Global Engagement Grants

Global Engagement Grants is sponsored by University of Minnesota, Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility. These grants offer funding for innovative projects by faculty, researchers, and students that blend work in research, education, and capacity-building, with a focus on global health. Similar to the Seed Grants, a global health angle for insomnia behavioral treatment would be necessary.

Global Engagement Grants | Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility Our Global Engagement Grants offer funding for innovative projects by faculty and staff that blend work in research, education, and capacity-building. Through these grants, CGHSR supports creative, novel approaches to global engagement through funding designed to advance sustainable, equitable health globally.

Global Engagement Grants also provide an opportunity to collaborate around specific CGHSR focus areas and with others who share our priorities.

See past Global Engagement Grant recipients' work here Global Engagement Grant Spotlight Learn about our 2025–2026 Global Engagement Grant Recipients We appreciate the thoughtful and high-quality proposals submitted to the 2026 Global Engagement Grants program, reflecting the dedication of our University community to advancing global health practice.

This year’s funded projects spanned 11 countries and numerous disciplines, including maternal health, veterinary medicine, dentistry and cancer prevention. Together, the funded projects highlight innovative models for learning and training, combining workforce development, curriculum design, and applied research with community-engaged and technology-enabled approaches.

Learn more about our 2025-26 Global Engagement Grant Recipients Photo courtesy of Nida Sajid Global Engagement Grants Around the World Global Engagement Grants support collaborations across our local and global community to continue global health work and combat newly emerging crises.

2026 Global Engagement Grants 2026 Global Engagement Grants | Open Call Building Capacity for Maternal-Adolescent Mental Health Research in Ethiopia PI: Mustafa al’Absi, Ph. D. , L.

P. | Professor, Max & Mary LaDue Pickworth Chair, Director of the Duluth Global Health Research Institute; Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health; UMN Medical School Kathryn Cullen; M. D.

, Professor and Division Director, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; UMN Medical School Biyue Dai, Ph. D. , Assistant Professor, Division of Biostatistics & Health Data Science, UMN School of Public Health Briana DeAngelis, M.

A. , Researcher, Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health, UMN Medical School Fethia Mohammed Abdalla, Ph. D, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Haramaya University, Ethiopia Merga Dheresa Agga, Ph.

D. , M. P.

H. , Associate Professor of Public Health, Head of Hararghe (Kersa) Health and Demographic Surveillance System, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Ethiopia Gari Hunduma Bayissa, Ph. D.

, Assistant Professor and Postgraduate Program Coordinator, Department of Psychiatry, Haramaya University, Ethiopia Abdlselam Asefa Umer, M. D. , Department Head and Chief Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry, Hiwot Fana Comprehensive University Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia Tara D.

Wilfong, M. D. , M.

P. H.

, Associate Professor of Public Health, International Collaborations & LiaisonDirector, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Ethiopia Defining Obstetric Violence: A Pilot Study Using Zoom Workshops and Qualitative Interviews PI: Zobeida Bonilla, PhD, MPH | Associate Professor, Maternal and Child Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, UMN School of Public Health Guadalupe Ramirez, Director, Association of Highland Women Ben Blevins, PhD Candidate, Prescott College Marya Izara, Research Coordinator, Association of Highland Women Members of the Association of Highland Women Development and Evaluation of an AI-empowered Teledentistry Diagnostic Tool in Minnesota, Taiwan, and Thailand PI: Boyen Huang, DDS, MHA, PhD | Professor and Assistant Dean for Faculty Development, UMN School of Dentistry Co-PI: Yao-Yi Chiang, BBA, MA, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, UMN College of Science and Engineering Building Capacity for Research Impact Through Global Health and Community Partnerships PI: Esther Johnston, MD, MPH, FAAFP | Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, UMN Medical School Willem Stassen, BTEMC, MPhil EM, PGDip Appl.

