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.
Preliminary applications are now closed.
If you have been invited to submit a final grant application the following documents should be submitted by the final application deadline of 2nd May 2024.
- Final Application Form
- Proposed project (5000 words max)
- Short CV of all investigators
Applications must be submitted to the ESPE Team.
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 maximum €100,000 is for a period of two years (maximum €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.
Eligibility
- The principal investigator and at least two co-investigators MUST be ESPE members in order for the application to be fundable. Non-ESPE members may participate as additional co-investigators. If you are not an ESPE member yet, then apply here for ESPE membership.
- 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.
- Applications from members of the Science Committee or ESPE Council and from candidates/researches who are based in the same research group as any member of the Science Committee or ESPE Council cannot be considered for the grant, i.e. they 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.
- Grant holders will be asked to present the status of their research at one of the Annual ESPE meetings following completion of the project.
- 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
- Applicant CV
- Host CV and institution (if applicable)
- Focus and quality of application
- Hypothesis
- Methodology and experimental design
- Potential for publication and further research
- Timing and feasibility
- Budget justification
- Benefit for applicant and home institution, and in particular, mode of collaboration
- 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 Aneta Gawlik for discussion. Any queries regarding documentation administration, both in the application stage and in the grant claim stage, should be directed to the ESPE Office.
Evaluation procedure
Preliminary application stage
Applications will be reviewed by the convenor, the Science Committee Chair and Co-Chair, to select a maximum of 4 applications who will be asked to submit a full project. The application selection will be based on scientific quality and mode of collaboration, with equal weight to both these criteria.
Final application stage
All final applications will be subjected to peer review by at least three experts (1-2 from the ESPE expert panel and 1-2 external reviewers totaling 3 reviews). The convenor, Chair and Co-Chair will look at all applications and reviews with the final selection based on scientific quality, mode of collaboration, expert reviews and weighing the scientific quality and mode of collaboration of all proposals against each other.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted to the ESPE Team.
Post Award information and form submission guidelines
The forms below are for recipients of this grant only. The grant is paid in two annual instalments. 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 any publications resulting from the research should contain the following sentence: "This research was made possible through a Research Unit Grant, sponsored by the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology - ESPE".
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 six months of being awarded the grant before beginning the project and then each time a payment is being requested (every 12 months - two required in total).
- Grant Accountability Report - Should be submitted after the first 12 months, and within three months of completion of the grant (two required in total).
- Grant Report Form - Should be submitted 12 months into the grant and within three months of completion of the grant (two required in total).
All forms must be submitted to the ESPE Team.
*Reference: 12 top tips for writing a grant application. (October 2015). Insight Blog (Medical Research Council, MRC). Retrieved from http://www.insight.mrc.ac.uk/2015/10/05/12-top-tips-for-writing-a-grant-application/
Previous Winners
2021-2023 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Humanin, a novel target to improve bone health in chronic inflammation"
Investigators: Lars Sävendahl (Sweden), Colin Farquharson (UK), Jarod Wong (UK), Farasat Zaman (Sweden), Claes Ohlsson (Sweden), Ondrej Soucek (Czech Republic)
2020-2022 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Clinical, genetic and molecular characteristics of childhood-onset osteoporosis"
Investigators: Outi Mäkitie(Sweden), Nick Shaw (UK), Corinna Grasemann (Germany), Serap Turan (Turkey)
2019-2021 ESPE Research Unit Grant (Large)
"New clinical and molecular findings in patients with inactivating PTH/PTHrP signalling disorders (iPPSDs)"
Investigators: Guiomar Perez de Nanclares (Spain), Luisa De Sanctis (Italy), Francesca Marta Elli (Italy), Agnès Linglart (France), Anne Guiochon-Mantel (France), Giovanna Mantovani (Italy), Isolina Riaño (Spain)
2019-2020 ESPE Research Unit Grant (Small)
"ViD-MeX - Pilot study on Vitamin D metabolism in X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH)"
Investigators: Adalbert Raimann (Austria), Agnès Linglart (France), Dirk Schnabel (Germany), Tomaz Rozmaric (Austria)
2018-2020 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Silver Russell Syndrome and metabolic function: building the knowledge for transition and care into adulthood"
Investigators: Irene Netchine (France), Mohamad Maghnie (Italy), Justin Davies (UK), Jovanna Dahlgren (Sweden), Susan O'Connell (Ireland), Anita Hokken Koelega (Netherlands), Gerhard Binder (Germany)
2018-2019 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Potential of humanin to prevent bone growth impairment and osteoporosis in IBD"
Investigators: Lars Savendahl (Sweden), Colin Farquharson (UK),Ondrej Soucek (Czech Republic), Jarod Wong (UK)
2017-2019 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Personalized approach to non-syndromic childhood obesity using multi-omics disease signature"
Investigators: Aneta Gawlik (Poland), Ze’ev Hochberg (Israel), Stefan A. Wudy (Germany), Michael Shmoish (Israel), Malgorzata Wasniewska (Italy), Abdullah Bereket (Turkey)
"Comparison of the short and medium term side effects of first bisphosphonate infusion between children with different underlying bone pathologies."
