Meharry–Africa Program to Enhance Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Research (PECIR)
The Meharry–Africa Program to Enhance Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Research (PECIR) aims to foster sustainable research partnerships between Meharry Medical College and African institutions, with a focus on genomics and precision health. The program seeks to strengthen global collaborations, research capacity of historically disadvantaged institutions, advance scientific discovery and create reciprocal, high-impact partnerships benefiting institutions, faculty, students and communities in both Africa and the U.S.
Program Goals
- Strengthen global research capacity and Meharry’s presence in Africa through high-impact, reciprocal partnerships advancing joint research and training across institutions.
- Advance scientific discovery and innovation to address healthcare challenges affecting populations of African ancestry.
- Enable faculty collaborative research that drives multi-institutional grant submissions and extramural funding success.
- Position Meharry as a research-intensive (R1) institution by expanding global research partnerships, funding, publications and talent pipelines.
- Build workforce capacity by providing structured training opportunities for students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty to promote research excellence and independence.
Program Eligibility
- Open to faculty at Meharry Medical College and partnering African institutions.
- Collaborative proposals must include at least one PI from Meharry and one from an African partner institution.
Key Dates
- Dec. 15, 2025 – Letter of Intent Due
- Jan. 05, 2026 – Full Application Opens
- Feb. 16, 2026 – Application Closes
- April 15, 2026 – Award Notifications Issued
Resources
- Collaborators List: Meharry faculty can be located by searching for “@mmc.edu” within the list
- Submit the Letter of Intent here: PECIR Letter of Intent – Fill out form
- Webinar Recording Link: Meharry–Africa PECIR Research Funding Opportunity Recap on Vimeo
- Informational Webinar Deck: PECIR informational Webinar Deck
- Meharry–Africa PECIR Program: Application & Eligibility Guide: Meharry Africa PECIR Application Guide
Contact
Sarrah Widatalla, Ph.D., M.S.
Executive Director, DHGI-MMC Global Research and Training Initiatives
Administrative Director, Genetic Counseling Training Program
Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Genomics and Epidemiology