Ethics, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of EM; FaCE, University of Cape Town Lindsay Farrant, MBBCh, MPhil Pall Med, Senior Lecturer Division of IPCM; FaCE, University of Cape Town Klaus von Pressentin, MBChB, MMed, FCFP, PGDip, PhD, Associate Professor Division of FM; FaCE, University of Cape Town “Because I am a Woman. Being a Woman, You Have to do Most!

” Transforming Research into Action through Culturally Grounded Health Education Engaging Hmong Oral Storytelling in Northern Thailand PI: Susi Keefe, Ph. D.

| Associate Director of Community-Engaged Scholarship, Center for Community-Engaged Learning Connie Vang, MPH Lead Researcher and Global Intern, School of Global Health in Women’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand Chen Vue, Director of SEASA, Northern Thailand, community partner May Vang, Hmong Storyteller Gao Sheng Yang, MPH, part of Northern Thailand research team, Environmental Health Specialist, Ramsey County Lee Lor, MPH, part of Northern Thailand research team Airway Workshop Initiative: Simulation-Based Drills, Algorithm-Based Decision Training, and a Refresher Curriculum Adapted for the Local Resource Context Vanessa Moll, MD, PhD, FCCM, FASA, DESA | Professor and Vice Chair of Quality and Safety, Department of Anesthesiology, UMN Medical School Joss Thomas, MBBS, MBA, MHA | UMN Medical School Ananya Abate Shiferaw, MD, FCA, FIPM, Graduate Program Director, Interim Head of Department of Anesthesiology, Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Botswana Faculty of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana Strengthening Veterinary Workforce Resilience in the Republic of Uzbekistan: Needs Assessment for Establishing Re-Training Centers PI: Maria Sol Perez, DVM, PhD | Deputy Director, Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, UMN College of Veterinary Medicine Co-PI: Valeriia Yustyniuk, DVM, PhD | UMN College of Veterinary Medicine Curriculum Development for a One Health-Focused Study Abroad Course in Malaysia PI: Kendra Phelps, MSc, PhD | Research Professional, Zoology, UMN College of Veterinary Medicine Co-PI: Peter Larsen, MSc, PhD | UMN College of Veterinary Medicine Workshop: Biomarker Applications to Inform Cancer Prevention PI: Irina Stepanov, PhD | Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Mayo Professor in Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, UMN School of Public Health Co-PI: Vikram Gota, PhD, Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Mumbai, India 2026 Bridge Funding for Sustaining Global Health Partnerships Call Seamless Phase 2 Trial of Novel Antimicrobial Combination Therapy to Treat TB Meningitis PI: David Boulware, MD, MPH | McKnight Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, UMN Medical School Co-PI: David Meya, PhD | Associate Professor of Medicine, Head of Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University; Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Combating HIV Stigma in Healthcare Settings: A Standardized Patient Approach PI: M.

Kumi Smith, PhD | Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, UMN School of Public Health 2025 Global Engagement Grants 2025 Global Engagement Grants SKoIRM Kiwoko: Screening Kinesiology of Infants at Risk of Movement Disorders PI : Benjamin J. S.

