The ESPE Research Unit is a collaborative research grant which aims to foster, facilitate, coordinate and identify topics for high-quality research in paediatric endocrinology, for both physicians and scientists.
The call for preliminary applications is open from 1st November 2022 – 15th February 2023. Preliminary applications that have been selected to submit a final application should do so before the final application deadline of 20th April 2023.
For more information about how to write a good grant application, please click here*
Grant Information
The ESPE Research Unit is open to ESPE members who intend to support collaborative research among members. Grant applications must have a designated principal investigator and at least two co-investigators who are ESPE members. Non-ESPE members may participate as additional co-investigators. Applications that consist of applicants from at least three different countries are strongly encouraged.
One large grant will be awarded. The grant of €100,000 is for a period of two years (up to €50,000 per year).
The grant covers salary, materials and consumables, small items of equipment, collaborative visits and overheads that should be less than 10% of the total value.
ESPE Research Unit 2016 winner – Magdalena Avbelj Stefanija
Eligibility
Specific Requirements
The principal investigator and at least two co-investigators MUST be ESPE members in order for the application to be applicable. Non-ESPE members may participate as additional co-investigators. If you are not a member then apply here.
Majority of the research should be performed at the investigators’ centre.
Beneficiaries of the Research Unit Grant may not hold more than one Research Unit Grant at any one time. This does not apply to non-beneficiaries.
Current members of the Science Committee and ESPE Council are not eligible to apply for this grant as a co-investigator who is a financial beneficiary of the grant.
Applications from candidates who are based in the same research group as any member of the Science Committee cannot be considered for the grant, i.e. members of the Science Committee cannot be involved in the development, execution or outcomes of the project, including any publications resulting from the grant to upcoming projects and activities, nor in the decision on the grant allocation.
ESPE Research Unit awards can only be submitted by ESPE members who intend to support collaborative research among members.
Grant holders will be asked to present the status of their research at the Annual ESPE meeting, one year after the completion of the grant.
A grant must be activated within 6 months of receipt by submitting a grant payment form.
No Principal Investigator can hold two Research Unit Grants at any one time. If they wish to apply again they must have completely finished their previous project. Principal Investigators can however be supporting investigators in new applications whilst they hold a grant as PI. Applications will be selected on merit as per usual.
ESPE is not currently accepting applications from Russia or Belarus
Selection Criteria
The applications will be scored based on the following criteria:
Applicant CV
Host CV and institution (if applicable)
Focus and quality of the application
Hypothesis
Methodology and experimental design
Potential for publication and further research
Timing and feasibility
Budget justification
Benefit for the applicant and home institution
Relevance of the topic for the field of paediatric endocrinology
If you have any queries regarding the scientific content of your application please contact the Research Unit convenor Professor Maria Street ([email protected]) for discussion. Any queries regarding documentation administration, both in the application stage and in the grant claim stage, should be directed toward the ESPE Office (mail).
Evaluation
Evaluation Procedure:
The application and evaluation procedures take place in two stages:
The ESPE Research Unit Convenor coordinates the review process.
All preliminary applications will be assessed for eligibility and quality by the Science Committee, according to the selection criteria outlined above.
A maximum of four applications will be invited to submit a final application.
All final applications will be subjected to a peer review by at least three experts in the field that will include Science Committee Expert Panel and external reviewers.
The ESPE Research Unit Convenor will select the external expert reviewers from the scientific community.
Ranking is made by each reviewer independently based on the named selection criteria. The highest-ranked projects are granted the award after approval by the ESPE Science Committee. The reviewer evaluation form is used in this process.
The ESPE Science Committee reserves the right to withhold the award if the applications are deemed poor in quality.
How to Apply
Please refer to the section at the top of the page.
Post Award Information and form submission guidelines
The forms below are for recipients of this grant only. The Large Grant is paid in two annual installments. The initial grant payment form must indicate the start date of the project, and the first payment will be scheduled for 1 month before this date. Please submit all receipts/invoices/bills related to payments being claimed with the forms. Please note that the ESPE Research Unit must be acknowledged in any publications arising from the research. Papers published in connection with this research and any manuscripts in press should be submitted with the Final Report.
Grant Payment Form -Should be submitted within 6 months of being awarded the grant before beginning the project and then each time a payment is being requested (every 12 months). (2 required in total).
Grant Accountability Report – Should be submitted after the first 12 months, and within 3 months of completion of the grant (2 required in total).
Grant Report Form – Should be submitted 12 months into the grant and within 3 months of completion of the grant (2 required in total).