Bangkok, Thailand – Funded by the Wellcome Trust, MODRA is a collaborative initiative between the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) and the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU). The programme aims to transform the landscape of health research in South and Southeast Asia by enhancing research skills and fostering a vibrant community of researchers.
MODRA selected its maiden cohort of 15 talented postdoctoral researchers in July 2024. This marked the beginning of an 18 month-programme designed to equip these early-career scientists with the essential skills for success in health research.
The first MODRA workshop, held in Bangkok in September 2024, offered a well-rounded curriculum covering idea generation, proposal writing, budgeting and networking. It featured a distinguished lineup of trainers, including:
- Mr Dave Gandy (Grants & Contracts Manager, MORU): Grant Writing (Proposal Writing; Financial Planning & Budget Preparation).
- Dr Maneerat Ekkapongpisit (Director, MORU): Design Thinking.
- Mr Grid Ganjina (Project Manager, MORU): Design Thinking.
- Ms Nantamon Netikul (Training and Development Manager, MORU): SWOT Analysis.
- Ms Sasipim Arttayakul (Training & Development Officer, MORU): SWOT Analysis.
We also invited an esteemed panel of MORU researchers to share their experiences and advice on making the leap from postdoctoral scientists to independent research leaders.
- Prof Mavuto Mukaka (Head of Statistics, Clinical Trials Support Group, MORU)
- Prof Stuart Blacksell (Head of MORU Health & Safety, MORU)
- Prof Direk Limmathurotsakul (Head of Microbiology, MORU)
- Prof Arjen Dondorp (Deputy Director of MORU and Head of Malaria & Critical Illness, MORU)
- Dr Thomas Peto (Infectious disease epidemiologist, MORU)
- Dr Claire Chewapreecha (Wellcome International Intermediate Fellow, MORU)
Read the full story on the The Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health website.