The Clinical ResEArch Training fellowship with Industry involEment (CREATIVE Fellowship) 2026 for early-career Researchers

Applications are now open for the 2026 Clinical ResEArch Training fellowship with Industry involVEment (CREATIVE Fellowship). The Clinical ResEArch Training fellowship with Industry involVEment (CREATIVE fellowship) is a multi-country, collaborative international clinical research capacity strengthening scheme in Sub-Saharan Africa, funded by the European Union through Global Health EDCTP3. The programme will provide a comprehensive blend of academic training, hands-on clinical research experience, and industry exposure

Fellowship Components

The fellowship is funded for 30 months and involves the following components:

• Work placement at one of six internationally recognized African health research institutions for the three-year duration of the fellowship. Fellows will be based at these institutions throughout the fellowship, where they will actively engage in meaningful clinical research

• Academic training through enrolment in the Distance Learning (DL) MSc Clinical Trials or MSc Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, to be completed within the three-year fellowship period. Nine Fellows will pursue the MSc in Clinical Trials, while three will undertake the MSc in Epidemiology)

• Industry exposure with the opportunity to apply for a competitive industry internship

• Structured mentorship from experts to support MSc completion, career development, building networks and preparing for post-Fellowship career opportunities.

Up to 12 fellowships are available, with two fellows hosted at each of the following research institutions:

• Haramaya University (HU), Ethiopia

• Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), Ghana Health Service, Ghana

• The Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit, The Gambia

• The Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Uganda

• Zambart, Zambia

• Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI), Zimbabwe

Eligibility criteria

To apply for this fellowship, applicants must:

• Be a national of Ethiopia, Ghana, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia or Zimbabwe. (Applicants may only apply for a fellowship based in their country of nationality.)

• Hold either a first- or second-class honours degree, from a recognized university in a discipline relevant to the programme (e.g. natural or life sciences, epidemiology, statistics, medicine, or a similar area).

• Have a minimum of one year experience working within health research in an organization responsible for conducting health research (including non-government, governmental, academic, or industry organizations).

• Be able to meet the Band B English language requirements. Please see our English language requirements for details. (It is possible to apply without English language test results however the results of a test may be listed as a condition of an offer of the scholarship.)

• Be available to commence the fellowship full time at the start of October 2026, based at the relevant host research institution in their home country.

• Provide two letters of reference, including one from your current employer, confirming your suitability for this fellowship.

Application process

Please complete the online application form and upload the following documents

1. Your Curriculum vitae (CV)

2. Academic transcripts for all completed degrees

3. Academic certificates for all completed degrees

4. Two letters of reference

5. Proof of nationality

In addition, please submit a personal statement addressing the following points:

• Why you wish to apply for the fellowship

• How your work academic background and professional experience to date make you suitable for the fellowship

• What you hope to achieve during the fellowship

• Your career plans upon completion of the fellowship

• Your preferred MSc programme (Clinical Trials or Epidemiology or no preference. Please note your preference will have no influence on your chance of success, but you may not get your first choice if one option is oversubscribed)

Application Timeline:

• Application closing date: 29 May 2026

• Expected interview period: July 2026

• Expected start: October 2026