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LEA-WH Mentorship Platform

2026-2027

Welcome to the mentorship platform for the Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Research on Women's Health (LEA-WH) Fellowship. This program is a collaboration between the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the U.S. National Academy of Medicine (NAM).

This platform serves as the central operational resource for 2026-2027 LEA-WH inaugural fellows and mentors. It outlines program structure, mentorship expectations for both fellows and mentors, curriculum components, policies, key dates, and any administrative processes.

Program Overview

12-month fellowship

LEA-WH is a 12-month immersive fellowship designed to strengthen leadership, advance research excellence, and accelerate innovation in women's health across Africa. Through a dual-track structure and integrated mentorship model, fellows will deepen technical expertise while build the leadership capacity required to translate research into scalable impact.

Program activities fall into three main categories:

  • Training curriculum
    Focused on technical competency, research impact, and leadership skills (led by KEMRI)
  • Mentorship
    Co-led by NAM and KEMRI
  • Networking opportunities
    Led by NAM

Travel and Non-Travel Funding Support

Up to $7,000 USD per Fellow

Please see our Travel/IP Funds tab for more information regarding processes for funding requests and reimbursement.

Fellows will have access to $7,000 USD to utilize for travel and selected non-travel expenses that support the development, protection, compliance, and commercialization of the Fellow's research or innovation, provided the requests are approved in advance by NAM and KEMRI staff.

Go to Travel/IP Funds Tab

Policies

Please review the policies below to support a respectful, professional, and productive fellowship experience.

These policies apply to all mentors and fellows participating in LEA-WH and other National Academies activities.

General Disclaimer on Participation

It is essential to the mission of the National Academies to foster a professional and respectful environment that supports the exchange of evidence-based advice. Participants in our programs are expected to avoid political or partisan statements and commentary on religion and to uphold a culture of mutual respect.

Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying Policy

The National Academies are committed to ensuring that their programs are conducted in an atmosphere of respect and collegiality, free from discrimination, bullying, and harassment. Mentors and Fellows are advised to review the relevant policy statement, which includes information on reporting incidents of concern.

Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying Policy (PDF)

Participation Policy

  • Attendance requirement
    Fellows are expected to participate in at least 80% of scheduled activities (live virtual and in-person training sessions).
  • Mentor meetings
    Fellows are expected to meet with their assigned mentors approximately monthly.
  • If you anticipate challenges
    If Fellows encounter challenges that prevent them from meeting the participation standard, they should notify program staff as soon as possible:
  • Non-compliance
    Fellows not meeting the required standard for participation who have not notified program staff of their circumstances may be removed from the program.

Mentorship Process & Expectations

How mentorship is structured, how matches are made, and how fellows and mentors engage throughout the fellowship year.

The LEA-WH mentorship and networking program is designed to strengthen research capacity, deliver evidence-based and culturally responsive mentoring, expand professional networks, and provide a structured, supportive environment that fosters high-quality mentorship and long-term career success.

Dual-Mentor Model

Each fellow is paired with two distinguished expert mentors: one based in Africa and one in the United States. All mentors are leading global experts in women’s health, providing fellows with both regional insight and international perspective.

Thoughtful Mentor Matching

Mentors and fellows are matched by program staff based on:

  • Career stage & professional development goals
  • Research interests & technical expertise
  • Individual mentorship priorities
    e.g., leadership development, women's health research skills, regional and international collaboration, entrepreneurship, etc.

Structured & Goal-Oriented Engagement

Each mentor-fellow pair develops a Mentorship Development Plan (MDP) at the outset of the fellowship. The MDP is reviewed and updated monthly to ensure progress, accountability, and alignment with the fellow's evolving goals.

Integrated Mentorship Platform

The fellowship platform supports meaningful engagement by enabling mentors and Scholars to:

  • Schedule meetings
  • Set and track goals
  • Share documents and resources
  • Monitor progress
  • Communicate concerns directly with NAM and KEMRI staff

Resources

Explore key documents, research, and learning materials that support the LEA-WH mentorship and networking program.

NAM Mentorship & Networking Program Brief

A concise overview of the goals and structure of the mentorship and networking components of the program.

Open document

The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM

The 2019 National Academies consensus study report examining evidence-based mentorship practices in STEMM fields.

