The INHSU Fellowship Program is a nine-month mentorship and skills-development initiative for early and mid-career U.S. researchers and practitioners working to improve health outcomes for women who use drugs. It builds practical capacity, strengthens leadership, and supports evidence-based, gender-responsive approaches in hepatitis, HIV, and harm reduction.
Applications are now closed.
Background & rationale
Women who use drugs experience some of the most significant health inequities and disproportionate risks of HIV and HCV.
Inequities are shaped by stigma, criminalisation linked to sex work, caregiving roles, high rates of sexual and gender-based violence, and differences in injection practices that exacerbate risk of harm, and lack gender-sensitive harm reduction interventions.
Yet the practitioners and researchers working to change this often face their own challenges: limited resources, limited mentorship, and limited opportunities to build the specialised skills needed to drive meaningful, gender-responsive change.
Our solution
This nine-month capacity-building program supports early and mid-career researchers and healthcare professionals who are committed to improving health outcomes for women who use drugs. Through mentorship, workshops, community building, and participation in INHSU’s global network, Fellows will gain practical tools in research, implementation, and knowledge translation.
The program aims to grow a new generation of U.S.-based leaders who are equipped to deliver evidence-based solutions and challenge the barriers that prevent women who use drugs from accessing high-quality care.
Who should apply?
The Fellowship is open to early- to mid-career U.S.-based researchers or healthcare practitioners working in hepatitis, HIV, or substance use-related health fields. You should:
- Have demonstrated experience with, or commitment to, improving services for women who use drugs
- Clear ability and intent to translate knowledge from the mentorship into measurable improvements in research, service delivery, or policy
- Be committed to full participation over 9 months, including attendance at webinars and INHSU Conference (registration is provided, but travel support is not included. You must be able to attend in person)
- Be within 10 years of finishing your last degree
- Be based in the United States
Learning objectives
Learning objectives will be tailored to each individual Fellow’s needs, but could include:
- How to improve services and research for women who use drugs, with a focus on gendered barriers and stigma
- Practical guidance for increasing infectious disease testing and treatment and support for women who use drugs in clinical settings
- How to design or strengthen research projects or publish your work
- Strategies for communicating research or project findings to policymakers, funders, and communities
- Approaches for building leadership confidence, career resilience, and professional networks
Program structure
- A nine-month program combining mentorship and skills development
- Webinar series bringing mentors and mentees together for training, discussion, and practical guidance
- Dedicated sessions for mentees for peer support and networking
- Up to four 1:1 meetings between each mentor and mentee
- Access to resources, including templates, guidance materials, papers, and learning modules
- A complimentary registration to the INHSU 2026 Conference in Prague as part of a curated learning experience
- Ongoing coordination, check-ins, and support from the INHSU team throughout the program
How to apply for the Fellowship
To apply to you will need to complete the online application form using the button below. You will need to:
- Describe your current work and how it relates to women who use drugs, particularly highlighting your experience in research or service innovation (max 250 words)
- Describe what specific research project, healthcare service or intervention, or aspect of your professional development (for example, leadership capacity) would you like to strengthen through engagement in this mentorship program, and why (max 250 words)
- Describe what challenges have you experienced in your work relating to women who use drugs, and how do you intend to use the learning from this program to address those challenges and strengthen your impact? (max 250 words)
You will also need to upload your CV and confirm your commitment and availability to take part in all program components.
Selection criteria
Applications are reviewed based on merit and the responses to the following key criteria:
- Relevant experience: Clear connection between your work and improving health outcomes for women who use drugs
- Strength of your project or professional development goal: A well-defined idea that would benefit from mentorship
- Commitment to impact: A practical plan for applying learning to real-world change in practice, research, or policy
- Participation: Ability to engage fully in the nine-month program, including webinars, mentorship, and the INHSU 2026 Conference
Key dates
- Fellowship applications open: December 2025
- Application deadline: 13th January 2026
- Fellows notified: Early February 2026
- Program welcome meeting (virtual): March 2026
- First mentor–mentee meetings: April 2026
- Webinars (ongoing): May – August 2026
- INHSU Conference: October 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic
- Final reflection webinar: November 2026
Additional support and questions
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If you are unable to submit an application via the online system, please contact [email protected]
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After the applications close, they will be reviewed by a judging panel. Applications will be judged on merit, and response to the selection criteria
With thanks to AbbVie for their support of this program. Supporters have no control over content, tone, emphasis, allocation of funds, or selection of recipients.