al-Haddad, MSc, MD, PhD , Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics | UMN Medical School Co-PI: Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, MBChB, MMed, PhD, Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer and Child Neurologist in the Department of Pediatrics & Child Health | Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda Training Ugandan Mental Health Professionals in a Family-Based Intervention for Adolescent Suicide Prevention: A Qualitative Exploration of Cultural Feasibility PI: Ronald Asiimwe, PhD , Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Social Science | UMN College of Education and Human Development Co-PIs: Godfrey Zari Rukundo, MBChB, MMed Psych, FCAP, PhD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry | Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; Rosco Kasujja, PhD, Clinical Psychologist and Senior Lecturer, Department of Mental Health & Community Psychology | Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda Development of Artificial Intelligence for Disease Prevention in Resource-Limited Settings PI: Jose Debes, MD, PhD, MS , Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine | UMN Medical School Adaptation and Evaluation of an E-Learning Platform for Antimicrobial Stewardship Training at The Uganda Cancer Institute PI: Elizabeth Gulleen, MD , Assistant Professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases & International Medicine | UMN Medical School Co-PI: Alfred Komakech, BPharm, MSc, Head of Pharmacy | Uganda Cancer Institute Building Capacity in Puerto Rico to Investigate Leptospira Environmental Contamination Under the Challenge of Climate Change PI: Satoshi Ishii, PhD , Associate Professor in the BioTechnology Institute | UMN College of Biological Sciences Co-PI: Claudia Munoz-Zanzi, DVM, PhD, Division of Environmental Health Sciences | UMN School of Public Health Co-I: Luis Javier Santiago Ramos, DrPH, MPH, AHTg, Professor, Veterinary Technology Program | School of Health Professions, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico Lifestyle Assessment and Monastic Aging Study (LAMAS) Engagement Project PIs: Richard MacLehose, PhD , Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health | UMN School of Public Health & Tenzin Namdul, TMD, PhD, Assistant Professor | UMN Center for Spirituality & Healing Co-PI: Gelek Gyatso, Geshe Lharampa, Monk | Drepung Losel Ling Monastery Teaching Spinal Anesthesia With a Low-Fidelity Simulator and App-Based Self-Assessment Modules at The University Of Minnesota, University Of Botswana, Botswana, and National Hospital/Royal Orthopedic Hospital, Nigeria PI: Vanessa Moll MD, PhD, FCCM, FASA, DESA , Professor and Vice Chair, Quality and Safety, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine | UMN Medical School Co-PI: Habila Umaru, MD | Professor, Department of Orthopedics, National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria Building environmental surveillance capacity and assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) for leptospirosis among paddy field workers PI: Ammar Yasir DVM, MPhil, PhD Student, Division of Environmental Health Sciences | UMN School of Public Health Co-PI: Waqas Ahmad, DVM, MPhil, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences | University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore, Narowal Campus, Pakistan Enhancing Local Capacity for Nursing Informatics in Africa: An Approach to Data-Driven Health Infrastructure PI: Aidah Nanvuma, BNS, MPH , Graduate Student | UMN School of Public Health Co-PI: Rebecca Wurtz, MD, MPH, Program Director, Division of Health Policy and Management | UMN School of Public Health See more details about the 2025 projects here 2024 Global Engagement Grants 2024 Global Engagement Grants Ecuador: Social, Environmental and Cultural Determinants of Health Program Leader: Laura Dammer Hess, MLS | Director, UMN Center for Health Interprofessional Programs Resilience In Adversity: A Study Of Risk And Protective Factors Affecting The Mental Health And Academic Motivation Of Children And Youth In Informal Settlements In Panama PI: Ana Mireya Díaz, MA, MS | PhD student in the Department of Family Social Science / MSW student in the School of Social Work, UMN College of Education and Human Development Co-I: Diana Xie, PhDc | Urban Geography at the Autonomous University of Barcelona Capacity Building in Occupational Safety and Health in Vietnam PI: Trân B.

Huỳnh, MPH, PhD, CIH | Associate Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, UMN School of Public Health Co-I: Hien T. T.

Ngo, MSc, PhD | Faculty member in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Thang Long University, Hanoi, Vietnam; Assistant Secretary of the Workplace Health Without Borders – US Branch A Multimethod Study to Refine Family Nurse Practitioner Curriculum and Scope of Practice for the Advanced Practice Nursing Role Within the Primary Health Care System and Context of Liberia, West Africa PI: Dorcas Kunkel DNP, RN/PHN, CNE, CPHIMS | Clinical Associate Professor, Global Health Faculty Scholar 2023-24, UMN School of Nursing Co-I: Cecelia Kpangbala Flomo MPH, MPH-ICHD, RN, BSN, FWAPCNM, PHF | Registrar/Executive Secretary, Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery, Republic of Liberia, West Africa Anishinaabemowin: A Global Indigenous Pharmacist Sharing Circle PI: Laura Palombi, PharmD, MPH, MAT | Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UMN College of Pharmacy Co-I: Faye McMillan AM, DHlthSc, MIndH, MSCL, GCWiradjuriLCH, GCIndG, GCE | Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner for First Nations and Allied Health; Professor of Indigenous Health at the University of Technology Sydney; Registered Pharmacist (Community) Research Mentorship Program for Rwandan Junior Faculty Surgeons PI: Jennifer Rickard, MD, MPH | Associate Professor of Surgery, UMN Medical School PI: Christophe Mpirimbanyi | Surgeon, Kibagabaga Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda Climate Change and Malaria Symposium PI: Kelly M.

