Upon completion of the MODRA programme and moving move into the next stage of their careers, here’s a look at how our fellows are turning learning into lasting impact.
At OUCRU Hanoi, Dr Vu Thi Ngoc Bich is investigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the microbiome, a growing global concern. Supported by her MODRA seed award, her project traces carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) between patients and their households, helping to understand how resistant bacteria spread beyond hospitals.
“Through MODRA, I gained a structured approach to risk assessment and mitigation in my research planning,” she explains. “It helped me refine my methodology, clarify my project’s impact, and even explore new interdisciplinary angles I hadn’t previously considered.”
In recent months, she has taken on co–Principal Investigator roles in two major AMR projects. Her ongoing collaborations are strengthening Vietnam’s research capacity and contributing new evidence to guide infection control and antibiotic stewardship.
Dr Kartika Saraswati‘s research focuses on rickettsial and other neglected tropical diseases that remain under-recognised across Southeast Asia. With her MODRA seed award, she leads the project RINSE (Rickettsial Infection Seroprevalence and Spatial Epidemiology), which maps infection risks in Indonesia to inform surveillance and prevention strategies.
Through MODRA, Kartika learned how to put structure into research planning. “I learned practical strategies to break down the proposal and budgeting process into smaller, manageable steps,” she says. “This structured approach made the task far less intimidating and led to more coherent and thorough proposals.”
Her project is helping fill critical data gaps and building connections with researchers across the region. Kartika hopes this growing network will strengthen rickettsial disease research and ultimately improve health outcomes for vulnerable communities.
The MORU–OUCRU Discovery Research Academy (MODRA) is a Wellcome-funded, 18-month programme that supports early- to mid-career researchers across South and Southeast Asia. Through mentorship, training, networking and seed funding, MODRA equips emerging scientists with the skills and opportunities to lead impactful research in global health and infectious diseases. Find out more about MODRA.
