Over the past ten years, our consortium Universities in Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington have provided research training to 221 Fogarty Global Health Fellows and Scholars, who to date have generated 866 publications. With this competitive renewal, we propose to expand training activities aimed at increasing the likelihood of trainees becoming independent global health scientists and leaders. We have modified our consortium name to reflect this new emphasis: Northern Pacific Global Health Leadership, Education, And Development for Early-career Researchers (NPGH LEADERs). We propose to continue partnerships based in nine countries: Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Cameroon, Liberia, Peru, Thailand, Nepal, and India. To achieve our objective of developing the next generation of independent global health scientists and leaders, we will offer 12-month research and leadership training with the following specific aims: Aim 1: To ensure excellence in scientific inquiry, trainees will complete a comprehensive curriculum in global health research, including how to frame novel, relevant, and feasible scientific questions, prepare detailed scientific protocols, and plan for the implementation of a mentored research project in a low- or middle-income country. Aim 2: To address the challenges of research implementation in a low-resource setting, trainees will follow an explicit, expedited, supported, and mentored progression from research planning to pragmatic implementation and process management. Aim 3: To prepare trainees for careers as independent scientists and to excel in both leadership and management, we will support trainees in development of individualized “road maps” to define the research, management and leadership skills necessary for their transition into independent investigators. We will also expand alumni support for alumni to further strengthen the scientific and leadership skills necessary for transitioning to the next generation of independent global health scientists. The four U.S. universities, as well as Indiana University - an associated partner since 2016 - have committed cost-sharing funds totaling $565,000 to increase recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities and a second year of fellowship for the most productive fellows. We anticipate supporting at least 10 trainees each year, for a total of 50 trainees over the five year grant period; 60% of trainees will be at the U.S. postdoctoral level and 40% will implement HIV-related research projects.