Searle, ScM PhD | Assistant Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, UMN School of Public Health Co-I: Baltazar Candrinho, MD | Director of the National Malaria Control Program in Mozambique; Chair of the Initiative of Malaria Elimination in Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland (MOSASWA) See more details about the 2024 projects here 2023 Global Engagement Grants Open Call Global Engagement Grant Recipients Vaginal/neovaginal microbiome alterations, gender affirmation therapy and implications for sexually transmitted infections in Thai transgender women PI: M.

Kumi Smith, PhD, MPIA, UMN School of Public Health Co-PI: Amaraporn Rerkasem, MD, Chiang Mai University Research Institute for Health Sciences Assessment of sound waves from liver vessels via artificial intelligence to detect liver cancer in resource-limited settings PI: Jose Debes, MD, PhD, MS , UMN Medical School Co-PI: Ju Sun, PhD, UMN College of Science and Engineering Creation of the First Point-of-Care Ultrasound Fellowship in Ecuador PI: Andrea Dreyfuss, MD, MPH , UMN Medical School & Ultrasound Fellowship Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Hennepin Hospital A One health initiative to combat rodent infestation threats to public health and well-being of vulnerable communities in Latin America PI: Claudia Muñoz-Zanzi, DVM, PhD , UMN School of Public Health Co-PI: Piedad Agudelo Florez, Universidad CES, Medellín Evaluating adaptation, acceptability, and sustainability of an online, trauma treatment certificate program for building the capacity of Malaysian professionals working with refugees.

PI: Patricia Shannon, PhD, LP , UMN School of Social Work, College of Education and Human Development Co-PI: Chris Mehus, Ph. D.

, LMFT, UMN College of Education and Human Development Ghana Telehealth Outreach and Technical Assistance Program (GHTOTAP): A pilot project PI: Jessica Simacek, PhD , UMN Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, College of Education and Human Development Co-PI: Emmanuel Bonney, MPhil, PhD, UMN College of Education and Human Development Project Team: Jed Elison, PhD, UMN College of Education and Human Development; Anita Randolph, PhD, UMN Medical School An enhanced education program improves postnatal maternal knowledge of neonatal jaundice in Jinja, Uganda PI: Jameel Winter, MD, UMN Medical School Co-PI: Businge Alinaitwe, BSN, Sanyu Africa Research Institute, Mbale Regional Referral Hospital NRC-RIM Community Engagement Grants Afghan Healthcare Navigation Organization: Afghan Cultural Society Project Lead: Atefa Tavasoli, Fellow of Neurosurgery, UMN Medical School Project Manage r: Amina Baha, Operations Director & Founder, Afghan Cultural Society Partners: UMN School of Social Work; Advocates for Human Rights; Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC) Clinic 2022 Global Engagement Grants Open Call Global Engagement Grant Recipients Social and Ecological Impact of Waste Management PI: Nida Sajid, PhD , Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, College of Liberal Arts Co-PI: Rishikesh Narayan, PhD, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Goa Project Team: Sudhir Krishna, PhD, MBBS, IIT Goa; Sabiha Hashami, PhD, Indian Institute of IIT Goa; Sarah Binte Ali, PhD, IIT Goa Maximizing collaborative roles for allopathic, traditional and faith healers for treating women with breast cancer PI: Beth Virnig, PhD, MPH, UMN School of Public Health Project Team: Shalini Kulasingam, PhD, UMN School of Public Health; Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah, Ph.

D. , MPhil, FGCNM, FWACON, RN, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; John Amuasi, MBChB. MS. MPH.

PhD.

, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Capacity building - Vitreoretinal surgery in Uganda PI: Dara Koozekanani, MD, PhD , UMN Medical School Co-PI: Erik van Kuijk, MD, PhD, UMN Medical School Global Women’s Health Engagement Grant Recipients Determining Efficacy of a Maternal and Neonatal Simulation and Debriefing Intervention to Improve Clinical Competence of Diverse Students at the University of Nairobi PI: Cynthia Sherraden Bradley, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE , UMN School of Nursing Project Team: Miriam C.

A.

Wagoro, RN, PhD, University of Nairobi; Blasio Omuga, MBCHB, MMED, University of Nairobi; Joyce Jebet, RCHN, BScN, MSc, PhD, University of Nairobi; Lilian Omondi, BScN, MScN, PhD, University of Nairobi Use of simulation for global medical education in obstetrics and cesarean delivery in a resource-limited rural setting: a partnership between University of Global Health Equity School of Medicine, Rwanda and University of Minnesota PI: Rebecca Petersen, MD , UMN Medical School Project Team: Rahel Ghebre, MD, MPH, UMN Medical School; Abebe Bekele, MD, University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda Open Call Global Engagement Grants Open Call Global Engagement Grants are available to UMN faculty and staff to support small projects or pilot efforts.

These grants, ranging from $1,500 to $15,000, fund activities such as travel, capacity-building programs, curriculum development or technical training. Open Call Global Engagement Grants are designed to offer funding for innovative projects that do not necessarily fall into a single category of research, education, or capacity-building.

Applications are open in August–October each year, with funding available in January of the following year. Current faculty and staff from academic units throughout the University of Minnesota system are eligible.

Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: Interdisciplinary nature of the proposed project or research plan and the ways in which it contributes to addressing the established global health need Evidence of partnership with community collaborators and/or organizations If applying for funds to develop curriculum/educational content for an international partner: Demonstrated need from the international partner and level of involvement of the partner in the development process Intellectual merit, cohesiveness, and feasibility of the project proposal or research plan and the clarity with which it is conveyed to a non-specialist Soundness of the budget request For graduate student applicants: Academic record and strength of faculty advisor letter of support Alignment with CGHSR values of social responsibility , which include: Mutual partnership and/or bidirectionality; Equity: Institutions or individuals involved in the project benefit equitably and scientific outputs recognize contributions from international partners; Projects have a path to long-term sustainability; Activities include interprofessional engagement; Activities are relevant, important and impactful as defined by international partners.

CGHSR will give additional consideration to proposals that align with existing and emerging portfolios, including Global Women’s Health, Human Health and Migration, Global Health Ethics, and Climate Change/Environmental Health Applications for Global Engagement Grants are currently closed. The following information outlines the 2025 application process for reference.

Applications for Global Engagement Grants will be accepted until Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at 11:59pm CDT. Grant applications must be submitted through the Google form application Please review the Request for Proposals (RFP) document for details on application requirements.

Applications due: Oct. 27, 2025 Funding available: January 2026 – December 2027 All questions related to the application process, requirements, or eligibility should be directed to Sophie Watson at [email protected] .

Global Education Partners Global Women's Health Partners For Students and Postdocs Fogarty Global Health Fellows Global Health Seed Grants Seed to R01 Accelerator Grants Research Implementation Support Chiang Mai University Research Collaborative India: Global Health, Globalization & Leadership Ecuador: Social, Environmental, and Cultural Determinants of Health Thailand: Community and Environmental Health in Chiang Mai Global Health in Local Contexts Global Health Independent Study Global Medical Education and Research Program Global Health Case Competition Global Health Student Advocacy Board For Students and Postdocs Global Health Ethics in Practice Awards Global Health Seed Grants Seed to R01 Accelerator Grants Global Health Research and Training Partnerships Global Engagement Network for Primary Health Care CMU Research Collaborative Advocacy for Global Health Partnerships Quie & Peterson Global Health Lecture International Women's Day