Master of Science in Tropical Medicine (SAHRI Fellowship) for Mid-Career Biomedical and Clinical Researchers Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp in Belgium

The SAHRI Fellowship is a prestigious, fully-funded three-year program designed to empower 12 mid-career biomedical and clinical researchers from sub-Saharan Africa. Hosted by the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp (ITM), the fellowship aims to develop future leaders in biomedical innovation and clinical research, focusing on the urgent challenges of infectious diseases across Africa. The program is coordinated by ITM in collaboration with African and European partners, including KU Leuven, BioNTech, EACCR, and CRUN.

Fellows undertake a structured training trajectory that includes advanced academic training in the Master of Science in Tropical Medicine (60 ECTS) at ITM, a specialized course in Systems Thinking in Biotech Development at KU Leuven, a six-month industry internship at BioNTech headquarters in Germany, and hands-on research placements at leading African research centers. The final year involves implementing a research project in the fellow’s home country or region, with continued mentorship and opportunities to transition into a PhD program.

The fellowship covers all program costs, travel, and living expenses, and is funded by the European Union under Global Health EDCTP3. The program is open to mid-career clinical and biomedical professionals from sub-Saharan Africa who wish to advance their expertise and leadership in health research and innovation. Applicants should have a relevant academic background, professional experience in clinical or biomedical sciences, and proficiency in English.

Research areas include tropical medicine, infectious diseases, clinical operations, translational science, product supply chain management, and technical quality assurance for good manufacturing practices and quality control. The program’s learning objectives emphasize advanced knowledge in tropical medicine, critical analysis of epidemiological and biomedical features of tropical diseases, and the ability to contextualize expertise in low-resource settings.

Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort are open until February 1, 2026. Interested candidates should visit the SAHRI Fellowship website, review the eligibility criteria, and submit their application online. For more information, contact [email protected].