EASD Rising Star Symposium and EFSD Rising Star Fellowship Programme
Fellowship program for promising young diabetes researchers in Europe with a presentation at the EASD Annual Meeting; includes a €30,000 research grant to the institution as well as coverage of travel, hotel, and registration costs; application deadline 17.02.2026 via the EFSD Programme Portal.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The program aims to identify and support outstanding young research groups in Europe, provide them with a platform at the EASD Annual Meeting, and support innovative diabetes research through a research grant of €30,000.
Eligible expenses
- Research costs
- Travel expenses
- Hotel costs
- Registration fees
Eligible to apply
- Non-profit Organizations
- Educational Institutions
Funding requirements
- Employment at a non-profit institution in Europe or associated countries
- Maximum 7 years since completion of the last qualification (PhD, MD, MSc)
- Paid-up EASD membership
- Proof of extension reasons (e.g. parental leave, illness) if applicable
Documents required for application
- Research Plan – Fellowships (Rising Star)
- Signatures and Declaration – Fellowships
- Proof of Non-Profit Status of the Institution
- Biographical Sketch (max. 3 pages)
- Collaborative Agreements
- Letters of Support
- List of Abstracts of all current or requested funding
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content of the project
- Publication quality in professional journals
- Career potential of the candidates
Description
The EASD Rising Star Symposium and EFSD Rising Star Fellowship Programme honors outstanding early-career researchers in the field of diabetes research in Europe. Participants have the opportunity to present a 20-minute lecture including discussion at the EASD Annual Meeting and are awarded a commemorative diploma. The selected institution benefits from a research grant of €30,000, which specifically supports innovative projects in the field of diabetes. Furthermore, the programme covers travel expenses, accommodation, and registration for symposium participation to promote scientific networking and sustainably strengthen the career start of the awardees.
Funding is provided to early-career scientists who have been working for no more than seven years since obtaining their highest academic degree (PhD, MD, MSc) at a non-profit institution in Europe or associated countries. A paid membership in the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) is a prerequisite, as well as convincing publications and high career potential. The evaluation criteria include the innovativeness of the project, the quality of previous publications, and the long-term perspective of the applicants. Submission requires a detailed research plan, proof of the institution’s non-profit status, a curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages), letters of support, and an overview of current and requested funding. Interested researchers may submit their documents via the EFSD Programme Portal by 17 February 2026, 12:00 CET at the latest. Selection is made by an independent scientific committee, which is expected to announce the awards in May 2026.
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