Programme Focus Areas

Programme Focus Areas

Impactful Research

Impactful research combines strong scientific merit with clear relevance to national and regional health priorities. It presents a feasible plan for achieving real-world benefits, whether by advancing future research, improving clinical or public health practice, influencing policy, or strengthening health systems. 

SEA DREAM supports research excellence by funding high-quality, context-appropriate projects that are innovative, address Southeast Asia’s priority health challenges, and can be translated into practical solutions, policies, or interventions. The Programme backs both discovery and translational research across diverse health topics, including emerging and under-studied areas, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary approaches. 

Researchers are expected to proactively design and position their work for impact, ensuring that findings are not only academically rigorous but also capable of informing meaningful change. 

Equitable Partnerships

Equitable partnerships are a strategic imperative for generating impactful, context-driven research that responds to regional health priorities. In the context of SEA DREAM, equitable research partnerships are foundational to strengthening the regional research ecosystems, promoting sustainability, and ensuring that the benefits of funding and research are shared fairly and meaningfully across all collaborators. 

An equitable research partnership is one characterised by mutual participation, consistent, transparent, and culturally informed communication, trust, and respect. Each partner’s contribution, regardless of their location, institutional status, or resource base, is valued equally throughout all stages of the research process. This includes agenda-setting, decision-making, implementation, authorship, and dissemination of results. Equitable partnerships aim to actively address and balance systemic power asymmetries across the entire research process. 

SEA DREAM is committed to fostering inclusive consortia that co-develop research questions, co-own data and outputs, and share capacity, credit, and benefits equitably. Accordingly, it is recommended to avoid extractive practices and models that perpetuate inequality and undermine the relevance, quality, and sustainability of research. 

Strengthening Research Capacity

Training and Development should aim to build holistic research capacity at the individual, institutional, and ecosystem levels. It should go beyond traditional coursework by incorporating active learning approaches that encourage hands-on experience, critical thinking, and practical application. 

Key areas of focus may include research management, grantsmanship, and effective engagement with policymaking. Rather than merely allocating funding for training, a robust development program should be purposefully designed to empower researchers with the skills and tools needed to excel, contribute meaningfully, and drive impact within their disciplines and beyond. 

Research Culture

Research Culture should be grounded in principles that foster integrity, transparency, and accountability while promoting collaboration, mutual respect, and ethical conduct across all levels of research. A positive research culture supports diversity and inclusion, upholds academic freedom and intellectual honesty, and encourages continuous learning and improvement. It is essential to create an environment where researchers feel empowered to take ownership of their work and are supported in pursuing their own development priorities. 

Strengthening research culture should not be seen as a short-term goal tied solely to grant cycles, but rather as a long-term, systemic effort aimed at creating enduring, institution-wide change within institutions and research ecosystems. 

Ethics and Research Governance

SEA DREAM places a strong emphasis on ethical integrity, underscoring its commitment to the highest standards of conduct in all supported research activities. In alignment with SEA DREAM’s policy on Responsible Conduct of Research, applicants must demonstrate a thoughtful and well-articulated understanding of the ethical implications of their proposed work, clearly addressing these considerations within their submissions. 

Researchers are expected to maintain rigorous scientific and ethical standards throughout the entire research lifecycle. This includes acknowledging the broader societal, legal, and ethical responsibilities that accompany research governance. Proposals should reflect adherence to established regulations, frameworks, and best practices that promote responsible and high-quality research. 

Any methodological constraints or limitations related to ethical considerations should also be clearly and transparently outlined.

Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI)

The programme affirms its strong commitment to Gender Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI), expecting applicants to embed these principles throughout the design, implementation, and governance of their projects. In line with our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, all proposals should demonstrate how they will promote equitable participation and leadership, ensuring fair opportunities for individuals of all genders, backgrounds, and abilities to contribute to and lead research activities. 

Applicants are required to clearly outline their GEDI strategies, including how their projects will address barriers to participation and foster inclusive practices across research teams and among stakeholders. Projects should be conducted in environments that are safe, respectful, and free from unlawful discrimination. Embracing diversity is essential to enhancing research outcomes, broadening perspectives, and advancing equitable health and wellbeing outcomes for all. 

Moreover, access to SEA DREAM funding must be equitable, and all funded research must be carried out in open, inclusive, and fair settings. Where applicable, the programme allows for funding of GEDI-related needs such as additional childcare costs or accessibility measures for researchers and team members with disabilities. Applicants should refer to the budget template for detailed guidance on how to cover such costs. 

Safeguarding

The programme upholds a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of harm and abuse, including bullying, harassment, exploitation, and any other conduct that may cause physical, emotional, or psychological harm. This commitment is guided by SEA DREAM’s Bullying, Harassment, Abuse, and Harm Policy. 

As part of this commitment, all applicants are required to integrate safeguarding risk management into their proposals. This includes identifying potential safeguarding risks, outlining strategies for prevention and mitigation, and providing a comprehensive safeguarding risk assessment as part of the application. 

Successful grantees will be expected to fully comply with the SEA DREAM policies on safeguarding, ensuring that all research activities are conducted in a manner that prioritises the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals involved.