Capacity Building

COllaborative research, implementation, And LEadership training to address chronic Conditions across the lifecoursE (COALESCE)

The overall goal was to establish a COllaborative Research, Implementation, And LEadership Training to AddresS Chronic Conditions across the Life CoursE (COALESCE) program. It includes four months of research immersion at Emory University (Atlanta, GA, USA) for training, networking, and exposure to diverse approaches to future funding opportunities. Training is followed by eight months of mentored research support to develop and implement a pilot project protocol and complete one publication-level manuscript. 

This COALESCE program was co-designed by collaborators at Emory University (USA), the Center for Chronic Disease Control (India), and Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia) to enhance capacity for research and action for chronic diseases in India and Ethiopia. The project has received funding from EMORY University, NIHFogarty International Centre (prime agency) from 2020 until 2024. 

SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS

Centre for Chronic Disease Control

Emory University

Addis Ababa University 

PROJECT EXECUTION

The COALESCE project aims to provide mentor training to individuals—mentors, post-doctoral scholars, and practitioners—in research, prevention, and control of chronic conditions in India. Eligible participants for mentor training were prior D43 program alumni, who later served as research mentors for COALESCE trainees.

This program aligns with the National Programme for Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) under the National Health Mission. The National Health Mission focuses on enhancing infrastructure, including human resources, early diagnosis, management, and integration with the primary healthcare system through NCD cells at various levels to optimize operational efficiencies.

As part of COALESCE, an annual short course on implementation science and leadership was conducted. This course aimed to develop organizational management skills and was open to public health professionals, government representatives, and clinical practitioners involved in frontline prevention and control program

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IMPACT

The COALESCE program has made a significant impact by providing an 18-month long-term training program for 12 post-doctoral or mid-stage researchers. Additionally, it has offered a short-term training program to 80 international public health, government, and clinical practitioners, focusing on imparting knowledge in implementation science and leadership.

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