View report

The Science of Mentorship: A STEMM Podcast

A National Academies podcast series exploring research, insights, and practical guidance on effective mentorship.

Listen now

Expectations for Mentors and Mentees

A short overview of expectations for mentors and mentees.

Open document

Travel and IP/Funds

Guidance for travel and non-travel funding and the process for requesting approval and reimbursement.

The information below regarding travel funds applies only to LEA-WH fellows.

Travel and Non-Travel Budget

Each fellow will have access to a budget of US $7,000 to support participation in relevant professional events, as well as selected non-travel expenses that support the development, protection, compliance, and commercialization of the Fellow's research or innovation.

Examples of events may include (but are not limited to):

  • Professional conferences
  • Visits to potential partners or sponsors
  • Short training courses relevant to the Fellow's approved LEA-WH research and innovation topics

What Travel Funds Can Cover

The travel budget will be managed by program staff at NAM and may be used to cover air tickets, hotel accommodations, meals, ground transportation, conference or course registration fees, and visa fees (if required for the country visited).

Paid directly by program staff
Program staff will pay directly for air and hotel costs and registration fees. Fellows should not buy their own air tickets or pre-pay hotel expenses.
Reimbursed after the trip
Fellows will be reimbursed after the trip for meal per diem and ground transportation. Reimbursement requires original receipts and a completed expense form within stated deadlines.

Visa Support

Program staff will provide visa invitation letters outlining the financial support being provided. Program staff will pay the visa fees directly if the visa application system allows; otherwise, fellows will need to pay and get reimbursed upon presentation of the receipts.

It will be the responsibility of the fellows themselves to submit their own visa applications.

Planning Guidance

Fellows are encouraged to discuss potential travel plans with their mentors to identify events that would be most impactful, and then include participation in these events in their mentorship goals and objectives.

When to Use Your Travel Funds

Fellows are generally expected to use their travel funds within the program year in which they are participating.

However, fellows who complete the year successfully (as determined by program staff) may continue to spend remaining funds in the following year. Any funds not spent by the end of that extension year will revert to the program budget and will not be paid out to the fellows.

Examples of non-travel costs that may be supported include (but are not limited to):

  • Registration and certification
    Corporate registration, product registration, or certification fees
  • Regulatory support
    Pathway mapping, consultation, submission preparation, and quality or compliance systems
  • Intellectual property
    Patent landscape and freedom-to-operate analyses, IP strategy, invention disclosures, patent filing, trademark registration, and copyright guidance
  • Legal and technology transfer
    Contract review, licensing, ownership agreements, due diligence, startup governance, and commercialization negotiations
  • Data and privacy compliance
    Data protection, cybersecurity, interoperability, and privacy compliance
  • Market and commercialization support
    Market validation, pricing, business model refinement, investor readiness, and commercialization roadmaps
  • Expert mentorship
    Tailored one-on-one support based on the technology's stage of development and readiness

How to Request Travel and Non-Travel Support

Please find the Travel Request and Non-Travel Request forms through the pull-down menu on your dashboard (under My Programs). Fellows must complete the appropriate form to request approval for proposed travel or non-travel support.
  • What the forms require

    For the travel request form: event details, estimated costs, and a brief justification aligned with fellowship objectives.

    For the non-travel request form: explanation of expenses to be covered, estimated costs, and a brief justification aligned with fellowship objectives.

  • Allow lead time
    Program staff from both KEMRI and NAM will review submissions and provide written notification of the decisions made. Allow plenty of lead time for approval and arrangement of logistics.
  • Pre-approval required
    Only pre-approved expenses are eligible for reimbursement. Requests for retroactive reimbursement of expenses previously paid by the fellows or their institutions will not be considered.
  • Do not purchase items directly unless authorized
    Fellows should not buy their own air tickets or pre-pay hotel expenses; program staff will pay those costs directly to service providers. For IP-related expenses, fellows must discuss the appropriate payment options in advance with staff.
  • Reimbursement documentation
    Out-of-pocket reimbursement requires original receipts submitted within stated deadlines.

This process ensures timely support while allowing fellows to participate in events that advance their research and leadership development.

Contact Us

LEA-WH Mentorship
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC
Phone: 202-334-1506
Email: 
lea-wh@rctp.or.ke  (for KEMRI mentors)
GWHR@nas.edu (for fellows and NAM mentors)

LEA-WH Mentorship