Aga Khan University's (AKU) Research Office marked the conclusion of the second cohort of its Research Initiative for Scholars Excellence (RISE) Programme for the Faculty of Health Sciences, celebrating a year-long journey of mentorship, collaboration, and research leadership development for early-career researchers across Pakistan and East Africa.
Launched under AKU's Research Strategic Plan, the RISE Programme is an Early Career Research Academy designed to equip faculty with the essential skills needed for a successful research career. The programme aims to strengthen research competence, support career development, increase grant success, foster collaboration, and expand AKU's pool of active researchers. A key expected outcome is the submission of a competitive grant proposal within six months of programme completion. The programme was chaired by Drs Zahra Hoodbhoy and Anthony Ngugi, and co-chaired by Drs Ayesha Almas and Muthoni Mwangi, in Pakistan and East Africa, respectively.
The second cohort, launched in June 2025, brought together 20 participants from AKU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, including 15 faculty members from the Medical College and School of Nursing and Midwifery in Pakistan and five from East Africa. Its launch coincided with the introduction of a parallel RISE Programme stream for Social Sciences and Humanities, reflecting the University’s growing commitment to strengthening research capacity across disciplines.
Over the course of the year, participants engaged in structured virtual learning through a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) platform, complemented by case studies, presentations, peer discussions, and continuous faculty feedback.
The curriculum covered key aspects of grant development and research leadership, including writing aims and objectives, developing methodological and analytical plans, preparing grant budgets and biosketches, navigating grant application processes, and building networking and mentorship skills. Participants also received detailed feedback as they refined and presented sections of their proposals to peers, mentors, and facilitators.
The programme concluded with a two-day retreat featuring mentorship, peer learning, and final research presentations. Sessions included The Art of Networking and Dissemination by Dr Zainab Samad, Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, AKU, and Fueling Success through Mentorship by Dr Nasia Safdar, Professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, alongside dedicated time for proposal refinement and group discussions. The retreat culminated in presentations by RISERs showcasing projects addressing diverse health priorities and research challenges.
In the closing session, Professor Salim S. Virani, Vice Provost Research, AKU, led an interactive discussion titled Forget Titles – These 10 Personal Daily Habits Make a (Research) Leader.
“The RISE Programme is about far more than writing successful grants," said Professor Virani. “It is about building a culture of mentorship, collaboration, and leadership that empowers researchers to address complex health challenges with impact and purpose."
Dr Hoodbhoy, highlighted the programme's achievements and growing momentum across AKU's campuses and regions. Early outcomes from Cohort 2 have already been encouraging, with 70 per cent of participants applying for extramural funding by the end of the programme.
RISER feedback reflected the programme's impact. One participant noted, “The RISE Programme provided structured learning and helped me navigate my ideas and connect with senior researchers." Another shared that the programme “significantly enhanced my perspective on research and its real-world applications."
As Cohort 2 concludes, the Research Office remains committed to strengthening AKU's research culture and supporting the next generation of scholars and research leaders.
