The EAsDEC Skills Transfer Awards

EAsDEC is pleased to announce its 4th round of the Skills Transfer Awards. The aim is to promote the transfer of scientific and clinical skills within Europe through short term placements to acquire laboratory techniques or clinical skills. Up to two awards might be given each year with the aim of fostering collaborations between institutions across Europe. Previous winners » are listed at the end of this page.

Please note: enquiries about the awards should be sent to awardsinfo@easdec.org

About the Award

A list of active research and specialist clinical centres in Europe who have agreed to offer placements to trainees is available here »

The award is for up to Euro 10,000 to cover stipend, travel, accommodation and consumables.

Candidates may apply for an award to undertake a period of:

a.      research observership to gain a laboratory skill or technique and foster links between research labs in Europe

b.      clinical observership to acquire diagnostic and or clinical management skills, clinical research techniques, grading or image analysis

Proposals must be made via the outline application form. The application should indicate the area of skills to be transferred in diabetic eye complications, and what will be the benefit to the successful candidate and to their institution.

The application process will be in three stages.

Stage 1: Completion of the outline application form ». You will be asked to describe the area of skills transfer in diabetic eye complications, identify a sponsor and identify up to three preferred training centres »

Stage 2: Outline applications will be reviewed by members of the EAsDEC Board for eligibility and forwarded to the proposed training centre(s) for their agreement in principle.

Stage 3: Once the host institution has agreed to host the candidate, the application will be counter-signed by the relevant host and will be sent back to the EAsDEC board. Once this step is completed, the candidate and the host will receive a confirmation email and will be asked to go ahead with the skills transfer awards placement. 

Terms and Conditions

1.      Awards are restricted to residents of European countries, with relevant basic experience, affiliated to recognised institutions, and placements must take place in European centres.

2.      Candidates should have attended a previous EAsDEC or be registered for the next annual meeting.

3.      The duration of placements is flexible but must be appropriate for the planned placement, skill(s) to be transferred and the experience of the trainee, and typically be no more than 12 months. Funding must be taken up within 12 months of formal notification of receipt of award.

4.      Applications from trainees from institutions of members of the review committee will be accepted but any conflicts of interest should be declared. The panel will take these into consideration during the selection process.

5.      Awards will be made to the host institution with an agreed timeline in the form of a grant to the host trainer.

6.      A written report should be submitted to the EAsDEC Board and the results presented to the EAsDEC annual meeting as an abstract.

 Timeline

  • Details of Awards announced: 15th Jan 2023
  • Stage 1 - Outline application deadline: 3rd March 2023
  • Stage 2 - Review of applications: 30th April 2023 with a 21 days period of clarifications invited if required
  • Successful Awards announced: on the annual EAsDEC Conference taking place in Coimbra, Portugal, 1-3 June 2023

Links to documents:-

1.      Host training centres »

2.      Outline application form »
 

Previous Winners of the Award

2023 Award   

Mr Hugo Ramos Abellan, PhD student at Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Spain, spent 6 weeks at the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen's University of Belfast (QUB) – in Professor Tim Curtis' Lab, training on the new super-resolution STED microscope, improving microscopy knowledge and skills.

2022 Award   

        Dr Sema Kaderli, Mugla Training and Research Hospital, Turkey, spent 6 weeks at the Medical Retina Unit at IRCCS MultiMedica S.p.A. in Milan, Italy under the Supervision of Professor Stela Vujosevic. Dr Kaderli was gaining skills and knowledge in the management, work-up and follow-up of patients with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic eye complications.

2021 Award 

Dr Lika Tsutskiridze Endocrinologist, Georgian Association for Chronic Diseases Education; Clinical Diagnostic Center for Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Dr Tsutskiridze spent three weeks at the Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast with Professor Tunde Peto, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology gaining experience in screening for and managing diabetic retinopathy. One week was spent at the St Paul's Eye Unit in Liverpool with Professor Simon Harding's team where Dr Tsutskiridze concentrated on updates on the medical and surgical treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

2020 No Award    - COVID

2019 Award

Dr Georgios Bontzos, Ophthalmology Resident, Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece spent a one month visit at the Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast with Professor Tunde Peto, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology to improving his knowledge of the imaging techniques and management of the screening programme for diabetic retinopathy.

 2018 Award

Dr Natalia Palarie Ophthalmologist, International Clinic, Orhei, Moldova, Research Associate, Laboratory of Endocrinology, State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Moldova, spent two one month visits at the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Unit Vall d'Hebron Research institute Barcelona with Professor Rafael Simo, Professor of Medicine and Endocrinology. Dr Palarie will gain skills in the management of diabetic retinopathy and design a clinical study to be undertaken in Moldova.

        2017 Award

Dr Lokman Balyen Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey
Dr Balyen spent 10 weeks at the Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast with Professor Tunde Peto, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology learning basic clinical and service management skills in diabetic retinopathy that will help people with diabetes in Turkey.

 




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