MS International Federation McDonald Research Fellowships 2024: (Deadline 30 June, 2024)

Applications for the McDonald Fellowships are now open

The McDonald Fellowship enables early career multiple sclerosis researchers from low- and middle-income countries to work in a research institution outside of their own country. During the visit, participants either gain expertise or carry out parts of joint research projects.

Following the award, we expect applicants will be able to use the newly developed expertise and networks, continuing to undertake MS research and/or patient care in low- and middle-income countries.

About MS International Federation (MSIF)

The MS International Federation is a unique global network of MS organisations, people affected by MS, volunteers and staff from around the world. Our movement is made up of 47 MS organisations with links to many others. Our vision is a world without MS Our mission is to inspire, mobilise and bring the world together to improve the quality of life of everybody affected by MS and to end MS forever Why does it matter? Our Atlas of MS shows that around 2.8 million people worldwide are living with MS. Many of these people have little access to support. …

MS International Federation Fellowships

Aim and Benefits of MS International Federation Fellowships

The fellowship consists of a two-year grant, around £30,000 GBP per year, to cover travel and living costs, and an additional contribution of £2,000 GBP per year to the host institution. We expect that part of the second-year grant to the host institution will be used to cover the candidate’s expenses to attend the annual congress of ECTRIMS, the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS.

One Fellowship is awarded in partnership with ECTRIMS and is known as the MSIF-ECTRIMS McDonald Fellowship.

Another Fellowship is awarded in partnership with MSIF’s member, ARSEP, The Fondation pour l’Aide à la Recherche sur la Sclérose En Plaques. This is known as the MSIF-ARSEP McDonald Fellowship.

MS International Federation Fellowships Courses

• Research

Requirements for MS International Federation Fellowships Qualification

All candidates must:

• Be educated to post graduate level (at least MSc, preferably PhD/MD) in an area relevant to multiple sclerosis.
• Be citizens of a low- or middle-income country (all countries with a low, lower middle or upper middle income as defined by the World Bank)
• Focus their research in an area relevant to multiple sclerosis.

Candidates must also be in one of the following situations:

• Working or studying in a low- or middle-income country (all countries with a low, lower middle or upper middle income as defined by the World Bank) at the time of application.
• Working or studying in another country on a project which started within the six months prior to application.
• Studying in another country on a Du Pré grant project supported MSIF.

Those who previously have held a Du Pré grant are eligible to subsequently apply for a McDonald Fellowship, but not the other way round.

Candidates are expected to return to their own countries at the end of the study period where they will contribute to advancing care and research in MS.

The McDonald fellowship may also be used to part fund a PhD programme, where the candidate has already been accepted for the PhD programme in a recognised institute (within the six months prior to application) but who doesn’t have enough funding to cover the total cost.

If successful, candidates and Host supervisors will be required to read and sign the Terms and Conditions of the award.

The McDonald Fellowship should start within 12 months of being awarded the funding.

For more information please contact our research team using the contact us form, selecting “Research grants and awards”.

Please note:

This is a joint application from the applicant and host. Before applying, candidates need to have identified a suitable project and host supervisor at an institution outside of their own country.

A project host must be agreed before commencing the application.

The deadline for the host statement is the same as the entire application: 30 June 2024.

Interview date, Process and Venue for MS International Federation Fellowships

The application deadline, including the online application form, reference letters, and supporting statement from the host, is 30 June 2024. 

You must submit your application with sufficient time for the proposed host to read through your application and provide a supporting statement. It is advised to give at least two weeks for your host to complete this. Equally, you must ask your referees to send a reference letter to research@msif.org before the deadline. Applications will be rejected if host statement and references are not received before 30 June.

• Deadline of application: 30 June
• Deadline of Host Supporting Statement: 30 June
• Deadline of References: 30 June

Applicants will be informed in October whether they were successful.

How are Fellowships awarded?

MSIF’s McDonald Fellowship panel, which includes scientists and people affected by MS, considers and selects successful candidates.

Documents Required for Application

A short report must be submitted at the end of the first year of the fellowship. Second-year funding depends on the submission of this report. Upon completion of the fellowship, a final report and expenditure summary is required. Electronic copies of reports, papers, abstracts and posters resulting from the visit should also be submitted. Papers produced as a result of or in connection with McDonald Fellowship-funded research should acknowledge the fellowship and include the address of the MS International Federation’s website: www.msif.org

Application Deadline

30 June, 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to MS International Federation (MSIF) on admin.msif2.org to apply

Apply through the application website.

• Identify your project and field of interest.
• Contact and agree the project proposal with your host (project supervisor in a lab or clinic).
• Applicant completes all sections of the online application form.
• After Applicant submits, the Host is contacted to submit a supporting statement* using the same application form.
• Applicant asks the three referees to send their reference letters to research@msif.org  before the 30 June deadline.
• Applicants must read the Terms and Conditions of the Award to understand requirements around reporting and payments.
• Applicants should pay close attention to the lay summary of the application. Advice on how to write a lay summary can be found at the bottom of this page.

*The host supporting statement is filled in once the Applicant has submitted their application. The proposed host will then be emailed with instructions to fill in the supporting statement in the application form in text only. This must be done before the deadline. 

For more details vsit: OFFICIAL LINK.