Here are the recordings of the Online Grant Writing Workshop for Early and Mid-Career Researchers, held on 21 October 2025. This workshop was jointly organised by The Global Health Network (TGHN) at the University of Oxford and the Wellcome Trust–funded Pathogen Variants Network.
Session 1: Understanding of the Grant Landscape in 2025 - 2026
The Online Grant Writing Workshop began with an introductory presentation by Dr Sylvie Kwedi, titled “Understanding the Grant Landscape in 2025–2026.” In her presentation, Dr Kwedi discussed the grant application process from start to finish, outlined different types of funders and funding opportunities, explained the key grant review criteria, and shared current trends and practical tips for successful grant applications.
Speaker: Dr Sylvie Kwedi, Clinical Projects Lead Dr Sylvie Kwedi is a public health expert with a PhD and dual master’s degrees, specialising in HIV and tuberculosis programs across Africa. She is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Yaoundé I and founder of CLEAR, Inc., which strengthens health and research systems in resource-limited settings.
Session 2: Key components of writing a successful grant application
In Session 2: Key Components of Writing a Successful Grant Application, Prof. Isabella Oyier outlined the structure of a grant proposal and discussed its key components. She also presented and explained essential writing skills needed for developing strong proposals, emphasising their importance in achieving successful grant outcomes.
Speaker: Prof Isabella Oyier, Professor of Molecular Epidemiology, University of Oxford, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program Prof Isabella Oyier is the Head of the Biosciences Department at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program and Professor at the University of Oxford. Her research work focuses on malaria molecular surveillance in Kenya, while she also leads and coordinates regional COVID-19 genomic and immunological surveillance efforts in the East Africa region.
Session 3: Building collaborative proposals
In Session 3: Building Collaborative Applications, Dr Evelyne Kestelyn delivered an engaging presentation on the importance of collaboration in research. She highlighted why partnerships are essential and offered practical guidance on how to identify potential collaborators and build strong, lasting relationships across countries and disciplines.
Speaker: Dr Evelyne Kestelyn, Head of the Clinical Trials Unit, OUCRU Dr Evelyne Kestelyn is a clinical trial expert with over 20 years of experience designing, overseeing, and conducting clinical trials in LMICs, particularly in vaccines and therapeutics, with a focus on locally led and context-appropriate research. She leads major global initiatives, including WHO’s Clinical Trials Unit maturity framework, and promotes locally driven research, equitable partnerships, and capacity building through collaborations like the Africa Asia Alliance for Clinical Trials.
Session 4: Grant Management and Budgeting
In Session 4: Grant Management and Budgeting, Katrina Lawson delivered an insightful presentation on the principles of effective grant budgeting and financial management. She demonstrated how to develop and structure a project budget and highlighting the various cost categories that should be considered. She also explained how to present and justify the budget within a grant application to ensure clarity and alignment with funding requirements.
Speaker: Katrina Lawson, Grants Manager, OUCRU Katrina Lawson is a research management and science communication expert with 20 years’ experience, leading grants, communications, and policy engagement teams at OUCRU. She focuses on strengthening local grants management, research impact, and capacity building in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Session 5: Stakeholder and community engagement
In Session 5, Sheikha Mohamed delivered a presentation on the vital role of community engagement throughout all stages of the research process—before, during, and after the study. She discussed who to engage, effective ways to foster participation, and various strategies and methods for meaningful engagement. She also highlighted how to effectively integrate community engagement into a research proposal to enhance its relevance and impact.
Sheikha Salum Mohamed, African Regional MESH Coordinator Sheikha Salum Mohamed is the African Regional MESH Coordinator, affiliated with both the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, UK, and Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania. She leads community engagement and partnerships across Africa and focuses on participatory research, capacity building, and supporting young scientists in low-resource settings, with over a decade of experience in global health projects.
Additional Resources (shared in the presentation) - Mesh guide to setting up an advisory/involvement group | Read more - Guide: A Practical Guide to Planning an Engagement Strategy for your Global Health Research funding application | Read more - Low-cost and Upstream Engagement for Funding Proposals | Read more
Session 6: Funder's perspective 2025
In Session 6: The Funder’s Perspective, Dr Ana Cehovin, Research Lead at the Wellcome Trust, provided valuable insights into the funding landscape from a funder’s point of view. She discussed the funding opportunities available at Wellcome, outlined the application review and assessment process, and highlighted the key focus areas for funding in infectious disease research.
Dr Ana Cehovin, Research Lead, Wellcome Trust Dr Ana Cehovin, Research Lead at the Wellcome Trust, focuses on the epidemiology of pathogenic microorganisms and strategies to control infectious diseases. With a background in immunology and molecular microbiology, she specialises in human bacterial pathogens and is dedicated to translating research into practice, fostering global collaboration, and developing effective solutions for the most affected communities.
Additional Resources from Wellcome (shared in the presentation) - Wellcome Early-Career Awards | Read more - Wellcome Career Development Awards | Read more - Wellcome Discovery Awards | Read more - Supporting discovery research across the globe | Read more - Funding advisory committees | Read more - How to write an application for funding | Read more - Discovery Research funding webinars for global researchers | Read more
Grant Writing Workshop: Q&A session
Following the presentations by the six speakers, Ana Lawson, the Chair of the Workshop, moderated a Q&A session with the panel, addressing questions submitted by participants via Zoom and the YouTube Live chat.
