Generating Evidence on Digital Solutions for Infectious Diseases: Eligibility, Funding, Deadline and How to Apply

1. Introduction

The global health community stands at a critical juncture where the proliferation of digital health tools often outpaces our rigorous understanding of their implementation and impact. This call for proposals, issued by TDR (the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, co-sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank, and WHO), represents a strategic effort to bridge the chasm between technological innovation and sustainable public health practice. In resource-constrained settings, the challenge is no longer merely proving diagnostic accuracy in a controlled environment, but ensuring digital solutions function effectively within the complex machinery of a national health system. By focusing on infectious diseases of poverty, this initiative seeks to transform “proof of concept” successes into routine, scalable practices that improve outcomes for the world’s most vulnerable populations. The following sections detail the technical requirements and strategic priorities for this implementation research opportunity.

2. At a Glance

This summary provides the essential parameters for potential applicants to determine their initial eligibility and alignment with the programme’s strategic timeline.

3. About the Opportunity

The strategic rationale for this call is rooted in a recent TDR scoping review, which highlighted a profound imbalance in the digital health landscape. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital tools demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy in laboratory settings, there is a significant dearth of evidence regarding their real-world implementation and impact on public health outcomes in resource-constrained environments. This grant aims to fill that evidence void.

The call prioritizes two major Areas of Investigation:

• Integration into Health Systems: Evaluating strategies for embedding digital tools within existing clinical workflows. This includes enhancing adherence to interoperability standards—specifically HL7 FHIR® and ICD-11—to ensure tools are not isolated silos but are integrated into the national digital health architecture for long-term scalability.
• Performance in Routine Practice: Measuring effectiveness under real-world conditions and assessing “implementation outcomes.” This includes evaluating trust and perceived reliability in AI systems—a critical bottleneck for sustainability—as well as acceptability, user adoption, and equity-sensitive indicators to identify who benefits and who is excluded.

By focusing on these outcomes, the research shifts from technical validation to public health impact. Furthermore, the inclusion of costing components is viewed favorably, as economic feasibility is a primary driver of policy adoption. The call focuses on three Thematic Areas:

1. Resistance to Treatment: Supporting antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance.
2. Epidemics and Outbreaks: Improving detection and diagnosis, including digital wallets for health engagement.
3. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs): Detection and diagnosis for diseases such as schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and visceral leishmaniasis.

Projects evaluating WHO SMART Guidelines-based digital decision support tools are particularly encouraged.

4. Who Can Apply?

To ensure local leadership and technical relevance, the eligibility framework is strictly designed to prioritize expertise within the regions being studied. Applicants must be:

• Institutionally Affiliated: Based at a public health institution in an LMIC, including Ministries of Health, universities, research institutes, or NGOs.
• Technically Qualified: Able to demonstrate a proven track record in implementation research, health systems, or digital health.
• Collaboratively Focused: Able to provide evidence of institutional support. Collaboration with national or sub-national programmes is strongly encouraged to ensure the research is policy-relevant.

Specifically, the application requires:

• Clear evidence of a track record in infectious disease research.
• Mandatory letters of support from the lead institution and relevant disease control programmes.
• A commitment to research activities (funds are not available for tool development or hardware procurement).

5. What Does It Offer?

The value of this award extends beyond the monetary contribution, offering successful researchers a platform within the global WHO/TDR ecosystem.

• Financial Support: Up to USD 50,000 per proposal.
• Volume: A maximum of two proposals will be funded under this call.
• Technical Mentorship: Successful applicants will receive ongoing support from TDR technical staff throughout the project lifecycle.
• Personnel Constraints (The 80/20 Rule): To ensure the funding strengthens local capacity, at least 80% of personnel costs must be allocated to staff or institutions based in LMICs. Only 20% can support personnel in non-LMIC settings.

6. Duration and Location

The project timeframe is 12 months. This compressed window necessitates a lean, high-impact study design (e.g., sub-national pilots or programme-embedded evaluations) that can yield actionable evidence quickly. All research activities must be situated within LMIC contexts to ensure the findings are grounded in real-world health system realities.

7. Important Dates

Strict adherence to the submission timeline is mandatory; the eTDR system will not accept applications after the deadline.

• Submission Deadline: 15 October 2026, 17:00 CEST

8. How to Apply

The application workflow is managed entirely through the digital eTDR Community Site. Applicants should allow sufficient time for account registration and the assembly of technical documents.

1. Account Creation: Register a new account on the eTDR Community Site if you are not a previous user.
2. Form Completion: Download and complete the official application form. This may be completed in either English or French.
3. Upload: Submit the completed form and all required annexes through the eTDR system before the 17:00 CEST cutoff.

9. Documents Required

Administrative completeness is a prerequisite for technical evaluation. A complete submission must include:

1. Signed Application Form: Fully completed in English or French.
2. Curricula Vitae (CVs): For all investigators and key team members.
3. Gantt Chart: A time-framed project plan (maximum 2 pages).
4. Institutional Support Letter: Signed by the Director or Legal Representative of the lead institution.
5. Programme Support Letter: A letter of support from the country’s Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) control programme.

• Note: This is a mandatory administrative requirement listed by TDR. Applicants focusing on other thematic areas (e.g., AMR or Epidemics) should still secure this letter or seek clarification from the technical contact to ensure administrative compliance.

10. Selection Process

TDR employs a competitive and transparent evaluation process. Following an initial eligibility check by WHO staff, applications undergo review by independent external experts. Proposals are scored out of 100 points based on:

• Relevance (30 points): Alignment with the call’s objectives and thematic areas.
• Scientific and Technological Merit (35 points): Quality of the implementation science approach, including the inclusion of costing components.
• Feasibility (25 points): Realism of the timeline, methodology, and local context.
• Budget and Value for Money (10 points): Efficiency and appropriate use of resources.

Final funding is contingent upon obtaining ethical clearance from the WHO Ethics Review Committee and relevant local boards.

11. Important Things to Note

Applicants must adhere to several critical constraints to avoid disqualification:

• Critical Constraint on Procurement: Funding is strictly for implementation research. It cannot be used to purchase hardware/software or to develop new digital tools.
• Ethics and Privacy: Proposals must explicitly address data protection, security, and human oversight for AI tools.
• Language Policy: Applications are accepted in both English and French.
• Technical Standards: Preference is given to tools built on open standards or available as Digital Public Goods.

12. Why This Opportunity May Be Relevant

This call is designed for researchers who aim to move beyond theoretical modeling to influence national digital health strategies. It is particularly relevant for those working with “Digital Public Goods” who wish to generate the rigorous evidence required for policy adoption and integration into WHO SMART Guidelines. If your work seeks to solve the “last mile” challenges of digital health—ensuring that AI and digital tools actually reach and benefit underserved populations through trustworthy and interoperable systems—this grant provides the necessary institutional backing and technical framework.

13. Official Source and Application

Organization: WHO / TDR (Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases)

Technical Queries:

• Vanessa Veronese: veronesev@who.int

Submission/Technical Issues:

• Ghafar Masoudi: masoudig@who.int

Application Links:

• eTDR Community Site
• Official Call for Proposals and Form Download

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