ESPR Research Grant Programme 2017-2022

The European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) launched a large-scale research grant programme in 2017. Scheduled to run for six years (2017-2022), the society makes available new calls on an annual basis.

All grants have in common that applicants require ESPR membership. The only exception are the ESPR Young Investigator START-UP Awards, where only the applicant’s supervisor/host must be affiliated with the society. Thus, we would like to encourage you to present your data at one of the next ESPR conferences, sign up for ESPR membership and become eligible to apply for a grant of your choice.

• Meet the ESPR Research Grant Committee

  Adelina Pellicer, MD, PHD University Hospital La Paz Spain

  Sven Wellmann, MD, MBA Children's Hospital Regensburg Germany

  Topun Austin, MD, PHD Cambridge University United Kingdom

  Sotiris Fouzas, MD, PHD University of Patras Greece

We would like to congratulate the awardees of the 2019 ESPR Research Grants and wish them much success in implementing their exciting new projects towards improving child health in Europe and beyond.

• Award Recipients - ESPR Research Grant Programme 2019

  ESPR Young Investigator START-UP Awards

  Aisling Smith

  Enikő Szakmár

  Fleur Keij

  Helena Daniela Ribeiro Torres

  Mads Andersen

  Panagiota Kakava

  Silvia Martini

  Vincent D. Gaertner

   

  ESPR Post-Doc RESEARCH GRANTS

  Chiara Autilio

  Hendrik Robert Taal

  Ruud Gerard Nijman

   

  ESPR Early Investigator EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
  

  Kristel Kuypers

  Maria Feldmann

Please note, currently no applications are being accepted. New grants will be made available in early 2020.

Previous grant opportunities in detail:

• ESPR Young Investigator START-UP Awards 2019

  Grants: A maximum of nine awards of EUR 7,000 each. The committee wishes to reserve three grants for applicants from Eastern European countries.

  Purpose: To help young investigators establish, perform or complete a small basic or clinical research project in all fields related to Paediatrics.

  Eligibility Requirements: At the time of submission, applicants should be:

  • Within 10 years of having received a degree in their undergraduate qualification in biomedical sciences/medicine/life sciences. ESPR members or intending to become one, supported by their supervisors/hosts who are ESPR members.
  • The awardees are expected to present their research findings at an ESPR conference.
• ESPR Post-Doc RESEARCH GRANTS 2019

  Grants: A maximum of three awards of EUR 25,000 each.

  Purpose: To support a research project for established researchers in all fields related to Paediatrics.

  Eligibility Requirements: At the time of submission applicants should:

  • be within 15 years of having received their undergraduate qualification in biomedical sciences/medicine/life sciences. Career breaks due to maternity/parental/carers leave can be added to this time limit.
  • have a track record in research.
  • be ESPR members.
• The ESPR Early Investigator EXCHANGE PROGRAMME 2019

  Grants: A maximum of two awards of EUR 40,000 each (20% uplift for child care).

  Purpose: To enable a young investigator to spend a period of research in the field of Paediatrics in a research group in another country.

  Eligibility Requirements: At the time of submission, applicants should be:

  • within 10 years of having received their undergraduate qualification in biomedical sciences/medicine/life sciences (careers breaks will be added as above)
  • ESPR members or intending to become one, supported by their supervisors/hosts who are ESPR or SPR members.

How to apply:

You can apply by sending an email to office@espr.eu attaching the following documents in .pdf format:

• A description of the research project to be undertaken, including a proposed budget (2 pages max, 11 pt. font, excluding references). Please make clear for what the requested budget will be used and explain, if applicable, how your research is embedded in a larger project;
• For the early/young investigator awards: the grant application laboratory form completed (please download here);
• At least one letter of recommendation, which must be from your supervisor/host who must be an ESPR/SPR member;
• A short version curriculum vitae of the applicant(s) including a list of publications (4 pages max); and
• A letter from an institutional official that includes:
  - Evidence of institutional support (e.g. that basic costs, such as associated salary, administrative support and the use of laboratory/office space are covered).
  - Confirmation not to take any part of the funding for institutional overhead or other indirect costs (see below statement on institutional overhead and indirect costs).
  - Acknowledgment that the ESPR will not be liable (i.e. charged) for any indirect costs (overhead and handling fees) associated with the execution of the work described in the application.

N.B.: Please note that only applications fullfilling the formal requirements as indicated above can be considered for evaluation. The Research Grant Committee of the ESPR will not consider incomplete applications.

Awards will be announced at the subsequent ESPR conference and listed on the ESPR homepage.

The ESPR does not take responsibility for accidents or other legal issues occurring during the period a person is benefiting from an ESPR grant.

Please contact office@espr.eu if you have any questions about the process or eligibility.

Other important information:

• General regulations

  All applications will be evaluated by the Research Grant Committee of the ESPR based on:

  • The scientific merit of the proposed research, and
  • The qualifications of the investigator. Only work published in peer-reviewed journals or periodicals will be considered.
• Terms of the awards
  • The awardee will be responsible for managing the funds to be administered by the institution. The award does not cover any overheads.
  • To ensure direct support of the research project of the awardee and to allow highest flexibility, the money can be charged to an account of the institution, to the awardee directly or to a not-for-profit organisation provided that:
    - a written assurance is given indicating that the money will be used exclusively for the research project;
    - a list of items/activities will be prepared indicating what will be covered by the grant;
    - a check-up by the ESPR Research Grant Committee on a 6/12 month basis will be enabled with a report to verify how the funds were used.
  • The awardee must acknowledge the ESPR as the source of funding in any publications arising from work supported by these grants.
  • The awardee must agree to start the project within one year of the announcement of the award, to write a brief scientific and financial report within three months after completing the project (max. 2 pages excluding references) and present a final scientific report at an ESPR congress within two years after completing the project.
• Institutional overhead and indirect costs
  • The awardee may determine best use of the award to support the direct cost of the project. No part of the award may cover institutional overhead or other indirect costs, nor should the awardee be obligated or penalizsed to pay by substitution such indirect costs by any other means.
  • By accepting an ESPR Young Investigator Award, the supporting institution agrees not to take any part of the funding for institutional overhead or other indirect costs, and will not obligate or penalise the recipient of an award or a sponsoring research laboratory to pay by substitution such indirect costs by any other means. With the exception of health insurance, no portion of an award may be subject to deductions for discretionary fringe benefits by the sponsoring institution.