Every year, ESCMID allocates around 800k EUR year to propel ground-breaking research projects in the fields of Clinical Microbiology (CM) and Infectious Diseases (ID). We provide individual research grants to aspiring young investigators and as a part of our ESCMID Study Groups (SGs), a complimentary benefit available to ESCMID members. These grants aim to drive collaboration and innovation, pushing CM and ID to new levels and positioning ESCMID as a pioneer in the future of healthcare excellence.
ESCMID’s research grants offer up to 20K EUR per project. The grant can be used for the entirety or specific aspects of your project. Upon the signing of the grant agreement, 50% of the allocated funds are issued to the grantee’s institution, with the remaining 50% released upon the submission and approval of the final reports (refer to reporting below for more details). ESCMID also reserves up to 50K EUR each for two exceptional projects. Recognised by our esteemed reviewers for their outstanding potential, selected projects have the possibility to receive this additional funding to propel their topics further.
As part of the new ESCMID strategy, the ESCMID Förderverein grant enhances funding for research projects focusing on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) or Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID). This support benefits both individual researchers and SGs. As part of this initiative, four additional grants are awarded annually. To qualify, projects must address the challenges posed by AMR and/or EID, aligning with the specified theme for the year. Applications are integrated into our standard grant calls, with clear indications provided in the application form.
Your research project can include laboratory investigations, clinical studies, experimental animal studies, or a combination of approaches. In 2025, the research grant programme will welcome projects focused on fungal/viral/parasitic infections and diseases (including diagnostics, pathogenesis, susceptibility and resistance, stewardship, and vaccines. Projects usually last from 12-24 months, starting from the year the grant is received. Should your project align with the specified criteria, it will undergo a rigorous peer review process, with the most promising projects being selected through a meticulous ranking of applications and research proposals. Please note that projects that do not align with the established criteria will be disqualified without a peer review.
Qualify for our research grant opportunities by meeting the following criteria:
Applicants who have received any ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) may only apply for a subsequent grant in the year after official completion of the first project. Additionally, you cannot be awarded more than one ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) in a single year or be listed as principal investigator in more than one concurrent project. Please be aware that members of the ESCMID Executive Committee (EC) are not eligible to apply for research grants or provide support letters for applications. *We invite ESCMID LMIC members to apply if they are still in training or completing their training (PhD no more than eight years post-graduation, MD or MD/PhD no more than five years from completion of clinical training or speciality). If this opportunity sparks your interest, we encourage you to contact ESCMID Office and submit documents proving your status as early as possible, no later than two weeks before the application deadline.
If you meet the above criteria, we welcome you to apply. To ensure a seamless and efficient application process, all documentation must be submitted electronically via our online application form. As you prepare to submit, please have the following documents readily available.
A single PDF document (labelled “YourSurname”.pdf; in Calibri font, size 11, with 2 cm margins, max. 4MB) including the following key elements:
Two signed letters of support (labelled “YourSurname”_support1.pdf and “YourSurname”_support2.pdf; max. 4MB each).
Potential reviewers: As part of the application process, at least two suitable reviewers should be suggested. Conditions for reviewers include not being directly involved in the project proposal, not having the same affiliation as you, and if possible, not from the same country either. Should there be any individual you prefer not to have as a reviewer, kindly inform us accordingly.
A colour photograph (labelled “YourSurname_Firstname”.tiff, .eps or .jpg; max. 4MB), measuring at least 4 x 6 cm with a 300 dpi resolution, suitable for publication.
You can ensure a smooth submission process by first verifying you have the correct documents and file types before upload. After the deadline, changes will unfortunately be impossible, so we strongly recommend ensuring all details are correct before submission.
