Travel Fellowships

As an extension to the existing Harold Gunson Fellowship programme a new category of Exceptional Abstract Fellowships is being introduced. Travel fellowships are awarded for each ISBT congress, and investigators no more than 40 years of age at the time of the congress are eligible to apply at the time of abstract submission. Applications from any country will be considered for an Exceptional Abstract Fellowship, and those from low, lowermiddle and medium WBI countries (LMIC) will also be considered for a Harold Gunson Fellowship. 

Benefits and conditions

  • All successful applicants will receive travel, accommodation and complementary registration to the congress, and a one-year membership of ISBT, if not already a member.
  • Successful applicants will be required to stay at the designated fellowship hotel, as specified in their registration invitation.
  • ISBT will arrange an awards lunch at the congress for all travel fellowship awardees, where certificates will be presented by the ISBT President.
  • Successful applicants will be expected to write a brief report on the learning points taken back to their laboratory/clinic according to a template provided.They may also be requested to submit a short report to Transfusion Today (ISBT’s quarterly on-line magazine), and/or a video clip for ISBT social media.

Eligibility

  • Applications are open to those no more than 40 years old on the first day of the congress, who are the first, submitting and presenting author of an abstract (subsequent acceptance of the abstract for the scientific programme is a condition of eligibility).
  • Applicants need not be ISBT member at the time of application.
  • Applications from any country will be considered for an Exceptional Abstract Fellowship, and those from LMIC will also be considered for a Harold Gunson Fellowship.
  • Harold Gunson Fellowships may be awarded to the same individual no more than twice.

Call for applications

Call for applications is made by ISBT at the same time as the opening of abstract submissions for each ISBT congress.

Application

Applicants wishing to apply for a travel fellowship should indicate this when submitting their abstract. Applicants wishing to be considered for a travel fellowship must indicate this as part of their abstract submission:

  • a brief biography, countersigned by their employer or line manager, including an educational history and an outline of the applicant’s current position and work.
  • a statement of motivation for applying for a travel fellowship

Assesment

  • Selection of both categories of travel fellowship will consider the average score of the abstract awarded by external reviewers. Exceptional Abstract Fellowships will be decided at the congress scientific abstract review meeting, and Harold Gunson travel fellowships within the ISBT Central Office where motivational statements will also be considered.
  • Preference will generally be given to applicants receiving an oral presentation at the congress.
  • There will be a fair geographical distribution within each category of fellowship.

The ISBT Central Office will inform all candidates of the outcome two months prior to the congress at which the awards lunch will take place.