ESCMID/bioMérieux Research Grant in Clinical Microbiology 2009

This grant will support a young and excellent investigator in the field of diagnostic microbiology and advance laboratory practice and clinical diagnostics in Eastern Europe.

The amount granted is EUR 11'000 of which EUR 10'000 are dedicated to the research project and EUR 1'000 to the attendance of the 19th ECCMID 2009.

The research project must be directed at improving the communication between clinical microbiologists and clinicians. It can focus on microbial data (i.e. content), format or rapidity of results and can e.g. be of relevance to advising on clinical management or alerting to nosocomial infections. Research must be carried out in Eastern Europe. Applications will be peer-reviewed and the best project will be selected based on the application and research proposal (see application procedure).

Applicants must be the principal investigator for the proposed research. They should be born on or after 1 January 1969. Members of the ESCMID Executive Committee are ineligible.

The deadline for submission is 1 November 2008.

Please submit seven copies of your application plus one full electronic version by email including:

1. A research proposal consisting of

• Project title
• Personal and affiliation details of the principal investigator (name, date and place of birth, professional affiliation, address, email address, telephone and fax numbers)
• Summary (1 page)
• Introduction (objective, background, rationale or purpose of the project)
• Research plan (including study design, material & methods, data analysis)
• Time frame (start date, proposed duration)
• Personnel and co-investigators
• Budget (personnel, equipment, consumables)
• References

2. A description of the applicant’s present research, his/her CV, list of publications
If there are collaborators, applicants must make their personal role in planning, undertaking and supporting the planned project clear.

3. Two supporting letters from outside the institution in which the project will be carried out

4. A colour photograph
as tiff, eps or jpg file at least 4x6 cm with 300 dpi resolution.

The ESCMID Awards Subcommittee will select the project. Applicants will be notified of the decision by 28 February 2009 at the latest. Please refrain from inquiring on the status of your application before this date.

The ESCMID/bioMérieux Research Grant in Clinical Microbiology 2009 will be presented during the ESCMID Awards Ceremony at 19th ECCMID 2009 in Helsinki. The awardee must be present. His/her name and the title of the project will be published in the final programme of the 19th ECCMID 2009, in ESCMID News and on the ESCMID website.

The grantee must submit a two-page report to ESCMID upon completion of the research project. It should include:

• A short introduction summarizing current knowledge for the non-specialist
• The study hypothesis
• The main findings
• Conclusions from the investigation.

This will be published in ESCMID News and on the ESCMID website.