Transdisciplinary Approaches to Mobility and Global Health

With this joint call, the Novo Nordisk Foundation (Denmark), Wellcome (UK) and the Volkswagen Foundation are funding multi-perspective research into the interactions between mobility and health. How do they influence the general health, various health determinants and the well-being of local and mobile populations? Which novel methods and approaches can be used to address the effects of mobility in a sustainable way? Funding is available for research that crosses disciplinary and geographical boundaries and involves non-academic stakeholders.

• areas of research: social sciences, life & health sciences

• funding for: international collaborative projects

• pilot projects (phase 1): up to 50,000 euros; full proposals (phase 2): 0.5 - 1.5 million euros

• pilot projects (phase 1): up to 7 months; full proposals (phase 2): 3 – 5 years

• aimed at: researchers from HICs and LMICs, in close collaboration with local communities, non-academic stakeholders and other relevant actors

What is funded?

The umbrella theme Mobility and Global Health includes research on health-related questions regarding the mobility of people (migrants, refugees, health tourists, (un)documented workers etc.), its effects and repercussions, and various aspects of mobility of populations.  Furthermore, projects on how ideas/concepts that influence Global Health move beyond borders and how they affect societies are welcome. The mobility of animals and goods, and what this means for the spread of animal and vector-borne diseases and their effects on human populations may also be investigated. 

The applicants are not limited to, but could use the following sub-themes as inspiration to develop high-impact research projects

• to inform research priorities, policies and interventions aimed at addressing access to prevention, diagnostics, and challenges of continued care for non-communicable diseases, including mental health and infectious disease co-morbidities, among migrants for work, persons displaced due to conflict, disasters or climate change. 
• to understand, in a One Health perspective, the role of mobility and international trade of goods, live animals and agricultural products for public health recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment as well as the ethical and systemic components and adaptation strategies.  

Projects are encouraged to understand, develop, and assess novel methods and approaches across different disciplines to benefit research into mobility including, for example, ethical aspects, data quality, cost, feasibility, and participatory opportunities.