The EAsDEC Skills Transfer Awards

The Board of EAsDEC is delighted to announce the new round of Skills Transfer Awards.

The aim is to promote the transfer of scientific and clinical skills within Europe through short term placements to acquire either 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 must indicate the area of skills to be transferred in diabetic eye complications, and what the benefit will be to the successful candidate and to their home 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 at least one previous EAsDEC Conference or, with the permission of the Board, in special circumstances, 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 3 months. Funding must be taken up and the placement must be completed 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 unless there is a need for direct award to the award winner.

6.      A written report must be submitted to the EAsDEC Board and the results must be presented to the EAsDEC annual meeting.

 Timeline

• Details of Skills Awards announced:  Thursday, 16^th July 2026
• Outline application deadline: Friday, 11^th September 2026

Review of applications: the Board's decision is expected within 6 weeks after the submission deadline. All host centre confirmations and the final dates of the visit must be confirmed with the Board by no later than Tuesday, the 1^st December 2026.

Successful Awards will be announced via email including the awardee, their home institution and the host institution. Winners will be placed on the EAsDEC website. The awardee is expected to attend the next EAsDEC conference to present the results of the Skills Award.

·       Successful Awards announced: 1^st April 2026Links 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  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 basic clinical and service management skills in diabetic retinopathy that will help people with diabetes in Turkey.