The AYA Integrated Healthcare Initiative is offering up to eight travel grants to support Ghanaian cardiovascular researchers attending the World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, marking a push to strengthen West African representation in global non-communicable disease research.
The grants, offered in partnership with the World Heart Federation, will cover travel costs, accommodation, and registration fees for the congress, which runs from October 8 to 10, 2026, in Brazil. The initiative targets early- and mid-career researchers and clinicians actively working in cardiovascular disease research, including Ghanaian nationals based abroad.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a completed application form, proof of abstract submission to WCC 2026, a two- to three-page CV, a motivation statement highlighting career relevance and national impact, and a letter of institutional endorsement. The deadline is May 30, 2026.
The program is part of AYA’s broader Non-Communicable Disease Research Network, which aims to cultivate emerging cardiovascular health leaders from Ghana and West Africa and facilitate knowledge exchange at the international level.
Program Backing
AYA is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with Ghana’s Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, with funding from Bayer, Sanofi, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, alongside support from Panorama Global.
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality in Ghana and across sub-Saharan Africa, where health systems have historically prioritized infectious disease response over chronic condition management. The grant program reflects growing recognition that building local research capacity is essential to addressing the region’s rising NCD burden.
