The USF College of Public Health announced on June 15 that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Takudzwa Sayi, post-doctoral scholar in the Department of Community and Family Health, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project titled, “Perspectives on Side-Effects of Hormonal Contraceptives.”
Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) supports innovative thinkers worldwide to explore ideas that can break the mold in how we solve persistent global health and development challenges. Dr. Sayi’s project is one of 28 Grand Challenges Explorations Round 18 grants announced today by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dr. Takudzwa Sayi, post-doctoral scholar in the Department of Community of Family Health, has been awarded a Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Explorations grant to study side effects of hormonal contraceptives among women in Zimbabwe. (Photo by Anna Mayor)
To receive funding, Dr. Sayi and other Grand Challenges Explorations winners demonstrated in a two-page online application a bold idea in one of four critical global heath and development topic areas. The foundation will be accepting applications for the next GCE round in September 2017.
The $100,000 grant will allow Dr. Sayi to collect data from users of hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill and IUDs, who experience or express concerns about side-effects associated with these methods in Zimbabwe.
She will document contraceptive use decision-making while navigating perceived and expressed concerns. Additionally, the project will include interviews with family planning providers to get their perspectives on side-effects of hormonal methods and how they perceive women deal with them.
Post-doctoral scholar Dr. Takudzwa Sayi receives Gates Foundation grant