EFSD Future Leaders Mentorship Programme for Clinical Diabetologists
Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from AstraZeneca
Deadline Date: 30 June 2020
Background
The European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) was created by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) to provide funding initiatives in all areas of diabetes research. The aims of EFSD are to encourage and support research in the field of diabetes, to rapidly diffuse acquired knowledge and to facilitate its application.
Cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases together form one of AstraZeneca’s main therapy areas and platforms for future growth. By following the science to understand more clearly the underlying links between the heart, kidney and pancreas, AstraZeneca is investing in a portfolio of medicines to protect organs and improve outcomes by slowing disease progression, reducing risks and tackling co-morbidities. AstraZeneca’s ambition is to modify or halt the natural course of CVMDs and even regenerate organs and restore function, by continuing to deliver transformative science that improves treatment practices and CVMD health for millions of patients worldwide.
So as to achieve the goals and objectives of the Future Leaders Mentorship Programme for Clinical Diabetologists (hereafter referred to as “Future Leader Awards”) EFSD hereby invites applications by issuing this "Request for Applications" (RFA).
Intended Purpose
There is a global challenge to recruit and train the next generation of clinical investigators, not least in endocrinology/diabetes. The major goal of this Mentorship Programme will be to identify and promote the advancement of the next generation of leading clinical diabetologists in Europe. Through its various activities the Programme will help award recipients (“Mentees”) develop into leaders by refining their skills in the three cardinal areas of clinical diabetes, research and communication, thereby keeping them in the field of diabetes and facilitating their appointment to senior academic positions at major European institutions.
Candidates
EFSD Future Leader Awards are intended for clinical academic diabetologists, who are clinically qualified in medicine and who would usually be expected to have between 3 and 10 years of experience in their field at a relatively senior level but normally without a tenured academic Faculty position. These individuals must have the goal of becoming a national leader in clinical diabetes or its complications in their country of residence. They must further demonstrate a clear interest in education and clinical research. This call will be open to clinical diabetologists meeting all the above requirements who are members of the EASD and are resident and working in any European country or Associated State (for detailed country list, please see here).
Mechanism of Support and Programme Activities
Recipients of a Future Leader Award (“Mentees”) will be offered a broad palette of training opportunities with a leading European clinical diabetologist serving as personal Mentor.
Mentees will pursue a research project under the guidance of their Mentor, and participate in a tailor-made continuing education programme for them to gain further clinical and research expertise, improve oral and written presentations and develop leadership skills. They will attend both the ADA and EASD annual meetings and submit an abstract to present results from their research projects. Awards will be for 3 years subject to satisfactory progress and participation in all Programme activities.
Each award will amount to US$25,000 per annum for a total of US$75,000 payable to the Mentee’s institution and allocated in the following annual amounts:
$15,000: contribution towards direct costs of research project
$10,000: personal allowance to cover travel to EASD Annual Meeting and EASD Courses*; travel, registration and accommodation at ADA Annual Meeting; visits to the mentor’s institution.
*registration and accommodation will be covered directly by EASD.
Note: this award may not be used to contribute to the Mentee’s salary, which must be guaranteed by his/her institution for the entire 3-year period of the award.
Full details of the Programme and associated activities may be found in the detailed Programme Overview here. Please read this Overview carefully before preparing your application.
Application procedure
Applications will be made online using the EFSD platform and should include a curriculum vitae, a list of publications and a statement of motivation as to why the candidate feels that he/she is suitable for a Future Leaders Award.
A letter of support from the applicant’s institution will be required with a commitment to cover the Mentee’s salary throughout the period of the Award. This letter should also present a clear career plan to cover both future clinical and research activities, as well as an undertaking to allow the Mentee sufficient time to pursue the research project both at the home institution and on secondment to the mentor’s institution for the required minimum period of 3 months (total cumulated time spent at the mentor’s institution during the entire 3-year period of the Award).
Applications will be subject to scientific review by a specialised and fully independent committee comprised of leading European clinical diabetologists (the Mentorship Academy).
Following a first evaluation of the candidates, those considered to show particular promise to become Future Leaders will be contacted for a telephone interview by a member of the Academy and final funding decisions will be based on this interview and the written application.
Only those applicants selected for interview will receive a written critique.
The deadline for receipt of mentorship applications is 30 June 2020.
Applications for this programme must be submitted in the EFSD online Application System which is available via the MyEASD platform.
Members of EASD or owners of an account for the EASD Virtual Meeting or Annual Meeting registration, are asked to use the login details from their existing account (email address and password) to login to MyEASD and access the EFSD Application System.
All applications must be prepared on the official application form in the EFSD online application system and completed in strict accordance with the detailed instructions to be found there. Applications which do not comply with the instructions given in the application system will not be considered for review.
Applications must be submitted in the EFSD online application system before 23:59 CET on the deadline date 30 June 2020.
Review Considerations
Completed applications will be evaluated by the Mentorship Academy in accordance with the criteria stated below:
Reporting Requirements and Approval of Funding
Mentees must participate in all formal activities of the Programme and will be subject to annual review. Funding for Years 02 and 03 will be dependent on satisfactory progress in the previous year.
Mentees must provide EFSD with copies of all publications, and must acknowledge the support of the Programme in all written or publicly presented material by use of the phrase: "performed as part of the EFSD Future Leaders Mentorship Programme for Clinical Diabetologists supported by an unrestricted educational grant from AstraZeneca”.
Schedule
| Announcement: | December 2019 |
| Application Deadline: | 30 June 2020 |
| Anticipated Award Date: | September 2020 |