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)
One feature of this workshop was the introduction of Design Thinking. This problem-solving approach encourages researchers to develop creative solutions to complex health challenges.
Another key objective for MODRA is to empower researchers to be more competitive in winning international funding. The workshop offered training in essential skills like proposal writing and budget preparation, enabling participants to transform their research ideas into concrete scientific proposals.
Promising projects are eligible for the MODRA Seed Award, worth up to $30,000. This funding supports the roll-out of these research ideas, bringing them to life and providing early-mid career scientists with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience by leading the entire research cycle.
Dr Leigh Jones, Academic Training Leader at OUCRU & MORU and Director of MODRA, noted, “Many young researchers struggle to get their research off the ground, often due to the lack of experience in grants application. MODRA will prepare them to successfully secure competitive grants, both internationally and locally.”
Beyond the classroom, the MODRA workshop fostered a sense of community among the participants. The collaborative environment allowed emerging researchers to connect with peers from diverse backgrounds, share ideas, and lay the groundwork for future collaborations.
The success of the first MODRA event paves the way for upcoming components of the programme, including more training workshops in Vietnam and Indonesia. Stay tuned for updates as we follow the researchers’ progress and witness their research ideas take shape.