About Us

 

 

The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) is a charitable trust established in 2015 by the Medical Research Foundation.

AREF’s mission is to improve the quality and impact of health research in Africa by nurturing African-led research in and for the region. Our initial focus is on giving talented postdoctoral health researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa access to the knowledge and skills they need to become leading scientists.

Our vision is growing a community of African researchers working in Africa, who lead and partner world-class research that benefits patients, populations, policy makers and practitioners.

Many young researchers in the region face a lack of opportunities, skills and mentorship essential to winning funding for their ideas, progressing to research independence and eventual leadership.  AREF’s strategy has three pillars:

  • To provide stepping-stones awards and training at vulnerable career stages that develop researchers’ knowledge, skills and experience – focusing on the early outcome of applying for grants and winning support.
  • To attract new funding into research capacity strengthening, including from philanthropic foundations and individuals.
  • To work in partnership, leveraging complementary knowledge and resources – being stronger together.

 

We must invest in promising young African scientists, they are the innovators and leaders that will transform our continent’s health. The African Research Excellence Fund is Africa-based, African-led, for African scientists and we are all committed to African health. It is an important initiative.

Kofi Annan

 

You can be part of our vision and help us achieve it. Please read more about our programmes and how you can get involved:

AREF Launch case for support
AREF Strengthening health research capacity in Africa for Africa
AREF Research Development Fellowship
AREF Essential Grant Writing Skills Workshops
Excell Leadership and Researcher Development Programme

In this section

    The London office:

    Africa Research Excellence Fund

    c/o Medical Research Council Unit
    One Kemble Street
    London WC2B 4AN
    United Kingdom

The Gambia office:

Africa Research Excellence Fund

c/o MRC Unit The Gambia at the London
School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara
P.O. Box 273, Banjul
The Gambia

©2018 The Africa Research Excellence Fund is a registered charity 1138223-21 by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. AREF is a linked charity of the Medical Research Foundation which is a registered charity (Reg. No.: 1138223) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (company No.: 7366816).
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