For full transparency about the review process, you will find the instructions and rating criteria used to assess your application here. Here are some helpful guidance for writing your research grant application:
Within six months following the completion of your project, you must submit your financial and scientific reports. We will be happy to provide you with templates and thorough guidelines to support your report writing. Your financial report should illustrate a full breakdown of how the provided funds were used, accompanied by the signature of your head of department. Your scientific report should capture your research journey in a maximum of 1,000 words, covering the key elements listed below:
Should a published scientific article accompany your report, we welcome a concise version of your submission, with references directing to the relevant sections within the article. Please do consider the article should transparently disclose any funding from alternative sources.
Grant recipients must acknowledge ESCMID in all scientific publications using the wording “This study/project has been funded by a European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) research grant to (initials of grantee) in (year of grant)”. Grantees should first consider publishing in one of the Society’s official journals Clinical Microbiology and Infection (CMI) or CMI Communications for initial submission of manuscripts, but alternative journals may be considered depending on the scope of the project. We ask grantees to please share with the ESCMID Office any published scientific articles stemming from their grant-funded projects, regardless of whether the project has concluded, even after all reports have been submitted. These articles are a source of pride for our Society and will be continuously showcased on our official website and in our annual ESCMID yearbook. In this way, we will be able to keep celebrating your research accomplishments and contribution to the global advancement of knowledge in the fields of CM and ID.
With up to 30K EUR offered to cover project costs, ESCMID SG research grants can help you support the entirety or specific elements of your project. Upon signing, ESCMID will assign the designated grant amount. This sum can be used to settle invoices or be transferred directly to your institution for the project's needs.
As part of the new ESCMID strategy, the ESCMID Förderverein Grant enhances funding for research projects focusing on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) or Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID). This support benefits both individual researchers and SGs. As part of this initiative, two additional grants are awarded annually. To qualify, projects must address the challenges posed by AMR and/or EID, aligning with the specified theme for the year. Applications are integrated into our standard grant calls, with clear indications provided in the application form.
Your research project can encompass a range of dynamic approaches, including laboratory investigations, clinical studies, experimental animal studies, or a combination of these approaches. As we value collaboration, your research project should be conducted in partnership with at least two separate institutions across two different countries. Designed for a maximum duration of two years, your project should start after the grant agreement is signed. The full support and engagement of all SGs involved is mandatory.
Applicants who have received any ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) may only apply for a subsequent grant in the year after official completion of the first project. Additionally, you cannot be awarded more than one ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) in a single year or be listed as principal investigator in more than one concurrent project. Please be aware that members of the ESCMID Executive Committee (EC) are not eligible to apply for research grants or provide support letters for applications. Qualify for our research grant opportunities by meeting the following criteria. Each SG may apply with a maximum of two research projects, as indicated below:
Two projects as a single SG cannot be accepted as these grants aim to boost interconnectivity across a wide range of topic areas.
To ensure ease and efficiency through the application process, all documentation must be submitted electronically via our online application form. As you prepare to submit, please have the following documents readily available:
A single PDF document (labelled “YourSurname_StudyGroup”.pdf; in Calibri font, size 11, with 2 cm margins, max 4MB, up to 6 pages) including the following key elements:
A support letter (labelled “YourSurname_support”.pdf; max 4MB) signed by the Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer of the SG involved in the proposal. The letter should clearly state the title of your project, your name as the applicant, and your respective SG.
Importantly, where collaboration between two study groups will be occurring, a single scanned file containing two support letters, one for each involved study group, is required.
A colour photograph (labelled “YourSurname_Firstname”.tiff, .eps or .jpg; max 4MB), measuring at least 4 x 6 cm with a 300 dpi resolution, suitable for publication.
You can ensure a smooth submission process by first verifying you have the correct documents and file types before upload. After the deadline, changes will unfortunately be impossible, so we strongly recommend ensuring all details are correct before submission.
The Scientific Affairs Subcommittee (SAS) and potentially external peer-reviewers will be taking an extensive look at your proposal, focusing on the following key areas:
Scientific and/or technological excellence
Quality and efficiency of implementation and budgeting
Parity assessment
In making the final decision, please note we may consider other concurrently submitted projects as well as previously approved or ongoing projects within the same SG.
