NPGH Global Health Fellowship 2026

NPGH LEADERs LAUNCH Global Health Fellowship 2027 – Fully Funded Research Training in Global Health

Applications are now open for the NPGH LEADERs LAUNCH Global Health Fellowship 2027, a prestigious fully funded program sponsored by the National Institutes of Health's Fogarty International Center . 

 This 12-month clinical research training fellowship offers early-career researchers from the United States and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) the opportunity to conduct mentored research at top institutions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

If you are a doctoral student or postdoctoral trainee passionate about global health research, this is your chance to build an international research career. For more opportunities across the globe, explore fully funded scholarships in USA for international students.

About the NPGH LEADERs LAUNCH Fellowship Program

The Northern Pacific Global Health (NPGH) LEADERs Research Training Consortium is a collaboration between five U.S. universities—the Universities of Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, Hawai'i, and Indiana University—and numerous international partner institutions across nine countries: Cameroon, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Peru, Thailand, and Uganda -1-4.

The program provides extended mentored research training experiences abroad, building on over a decade of success that has trained more than 200 fellows -8. The LAUNCH program ensures a more equitable training experience by bringing LMIC trainees to the U.S. for short-term research training, in addition to their in-country research -9.

For similar prestigious opportunities in the region, check the latest scholarships in USA for all nationalities.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the NPGH LEADERs LAUNCH Fellowship 2027, you must meet the following requirements -1:

For U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents:

• Postdoctoral Trainees: Must have completed a doctoral/terminal degree (PhD, MD, DDS, DVM, DrPH, PharmD, etc.) within the last 6 years OR be currently in or have recently completed a post-doctoral fellowship or advanced degree (MPH, MSc, etc.) OR will have received a doctoral/terminal degree by July 2027.

• Predoctoral Trainees: Must be currently enrolled in a doctoral/terminal degree program and have completed at least one year of studies.

• Note: Postdoctoral applicants on tenure track are not eligible.

For LMIC Citizens/Permanent Residents:

• Must be a citizen or permanent resident of one of the nine collaborating countries: Cameroon, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Peru, Thailand, or Uganda -1.

• Must be affiliated with an approved partner institution (see list below).

• Postdoctoral Trainees: Must have completed a doctoral/terminal degree within the last 6 years OR be currently in or have recently completed a post-doctoral fellowship or advanced degree OR will have received a doctoral/terminal degree by July 2027.

Additional Requirements:

• Have a mentor at a U.S. institution within the consortium who has reviewed and endorsed your application.

• Have a mentor at one of the approved international partner sites who has reviewed and endorsed your application.

• Propose a research project to be conducted at an approved international partner site.

• Available to dedicate 40 hours per week to research for 12 months at the fellowship site, beginning July 2027.

• LMIC trainees must be available to spend 1-3 months of their fellowship at their primary U.S. mentor's consortium university for short-term training -1.

• Applicants can only apply to one Fogarty LAUNCH consortium at a time.

Approved International Partner Sites

Your research must be conducted at one of these approved fellowship sites -1:

• Cameroon: University of Yaounde

• Ghana: Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, University of Ghana, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital

• India: Jawaharlal Nehru University

• Kenya: University of Nairobi, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Moi University

• Nepal: Kathmandu University – Dhulikhel Hospital, Nepal Cleft and Burn Center – Kirtipur Hospital

• Peru: IMPACTA, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurologicas, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Centro de Investigaciones Tecnológicas Biomédicas y Medioambientales (CITBM)

• Thailand: Chulalongkorn University, Chiang Mai University

• Uganda: Global Health Uganda, Uganda Cancer Institute, Makerere University, Mbarara University, Mulago Hospital

Scholarship Benefits

The NPGH LEADERs LAUNCH Fellowship is fully funded and covers:

• 12-month research fellowship at an approved international partner site

• Research study funding up to $7,500 for U.S. pre-doctoral trainees and $10,000 for U.S. and LMIC post-doctoral trainees -1

• Short-term training in the U.S. for LMIC trainees (1-3 months)

• Mentorship from both U.S. and international research experts

• Hands-on research experience in global health settings

• Access to formalized curriculum and professional development resources

For a broader view of funding options in North America, refer to financial aids for students in North America.

