Background
It is important to emphasise that RESCAP-MED does not involve creating a framework of collaboration from scratch. This project develops out of an existing FP7-funded research collaboration (MedCHAMPS, Grant number 223075) in several countries of the region, each of which is a partner in RESCAP-MED. It thus builds directly on established and ongoing personal and institutional relationships, and the emerging evidence from MedCHAMPS (http://research.ncl.ac.uk/medchamps/).
The existing collaboration within the MedCHAMPS project gives this enhanced network of partners an excellent base on which to build; while at the same time funding will facilitate the development of stronger and more lasting research networks than is achievable in a single research project.