Within 6 months following the completion of your project, you must submit your two-page report summarising your findings. Here is what the report should include:
If peer-reviewed publications covering the funded project are published, please disregard the above report requirement. Further information, together with the ESCMID templates for the scientific and financial reports, will be provided after signing the grant agreement.
Grant recipients must acknowledge ESCMID in all scientific publications using the wording “This study/project has been funded by a European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) research grant to (initials of grantee) in (year of grant)”. Grantees should first consider publishing in one of the Society’s official journals Clinical Microbiology and Infection (CMI) or CMI Communications for initial submission of manuscripts, but alternative journals may be considered depending on the scope of the project. We ask grantees to please share with the ESCMID Office any published scientific articles stemming from their grant-funded projects, regardless of whether the project has concluded, even after all reports have been submitted. These articles are a source of pride for our Society and will be continuously showcased on our official website and in our annual ESCMID yearbook. In this way, we will be able to keep celebrating your research accomplishments and contribution to the global advancement of knowledge in the fields of CM and ID.
The maximum amount granted per project is 180K €. This includes any potential overhead costs charged by your institution. ESCMID’s funding may support the entire project or part of it. After signing the grant agreement, ESCMID will set aside the amount that can either be used to pay invoices or be transferred to your institution for project use.
We believe that collaboration is key, this is why your project must be supported by at least three ESCMID SGs and be carried out in partnership with institutions from at least two different countries. In addition, each project should include members from each participating SG, ensuring diverse expertise and participation. Your research should encompass a broad range of methodologies, including laboratory investigations, clinical studies, and experimental animal research. Designed for a maximum duration of two years, your project should be of high quality, with a focus on innovation and networking. Please note that projects that do not align with the established criteria will be disqualified without a peer review.
Qualify for our research grant opportunities by meeting the following criteria:
Please note that applications are not accepted from companies/start-up research firms. Applicants who have received any ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) may only apply for a subsequent grant in the year after official completion of the first project. Additionally, you cannot be awarded more than one ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) in a single year or be listed as principal investigator in more than one concurrent project. Please be aware that members of the ESCMID Executive Committee (EC) are not eligible to apply for research grants or provide support letters for applications.
To ensure ease and efficiency through the application process, all documentation must be submitted electronically via our online application form. As you prepare to submit, please ensure the following documents readily available:
We are happy to specify SGs can be part of multiple submissions.
The SAS and potentially external peer-reviewers will be taking an extensive look at your proposal, focusing on the following key areas:
Entry criteria
Scientific factors
Network considerations
Logistical components
Total possible score: 100 points
We appreciate high-quality applications aligned with the scoring criteria outlined above. Innovation and networking are key, and as such, we look forward to seeing how your projects incorporate these elements. If it is judged that none of the applications for a given year meet our quality standards, ESCMID may decide to withhold funding.
Within 6 months following the completion of your project, you must submit your two-page report summarising your findings. Here is what the report should include:
If peer-reviewed publications covering the funded project are published, please disregard the above report requirement. Further information, together with the ESCMID templates for the scientific and financial reports, will be provided after signing the grant agreement.
As a proud provider of financial support for selected research projects, ESCMID kindly requests grant recipients acknowledge the Society in all scientific publications using the wording “This study/project has been funded by a European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) research grant to [initials of grantee] in [year of grant]”. Grantees should first consider publishing in one of the Society’s official journals Clinical Microbiology and Infection (CMI) or CMI Communications for initial submission of manuscripts, but alternative journals may be considered depending on the scope of the project. We ask grantees to please share with the ESCMID Office any published scientific articles stemming from their grant-funded projects, regardless of whether the project has concluded, even after all reports have been submitted. These articles are a source of pride for our Society and will be continuously showcased on our official website and in our annual ESCMID yearbook. In this way, we will be able to keep celebrating your research accomplishments and contribution to the global advancement of knowledge in the fields of CM and ID.