Investigators: Moira Cheung (UK), Wolfgang Högler (UK), Oliver Semler (Germany), Adalbert Raimann (Austria)
2016–2018 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Improvement of Diagnostic workup for congenital hypothyroidism by a multigene NGS panel: A multicenter study to compare diagnostic accuracy and cost effectiveness"
Investigators: Gabor Szinnai , Johnny Deladoëy , Michel Polak, Heiko Krude, Paul van Trotsenburg, Switzerland, Canada, France, Germany, Netherland
"Identification of novel genetic causes of familial central precocious puberty"
Investigators: Magdalena Stefanija Avbel, Liat de Vries,Taneli Raivio, Slovenia, Israel, Finland
"YESS! Introduction of the Young Endocrine Support System in the transition from paediatric to adult endocrine care"
Investigators: Laura de Graaff, Sabine Elisabeth Hannema, Martine Cools, Gary Butler, Jesus Argente, Netherland, Belgium, UK, Spain
2015–2016 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"In search for novel monitoring tools to detect chronic over- or under-treatment in children with CAH"
Investigators: E van den Akker, E. Charmandari, C. Flueck. Netherland, Greece, Switzerland
2014–2016 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Cellular Modelling of Human Gonad Sex-Determination"
Investigators: Anu Bashamboo, Ken McElreavey, Raja Brauner. Andy Greenfield, Radha Saraswathy, Faisal Ahmed. France, UK, India
"Managing clitoromegaly in childhood in girls with CAH: an investigation of the psychological impact of current treatment strategies"
Investigators: Elisabeth Crowne, Julie Alderson, Naomi Crouch, Faisal Ahmed, Bristol, Glasgow, UK
2014–2015 ESPE Research Unit Small Grant
"What is the dose response of varying meal content of fat on postprandial glycaemia in children with T1DM?"
Investigators: Susan M O'Connell, Amir Shafat, Bruce King, Ireland, Australia
2012–2014 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Understanding the molecular basis of diabetes mellitus associated with novel syndromes."
Investigators: K Hussain, K Raile, F Darendeliler. United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey
"The impact of obesity on the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of metabolic abnormalities in children and adolescents."
Investigators: B Spiliotis, W Kiess, J Argente. Greece, Germany, Spain
2011–2012 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"New Genes for Neonatal Diabetes (ND) and Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia (HH)."
Investigators: F Barbetti, RW Holl, CG Nichols. Italy, Germany, USA
"Study of early endocrine profile in infants with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) in order to unravel the switch from early feeding difficulties to obesity and hyperphagia."
Investigators: M Tauber, A Hokken–Koelaga, B Hauffa, A Goldstone V Beauloye, R Nergardh. France, Netherland, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden
"Abnormal Thyroid Development: a Model Disorder for Congenital Malformations and Neurocognitive Development."
Investigators: J Deladoey, M Polak, S Costagliola, G Van Vliet. Canada, France, Belgium
"EuroPHPnet, a unique tool to decipher the Gsa dependent signalling pathways."
Investigators: A Linglart, C Silve, O Hiort, S Thiele, S Fischer, L De Sanctis, A Spada, G Perez De Nanclares, K Freson. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium
2010–2011 ESPE Research Unit Small Grant
No grant was given.
