ECP* Immunomodulation Award in Solid Organ Transplantation

Supported by Mallinckrodt, the award offers a EUR 50,000 educational grant to recognise and support the institution of those individuals making a difference in advancing the knowledge around Therakos ECP Immunomodulation in Solid Organ Transplantation.

This year’s award programme invites applications of projects that are expected to impact the clinical practice of Solid Organ Transplant patients and investigate the overarching immunomodulatory role of Therakos ECP in Solid Organ Transplantation.

Specifically, the grant will support studies using the Therakos fully integrated and validated ECP system that will evaluate the basic and translational science of ECP used in the treatment pathway, mainly focusing on the following:

• early use of ECP immunomodulation to improve patient outcomes (i.e., graft survival and HRQoL) in Solid Organ Transplant patients
• ECP immunomodulation to prevent chronic rejection
• biomarkers of treatment response to ECP in Solid Organ transplant rejection
• use of ECP immunomodulation in high-risk, frail patients with comorbidities.

The award represents a unique opportunity for transplant professionals to support their development as researchers by fostering the exchange of knowledge, longer-term collaborations, and establishing personal, scientific, and corporate links between sectors.

The institution of the successful applicant will be awarded the EUR 50,000 grant, to be used in a specified timeframe of 12 months for a defined research project described within the application.

The keynote dates for this award are as follows:

1. Deadline to submit applications – 21 July 2023
2. Notifications of applications – 19 August 2023

ESOT would like to thank Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals for making this opportunity feasible.

*Extracorporeal Photopheresis

TERMS

Conditions to apply:

• Candidates must be ESOT members in good standing at the time of the application to validate the application submission; please note that applications from non-ESOT members will not be considered. To purchase or renew the ESOT membership, please visit this page.
• Applicants must hold a PhD and /or an MD degree.
• Applicants are required to provide a detailed outline of their research plans for the grant funding.
• Applicants are required to use Therakos ECP systems.
• No more than one application per applicant will be considered.
• No restriction on the applicant’s age and nationality.
• Applicants should be at the beginning of their career with clinical research experience as an investigator or co-investigator.
• Previously ESOT-funded applicants are also eligible for this programme.

Application process:

• Applications are submitted in English by email to laura.contessi@esot.org until Friday, 21 July, at 23:59 CEST.
• Applicants are required to submit the following information: first name, family name, institution, city, country, email address, title of the research project.
• Applicants are required to attach the following documents: research project (max. three pages), CV (max. two pages).

Review process:

• Applications are reviewed by a Selection Committee composed of two members of the ESOT Executive Committee and two external experts nominated by the ESOT Executive Committee.
• Reviewers are requested to score each application in three domains based on the candidate’s profile and the submitted research project. The application with the best average score will be awarded.
• The awardee will be invited to attend the ESOT Congress 2023, where he/she will be announced and celebrated (travel and registration are covered). In addition, the completed project will be presented at the next ESOT Congress in 2025.
• ESOT will need to process the applicant’s data as provided in the application submission to process applications. The applicant consents to such control and processing of the applicant’s data.
• The primary criteria that the Selection Committee will evaluate will be the following:
  • the track record of the applicant (25%)
  • the added value of the fellowship to the individual’s career development (25%)
  • the innovation and potential impact of the applicant’s research on improved transplantation outcomes (50%).

The full Terms of Reference document is available here.