A prestigious global public health fellowship founded by Concordia alumna and Great Concordian Lady Mireille Gillings is giving early-career researchers the opportunity to tackle urgent health challenges while gaining international research and leadership experience.
The Lady Mireille and Sir Dennis Gillings Global Public Health Fellowship is a two-year international program designed to support a wide array of interdisciplinary work. Topics range from infectious disease prevention and pandemic preparedness to strengthening health systems and advancing equitable access to care.
Lady Mireille, PhD, DSc, is a biotechnology entrepreneur, global health leader and philanthropist whose career has bridged science, business and public health. Through the Fellowship, she is investing in postdoctoral researchers and equipping them with the skills needed to translate discovery into real-world impact.
Training at the intersection of science and leadership
An unprecedented group of partners including Concordia, the University of Cambridge and the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, anchored by the France-based Institut Pasteur ensures a diverse and well-represented grouping of academic resources, faculty leadership, and expertise, along with unrivaled opportunity.
Concordia alumni making an impact
Two Concordia alumni have already been named Fellows.
Hashem Almousa, PhD 23, was the first Concordia recipient. His research at Institut Pasteur focuses on the cellular mechanisms behind rare neurodevelopmental diseases in children.
"What's so special about this Fellowship is that it bridges the gap between science and business," Almousa says. "It's important that the next generation of researchers not only focus on science but effectively transform scientific knowledge into real-world applications."
İmge Ozügergin, MSc 19, PhD 24, earned the Fellowship in 2024 for her work on advancing cancer research. She studies cytokinesis the cellular division process with implications for understanding and treating glioblastoma and other diseases.
"This Fellowship is life changing," Ozügergin says. "It gives me the freedom to pursue my research while balancing my career and family a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Their projects reflect the Fellowship's goal of linking scientific discovery with leadership, entrepreneurship and real-world health impact.
Expanding pathways for students and trainees
For Tim Evans, vice-president of research, innovation and impact at Concordia, this Fellowship is a powerful example of how visionary philanthropy can expand the horizons of research and training.
"Through Lady Mireille's leadership and generosity, Concordia researchers gain access to world-class scientific environments and the management training needed to turn discovery into impact. It positions our students and postdoctoral scholars to lead globally in addressing urgent public-health challenges," he says.
Applicants must either be graduating or have graduated within the previous two years from Concordia University with a PhD in the basic sciences and/or a related discipline.