2010–2012 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Infant manifestations of adult obesity susceptibility genotypes"
Investigators: K. Ong, B. Heude, L. Ibáñez, D. Dunger, MA Charles, F. de Zegher; from UK, France, Spain, Belgium
2009–2011 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) on GnRH neuronal function."
Investigators: S Heger, A–S Parent, V Prevot; from Germany, Belgium, France
"Congenital Hyperinsulinism: Genes, phenotype and treatment."
Investigators: HB Christesen, V Peterkova, AN AlMutair, K Brusgaard; from Denmark, Russia, Saudi Arabia
2008–2010 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Anti–Müllerian hormone levels in girls with Turner's syndrome: A possible predictor of ovarian function."
Investigators: CE Flück, JA Visser, MB Ranke, A Hokken-Koelege; from Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany
2008–2009 ESPE Research Unit Small Grant
"Safety and Appropriateness of Growth Hormone treatments in Europe (SAGHE)"
Investigators: JC Carel; S Cianfarani, G Butler, L Savendahl; from France, Italy, UK, Sweden
"Endocrine and Genetic Characteristics of the Pygmy Population in South Western Uganda"
Investigators: Z Hochberg, E Mworozi, C Camacho-Hübner, M. Dattani; from Israel, Uganda, Sweden, UK
2007–2009 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Molecular regulation of normal thyroid development and function and their diseases"
Investigators: M Polak, G. Szinnai, J. Moreno; from France, Switzerland, Netherlands
"Investigation of mitochondrial function and alterations in the mitochondrial proteome during development of obesity"
Investigators: AN Eberle, P Liniger, IM Fearnley, JE Walker, R Peterli, T Peters, U Zumsteg, J Mayr; from Switzerland, England
2007–2008 ESPE Research Unit Small Grant
"Identification of ABCC8 mutations in atypical type 1 diabetes patients and possible treatment consequences"
Investigators: PR Njølstad, A Molven, HB Mortensen, L Castaño; from Norway, Denmark, Spain
2006–2008 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Exploring the utility of a European register of disorders of sex development / DSD"
Investigators: SF Ahmed, O Hiort, S Bertelloni, IA Hughes, SLS Drop, K Robertson, from Scotland, England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands
2006–2007 ESPE Research Unit Small Grant
No grant was given.
2005–2007 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Molecular regulation of the growth plate"
Investigators: J M Wit, L Sävendahl and G Rappold from The Netherlands, Sweden and Germany
2005–2006 ESPE Research Unit Small Grant
"Networking in Paediatric Endocrine Disruptors"
Investigators: J Toppari, J Anders, O Söder, JP Bourguignon, I Hughes, C Acerini, C Sultan from Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, United Kingdom, France
2004–2006 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Screening and characterisation of DAX1–Interacting Proteins"
Investigators: A Tiulpakov, P Rubtson, W Sippell, N Krone and J Achermann from Russian Federation, Germany and United Kingdom.
2004–2005 ESPE Research Unit Small Grant
"Effects ACE-inhibitors on endothelial dysfunction and markers of angiopathy and oxidative stress in adolescent and young adults with type 1 diabetes"
Investigators: Angelika Mohn, M Vanelli, T Danne and H. Mortensen from Italy, Germany and Denmark
2003–2005 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Rickets in Children of Middle Eastern Origin"
Investigators: G Saggesse, G Baroncelli, L Audi, A Bereket, H Delemarre–van de Waal, M El Kholy, Z Hochberg, E Schonau, N Shaw from Italy, Spain, Turkey, The Netherlands, Egypt, Israel, Germany and United Kingdom.
2002 ESPE Research Unit Small Grant
"The role of the Ihh/PTHrP feedback loop in the human growth plate: A concerted European action"
Investigators: L Sävendahl. JM Wit, H Robson, GR Williams, P Moshe, I Hughes, T Siebler, M Corvol, S van Buul-Offers from Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel, and Germany.
2001–2003 ESPE Research Unit Grant
"Collaborative international studies on the long term effects of Prenatal Treatment of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (PREDEX)"
Investigators: M Ritzén, A Wedell, S Lajic, R Voutilainen, K Main, M Ginalska–Malinowska, C Brain, P Hindmarsh, L Ibañez, M Forest from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark, United Kingdom, Spain and France.
