Awarded annually, the Change Challenge recognizes early career research leaders working as teams to drive transformational change in their communities. We tap into their strengths to lead change and make an impact with disseminating and implementing evidence-based research that ends cervical and liver cancer. We provide a foundation from which they can mobilize communities to lead, maximize their impact, and unleash their potential to end preventable cancers in Nigeria.

We define early career investigators as scholars passionate about leading change to end cervical and liver cancer. They may be working as Post-doctoral Scholars, Graduate Assistants, Lecturers 1 & 2, Senior Lecturers , or Associate Professors within 5 years of receiving their advanced degrees by December 2023

Dissemination research is defined as the scientific study of the targeted distribution of information and intervention materials to a specific public health, clinical practice, or policy audience.

Implementation research is defined as the scientific study of the use of strategies to adopt and integrate evidence-based health interventions into clinical and community settings to improve individual outcomes and benefit population health

for teams of early career investigators that are passionate about leading change to end cancer. They may be working as Post-doctoral Scholars, Graduate Assistants, Lecturers 1 & 2, Senior Lecturers , or Associate Professors within 5 years of receiving their advanced degrees by December 2023. The teams must be keen to lead dissemination and implementation science research focused on cervical and liver cancer, including proposing innovative ideas that prevent these cancers using vaccines and other evidence-based strategies. Candidates should also be based in Nigeria and have an innovative idea that could push the boundaries of science, in our focus areas of dissemination and implementation research on cervical and liver cancer in community settings. We are also interested in new discovering to improve working with, rather than for communities to end cancer in Nigeria.

DEVELOP

Develop Phase requirements:

• Identify a breakthrough solution to that ends vaccine-preventable cancers in Nigeria.
• Develop a conceptual design using principles from the field of dissemination and implementation science.
• Craft a rigorous plan for dissemination and implementation and more. 

DESIGN

Only winners of the Develop Phase are eligible to compete in the Design Phase. 

Design Phase requirements: 

• Finalize the design of the proposed solution.
• Conduct preliminary analyses of the innovation and risk assessments.
• Develop a preliminary approach to dissemination and implementation, community benefits plan and outcomes monitoring and reporting plan.
• Develop rigorous testing plans
• Create a timeline for implementation.

DELIVER

Only winners of the Design Phase are eligible to compete in the Deliver Phase. 

Deliver Phase requirements:

• Implement and pilot-test solutions in real-time
• Submit findings from ongoing field dissemination and implementation
• Identify partners and incorporate feedback to advance the solution from pilot- to implementation-scale.

Top 8 teams selected following the open challenge, will bring their project proposals to a one-week in-person program that will provide immersive, collaborative, action-learning experience that allows trainees to learn from and work with key community leaders (e.g., cancer survivors and others with lived experience) to build and deliver impact on their research proposal.

The bootcamp consists of three main components: 1) instructional IS workshops; 2) field trips, and 3) iterative proposal development supported by coaches and facilitators. The instructional seminars and workshops will lay the foundation for participants to finalize their IS studies that will be piloted, implemented, and tested for feasibility and acceptability and submitted as a grant proposal.

At the end of the academy, teams will pitch their strategy and receive feedback from a panel of judges. The judges will evaluate interventions based on innovation, relevance to Nigerian communities, and feasibility to implement. All teams will compete to receive N2million naira to pilot their research at participating community sites. Bootcamp participants will benefit from distinguished coaches to include individuals who have expertise in vaccines, cancer control, IS, participatory interventions, and health equity.

In memory of Mrs Angie Akunmo who inspired us to lead change, we celebrate ordinary community-based organizations making extraordinary impact to end cancer for communities by communities. We award N1million naira annually to support every-day community-based organizations leading change to end cancer in Nigeria. Take a minute to share their story with us to propel them to prominent recognition in Nigeria and beyond. Finalist will be announced at the annual NIMR conference in November.