Welcome to the LASER PULSE Research for Development Program

We are a global network of university researchers and development practitioners from government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector collaborating on research-driven practical solutions to critical development challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

What exactly is LASER PULSE?

• A collaborative approach for developing, strengthening, and supporting a global network of research universities and field-level development actors (NGOs, private sector, etc.) for:

• better identification of research questions,
• funding research projects in various development sectors, and
• successfully adapting results into usable development products.

• A connection point for researchers and field-level development actors to find each other for collaboration opportunities, and to exchange information and data.
• A forum for learning: through Research for Development (R4D) conferences held each year; and via this website, which contains various learning and instructional modules and downloadable information.
• A network of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) – more than 50 universities from across Asia, Africa, and Latin America and 8 US universities who will work in partnership to define research topics and conduct research grants awarded by the program.
• A program funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for up to $70 million over 5 years.
• A process that ensures the optimal participation of development actors all along the research-to-translation value chain – such that meaningful interaction can take place between researchers and development practitioners in both the design of applied research, and the figurative translation (i.e. relevant adaptation) of the research results.

• A consortium, led by Purdue University, that includes Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Indiana University, Makerere University (Uganda), and the University of Notre Dame.  Each of these institutions is responsible for specific aspects of LASER PULSE and will receive support from one or more of the other consortium partners to fulfill its role.

Background Information

In late 2017, the Center for Development Research within the USAID Global Development Lab issued a request for applications for a program entitled Long-term Assistance and Services for Research (LASER).  One of two related programs awarded concurrently, LASER builds upon USAID’s Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) that was specifically designed to foster improved linkages between USAID, U.S. universities, and universities in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) to better address global development challenges.

The impetus for LASER is rooted in the desire to continue the momentum of HESN, but also to go beyond it in terms of responding to a need for increased cooperation between USAID and the international university community – with a particular focus on increased collaboration both in terms of research question identification and the translation of research results.

As such, Purdue University led a consortium of institutions with experience in research and global development to submit, and win, the LASER award with a proposed collaborative network envisioned as the Partners for University-Led Solutions Engine (PULSE).  LASER PULSE is therefore designed to tackle the most pressing sustainable development challenges through research, community engagement, and capacity building of global university networks.