The Department of Endocrinology, 
Strengthening research capacity of early-mid career researchers: Implementation and evaluation of the Excellence in Non-COmmunicable disease REsearch (ENCORE) program.
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Non-Communicable Disease Unit, The Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Public Health Foundation of India, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
- Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, New Delhi, India.
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.
- Community Health Department, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Global Institute of Public Health, Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
- Emory Global Diabetes Research Center (EGDRC), Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research Vol. 72 · Issue 5 · pp. 475-486
PMID 38378444 DOI 10.1177/10815589241236156
Cite This Article
Nitin Kapoor, Tilahun Haregu, Kavita Singh, Anu Mary Oommen, Jennifer Audsley, Priti Gupta, Smitha Jasper, G K Mini, Sathish Thirunavukkarasu, Brian Oldenburg. Strengthening research capacity of early-mid career researchers: Implementation and evaluation of the Excellence in Non-COmmunicable disease REsearch (ENCORE) program. Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research. 2024;72(5):475-486. doi:10.1177/10815589241236156
Abstract
High-quality training and networking are pivotal for enhancing the research capacity of early- to mid-career researchers in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. Beyond building research skills, these professionals gain valuable insights from interdisciplinary mentorship, networking opportunities, and exposure to diverse cultures and health systems. Despite the significance of such initiatives, their implementation remains underexplored. Here, we describe the implementation and evaluation of the Excellence in Non-COommunicable disease REsearch (ENCORE) program, a collaborative initiative between Australia and India that was launched in 2016 and spanned a duration of 3 years. Led by a consortium that included the University of Melbourne and leading Indian research and medical institutions, ENCORE involved 15 faculty members and 20 early-mid career researchers. The program comprised various elements, including face-to-face forums, masterclasses, webinars, a health-technology conference, and roundtable events. ENCORE successfully trained the early-career researchers, resulting in over 30 peer-reviewed articles, 36 conference presentations, and the submission of seven grant applications, three of which received funding. Beyond individual achievements, ENCORE fostered robust research collaboration between Australian and Indian institutions, showcasing its broader impact on strengthening research capacities across borders.
Keywords
- Capacity building
- Implementation science
- Non-communicable diseases
- Research capacity
