{"id":40676,"date":"2024-10-02T16:02:13","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T09:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/?p=40676"},"modified":"2025-02-13T14:52:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T07:52:35","slug":"modra-workshop-bangkok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/2024\/10\/02\/modra-workshop-bangkok\/","title":{"rendered":"MODRA Workshop 1: Empowering early-career scientists to secure competitive research grants\u00c2\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bangkok, Thailand &#8211; Funded by the <a href=\"https:\/\/wellcome.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wellcome Trust<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/modracademy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MODRA<\/a> is a collaborative initiative between the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU)<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tropmedres.ac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU)<\/a>. 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MODRA selected its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/modra-first-cohort\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">maiden cohort<\/a> 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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: &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tropmedres.ac\/team\/dave-gandy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mr Dave Gandy<\/a> (Grants &amp; Contracts Manager, MORU): Grant Writing (Proposal Writing; Financial Planning &amp; Budget Preparation).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tropmedres.ac\/team\/maneerat-ekkapongpisit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr Maneerat Ekkapongpisit<\/a> (Director, MORU): Design Thinking.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mr Grid Ganjina (Project Manager, MORU): Design Thinking.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nantamon-netikul-b503a1102\/?originalSubdomain=th\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ms Nantamon Netikul<\/a> (Training and Development Manager, MORU): SWOT Analysis.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sasipim-arttayakul-a980a3169\/?originalSubdomain=th\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ms Sasipim Arttayakul<\/a> (Training &amp; Development Officer, MORU): SWOT Analysis.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Session-1-Day-2-B-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Session-1-Day-2-B-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40685\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Session-1-Day-2-B-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Session-1-Day-2-B-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Session-1-Day-2-B-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Session-1-Day-2-B-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Session-1-Day-2-B-2048x1364.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tropmedres.ac\/team\/mavuto-mukaka\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Prof Mavuto Mukaka<\/a> (Head of Statistics, Clinical Trials Support Group, MORU) <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tropmedres.ac\/team\/stuart-blacksell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Prof Stuart Blacksell<\/a>&nbsp;(Head of MORU Health &amp; Safety, MORU)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tropmedres.ac\/team\/direk-limmathurotsakul\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Prof Direk Limmathurotsakul<\/a> (Head of Microbiology, MORU)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tropmedres.ac\/team\/arjen-dondorp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Prof Arjen Dondorp<\/a> (Deputy Director of MORU and Head of Malaria &amp; Critical Illness, MORU)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tropmedres.ac\/team\/thomas-peto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr Thomas Peto<\/a> (Infectious disease epidemiologist, MORU)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tropmedres.ac\/team\/claire-chewapreecha\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr Claire Chewapreecha<\/a> (Wellcome International Intermediate Fellow, MORU)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40677\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image.jpeg 1431w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40681\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/people\/leigh-jones\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr Leigh Jones<\/a>, Academic Training Leader at OUCRU &amp; MORU and Director of MODRA, noted, <em>&#8220;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.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em>\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-02-at-15.58.08.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"588\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-02-at-15.58.08-1024x588.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40693\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-02-at-15.58.08-1024x588.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-02-at-15.58.08-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-02-at-15.58.08-768x441.jpg 768w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-02-at-15.58.08-1536x882.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Screenshot-2024-10-02-at-15.58.08.jpg 1945w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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&#8217; progress and witness their research ideas take shape.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">www.modracademy.org<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The MORU-OUCRU Discovery Research Academy (MODRA) recently concluded its inaugural workshop in Bangkok. This intensive five-day programme equipped 15 promising postdoctoral researchers with the skills required to complete a high-quality seed proposal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":40731,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[698,29],"class_list":["post-40676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-modra","tag-training"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40676"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40676\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45055,"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40676\/revisions\/45055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.oucru.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}