WHAT THEY ARE
The purpose of the ERA-EDTA Young Long-Term Fellowships is to support basic and clinical research in the field of Nephrology in the ERA-EDTA geographical area (Europe, countries bordering Europe and the Mediterranean Sea), in particular to favor the growth of the young investigators living in Europe.
Starting from 2019, to enhance integration of the ERA-EDTA activities, the ERA-EDTA Long Term Fellowships are assigned to competitive research proposals by the ERA-EDTA Committees, with the aim to simultaneously finance the worthy ERA-EDTA Committee’s projects and to favor young researchers’ growth.
WHERE THEY ARE PERFORMED
The Long Term Fellowships are performed in receiving institutions located in the ERA-EDTA geographical area (Europe, countries bordering Europe and the Mediterranean Sea).
The young investigators submitting their candidature for an ERA-EDTA Long Term Fellowship will be asked to identify the project they would like to join and thus apply for it. Each scientific project will be carried out in a specific Centre located within the ERA-EDTA geographical area.
WHAT IT IS OFFERED
The duration of the Long Term Fellowships is 12 months (365 days).
The fellowship subsistence rates are based on the calculations done on the basis of the EMBO -European Molecular Biology Organization-rates: the flat fee figures (available here) are for a period of 12 months and should cover travel and living expense and any work -related taxes and insurances. For a shorter/longer period the amount must be calculated accordingly
WHO CAN APPLY
Applications are only considered from Full ERA-EDTA Members (A and B) whose age will not be over 40 at the time of the application submission.
Criteria used for the selection.
1. Age of the applicant
2. Prior expertise of the applicant
3. How the project the applicant fits into his/her career
4. Feasibility of the project by the applicant.
Moreover, specific qualifications and expertise requirements are specifically outlined in each scientific project.
HOW TO APPLY
The Call will be opened on March 5, 2020 and will close on April 7, 2020 (deadline for applications).
In order to submit your Fellowship request you must fill in a specific application form (accessible to ERA-EDTA members only).
The young investigators submitting their candidature for an ERA-EDTA Long Term Fellowship will be asked to identify the project they would like to join (read more about the 4 available projects at bottom of this page) and thus apply for it. Each scientific project will be carried out in a specific Centre located within the ERA-EDTA geographical area.
FOR FURTHER QUERIES
For the complete instructions and rules please read the Long Term Fellowship Regulations
For all questions about ERA-EDTA Young Fellowship Programme, please contact the ERA-EDTA Operative Headquarters at fellowships@era-edta.org.
Click on the tabs below to learn more about the available scientific projects
In collaboration with DESCARTES Working Group
Prognosis and outcome in patients with primary membranous nephropathy
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome. The natural history is variable, approximately 50% of patients developing remission, whereas 50% of patients develop ESRD. Although alkylating agents reduce ESRD risk by 80%, their use is associated with high toxicity. Alternative therapies are used, such as rituximab and tacrolimus, but have not been tested against cyclophosphamide. There is a unmet need to develop strategies based on prognostic and predictive biomarkers to allow optimized, individualized therapy for MN. Serum creatinine and proteinuria are not very accurate. Thus, we need more information on useful prognostic and predictive biomarkers, and also need comparative studies between currently use treatment modalities (and potential new agents such as bortezomib).
In 2009 measurement of antibodies against PLA2R was introduced, and initial data suggested that quantitative analysis might provide information on prognosis and treatment response. In rare diseases, comparative effectiveness studies using prospectively collected data could allow meaningful conclusions about safety and effectiveness. In 2012 Centers from Paris, Manchester, Nijmegen, and Prague started a registry which contains data of > 400 patients with MN. The goal is enlarge this registry, in collaboration with adult expert centers who participate in ERKnet.
The goals of the project are:
- To enlarge the registry and add PLA2Rab data, using stored biobank samples when available, and obtain detailed information on treatment and outcome.
- To identify clinical and laboratory characteristics that allow to predict outcome.
- To compare different treatment regimens using adjusted analyses/propensity scoring.
- To evaluate treatment response to off-label used therapies such as Bortezomib and daratumumab.
- Extension of the registry to include patients with MN after kidney transplantation, and evaluate risk of recurrence, predictive factors, and outcome with therapy
The research fellow will be responsible for the coordination between centers, to optimize the database, aid in retrieving the relevant biomarker data, analyse the data and write a final report.
DETAILS OF THE FELLOWSHIP
- Duration of the fellowship: 12 months
- Location of the hosting centre: Department of Nephrology, 464 Geert Grooteplein Zuid 86525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Phone: +31243614761 Contact person for administrative issues: Mrs Linda Kusters Linda.kusters@radboudumc.nl or Mrs Mary Hakvoort Mary.hakvoort@radboudumc.nl
- Principal Investigator and Supervisor of the project: Jack .F.M. Wetzels, Prof.
- Start of the fellowship: January 2021
- Qualifications and/or expertise required: the applicant must be fluent in spoken and written English, study in medicine or biomedical sciences, have experience with statistical data analysis, proven expertise in research in the field of nephrology, auto-immune diseases is preferred, being a team-player, with societal skills.
GRANTED AMOUNT
EUR 39,000
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