Research Priorities

The program accepts applications from a variety of disciplines but has special interest in projects related to: HIV/AIDS, Neurology/Nervous System Disorders, Cardiovascular/Lung/Blood Disease, Cancer, Diabetes/Digestive/Kidney Diseases, Women's Health, Child Health and Human Development, Mental Health, Environmental Health, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, Data Science, Disease Prevention, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, Dental/Oral/Craniofacial Health, Deafness and Communication Disorders, Drug Use and Addiction, Eye Conditions, Nursing Research, and Aging Research/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias -1-7.

Required Documents

A complete application includes -1:

1. Online Application Form with personal background information

2. Research Proposal (design your own study or integrate into an existing study)

3. Tentative Budget for your study

4. Personal Statements

5. Mentoring Plan

6. Certified NIH Biosketch Common Form (prepared in SciENcv platform – one from you and one from each primary mentor)

7. Unofficial Transcripts (predoctoral applicants only)

8. Two Letters of Recommendation (one from primary research site mentor, one from primary U.S. mentor) – a third letter is optional

9. For LMIC Applicants: Letter from U.S. mentor must explicitly mention approval of proposed U.S. short-term training plans

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: 15 September 2026, 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time -1

• Interviews: Late September – mid-October 2026

• Application Status Notification: By February 2027

• Fellowship Start Date: 1 July 2027 -1

How to Apply?

The application process for the NPGH LEADERs LAUNCH Fellowship 2027 involves the following steps -1:

1. Choose a Research Site: Review the approved international partner sites and country pages for more information.

2. Choose a Research Area: Review the research priorities or propose your own area based on your interests and training.

3. Choose Your Mentors: Identify at least one U.S. mentor from a consortium university and one research site mentor from an approved international partner site. Use the mentor database or propose mentors you have already worked with. If you need assistance, contact program staff at ghfpc@uw.edu at least 4-6 weeks before the deadline.

4. Write Your Application: Build upon previous trainee projects or design your own project with guidance from mentors. A helpful resource on writing global health research proposals is available at nuwrite.northwestern.edu.

5. Get Application Reviewed: Your application must be reviewed by both proposed mentors.

6. Submit Your Application: Submit the online application form and ensure letters of recommendation are uploaded or emailed to ghfpc@uw.edu by 15 September 2026.

7. Await Notification: Applications are reviewed between September-November, with interviews in late September-mid October and final decisions by February 2027.

Why Choose the NPGH LEADERs LAUNCH Fellowship?

The NPGH LEADERs LAUNCH Fellowship stands out for several reasons:

• Prestigious NIH Funding: Sponsored by the Fogarty International Center, the program is part of a flagship initiative celebrating over 20 years of global health research training -9.

• Comprehensive Research Experience: Gain hands-on experience at top institutions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America under the mentorship of U.S. and international experts -6.

• Equitable Training: The LAUNCH program ensures a more equitable experience by bringing LMIC trainees to the U.S. for short-term research training -9.

• Interdisciplinary Approach: Research themes range from infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases to environmental health, policy, nursing, and implementation science -7.

• Career Development: Build an international research presence and strengthen collaborative networks overseas -8.

• Alumni Network: Join a community of over 200 alumni who have gone on to become leaders in global health research -8.

For a comprehensive list of study opportunities in the United States, see the list of all open scholarships in USA.

Final Thoughts

The NPGH LEADERs LAUNCH Global Health Fellowship 2027 is a transformative opportunity for early-career researchers passionate about advancing global health. With fully funded research training, mentorship from leading experts, and the chance to work at top institutions across the world, this fellowship opens doors to a meaningful career in global health research.

Applications are due 15 September 2026, so start preparing your documents and identifying mentors today. For any questions, contact program staff at ghfpc@uw.edu.

Apply Now for NPGH LEADERs LAUNCH Global Health Fellowship 2027