAZI BONI
Brazil: Olawale Awe, SaLLy – Statistical Learning Laboratory Federal University of Bahia:
Seminar Recap and Recordings
AMMnet Seminar Series: 2024 June 4
For the June 4 seminar, we had the pleasure of learning about the work of three AMMnet members:
- Gloria Shirima: Investigating the Impact of Larviciding as a Supplementary Malaria Vector Control Tool in Rural South Eastern Tanzania: a Simulation Study.
- William Wasswa: Leveraging innovation technologies and Mathematical Modelling to respond to malaria in Africa: a systematized literature review of emerging technologies.
- Neil Hobbs: Insecticide resistance management (IRM) for disease vectors: insights from mathematical modelling.
You may find a recording of the seminar on our website along with recordings from other past special events and seminars.
Board Meeting Recap
The Board met virtually on 18 June 2024.
Present: Jaline, Caitlin, Luc, Antonio, Susan, Manuela, Emilie, Justin, Hannah, Emmanuel
Absent: Cherlynn (present via Whatsapp)
Secretariat present: Shannon, Ida, Sousa
UPDATES
New Secretariat staff
- Sousa Alves introduction, Lusophone Program Administrator
- Hifzah Malek starting July 1
BMGF supplement update
- Corrected some issues with indirect costs on subawards, Gates has approved, now back to NU for signature
Financial remuneration for Board service
- The vast majority of board members of charitable nonprofits are unpaid volunteers. ~National Council of Nonprofits
- If board members are paid more than $600 per year, the nonprofit must issue them an IRS Form 1099 Misc
Small events TF:
- 35 applications received
- Awarded 17
- Only 3 more awards available this fiscal year (3 under review)
- TF meeting scheduled right after Board meeting, June 18, to discuss evaluating submissions quarterly in lieu of on a rolling basis
Large events TF:
- Applications will be pooled and evaluated together
- Deadlines for application submission = July 15, Nov 15, April 15
- 3 applications received, notified they have until July 15 to revise if they wish
- TBD: send general announcement to membership of new deadline + Shannon will include in the newsletter
Local chapters TF
- TF kickoff meeting June 27, time TBD
New Board member (Manuela stepping down) schedule:
- Election early Q4, October/November
- Nominations due early September/late August
- Encourage good candidates to join committees
- Nomination form is in process
- Shannon circulated previous form and any revisions to Board for review
DISCUSSION
Votes
- Boarded voted in favor of separating the AMMnet Board Chair-Executive Director role into two roles as of May 2025 when the next Board Chair assumes office.
- Board voted in favor of transitioning the AMMnet Secretariat to another organization when the Secretariat moves from Northwestern University in September 2025. Full announcement will come later.
Board Chair Candidates
- Antonio, Luc, Hannah, Emilie, Cherlynn, Susan
- Each candidate will write a vision statement for the chair role (up to 200 words in the language preferred)
- Deadline is July 15
Board Chair Voting Process
- Anonymous SurveyMonkey poll will be used (to ensure 1 vote per Board member)
- First Voting Round to occur week of July 15: Board members will each vote for 1 of the 6 candidates
- Second and subsequent rounds: Candidate(s) with the lowest votes will be removed from consideration and Board will vote again until 1 candidate receives more than 50% votes
Strategy Task Force
- Board to finalize Members
- Secretariat will send out invitations and begin to schedule TF meetings
- Timeline
- July: kickoff and brainstorming
- Aug: main work areas decided
- Oct: first drafts by main work areas discussed
- Nov: draft revisions
- Dec: full draft strategy submitted to Board
Board will discuss plan for next annual AMMnet Meeting at next Board meeting
Next Board meeting: August 20th
