Interventional Nephrology fellowships

I. Purpose

The purpose of the ERA Interventional Nephrology Fellowships (min 1 month – max 4 months) is to support nephrologists in gaining specialized training and hands-on experience in interventional nephrology. These fellowships aim to enhance the clinical skills, knowledge, and expertise of nephrologists in performing a wide range of interventional procedures. This includes techniques such as vascular access creation and maintenance, peritoneal dialysis catheter placement, and ultrasound-guided procedures. 

By providing this advanced training, the fellowships strive to improve patient care and outcomes in nephrology. Fellows are expected to return to their home institutions equipped with enhanced skills and a deeper understanding of interventional nephrology, enabling them to contribute to the advancement of the field and the education of their peers. 

The ERA Council is in charge of deciding the amount dedicated to this programme on an annual basis.  

The ERA Council nominates the ERA Committee for Interventional Nephrology. It consists of 3 members that remain in office for 3 years and can be renewed for 1 further term (only).  The members are nominated based on their experience in the field.  

The ERA Committee for Interventional Nephrology is in charge of evaluating the Centers that wish to host the fellows and of evaluating the fellow applicants. 

Any exception to any of the rules of this programme must be evaluated by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the SAB and/or by the Council, depending on the nature of the exception. 

 

II. Deadline(s)

The deadline(s) decided by the Council will appear in the appropriate section of the ERA website.

  

III. How to apply 

Applications must be submitted using a specific application form available in the appropriate section of the ERA website. 

 

IV. Institutions where to do the ERA Interventional Nephrology Fellowships

Through a rigorous selection process, the ERA Committee for Interventional Nephrology selected a list of hosting institutes in Europe to ensure that fellows receive the highest standard of training in interventional nephrology, preparing them to apply their skills and knowledge effectively in their home institutions. 

The list is continuously updated and is available here: the List of centres for ERA Interventional Nephrology Fellowships will be provided shortly. 

The selection of hosting centres is based on several key criteria to ensure they provide a comprehensive and high-quality training experience. The selection process involves the following steps: 

1. Reputation and Expertise: Institutions are evaluated on their standing in the field of nephrology, particularly in interventional nephrology. This includes their history of innovation, contributions to research, and overall impact on nephrology practices. 
2. Clinical Facilities and Resources: Selected institutions must have state-of-the-art clinical facilities and access to advanced medical technologies. This ensures that the fellows receive hands-on training with the latest tools and techniques used in interventional nephrology. 
3. Experienced Faculty: Institutions are assessed based on the qualifications and expertise of their faculty members. Host institutions should have a team of experienced and renowned interventional nephrologists who can provide high-quality mentorship and training. 
4. Supervisor availability: It is essential that the hosting centre provides an experienced supervisor who can dedicate sufficient time to the training and development of the fellows. The role of the supervisor is crucial in ensuring that fellows receive the comprehensive, high-quality training necessary for their professional growth. 
5. Comprehensive Training Programs: The institutions must offer well-structured and comprehensive training programs that cover a wide range of interventional nephrology procedures. This includes vascular access creation and maintenance, peritoneal dialysis catheter placement, and ultrasound-guided interventions. 
6. Research Opportunities: Institutions are selected based on their involvement in ongoing research and clinical trials in interventional nephrology. This provides fellows with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research and contribute to advancements in the field. 
7. Collaborative Environment: The ability to foster a collaborative learning environment is crucial. Selected institutions should encourage interaction and collaboration among fellows, faculty, and other healthcare professionals, facilitating a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. 
8. Track Record of Training and Education: Institutions with a proven track record of successfully training nephrology professionals and a commitment to ongoing education and professional development are preferred. 
9. Geographical and Language Considerations: The selection process also takes into account the geographical diversity of institutions across Europe and the language of instruction to ensure accessibility for a broad range of fellows. 

Before applying for the Interventional Nephrology Fellowship, the applicant must contact the preferred centre to verify the feasibility of the project he/she wants to carry out. ERA is not responsible for this process. 

 

V. Eligibility

Only ERA members who are 40 or younger at the time of application submission can apply.
An extension of the age limit can be considered if the applicant’s career has been interrupted due to childcare or severe illness; in any case this extension cannot exceed 2 years. Applicants who already received an ERA Fellowship under this programme in the past cannot apply again for a new Interventional Nephrology Fellowship.

 

VI. Duration

The duration of the Interventional Nephrology Fellowship is between 1 month (30 days) and 4 months (120 days).

 

VII. Selection of the applications
The ERA HQ does an administrative pre-screening and all applications with administrative fails are automatically discarded.
The valid applications are submitted to the SAB for screening, scoring and ranking.
Said ranking is submitted to the Council for the final selection. 

  

VIII. Factors normally considered in the selection of applicants

1. Age of the applicant (in the case of ex-aequo, the older candidate should be preferred)
2. Educational and clinical knowledge status of the applicant
3. Need of this knowledge in the home institute
4. Feasibility of the proposed fellowship in the chosen centre;
5. Knowledge transfer and the possibility of implementation of the project from host to home institute
6. ERA membership status of supervisors and referees (valid only for nephrologists) 

IMPORTANT. On completion of the fellowship, the applicants should return back to their home institution or to an “equivalent institution”. A signed letter stating this, to be submitted when formally applying, has a significant weight in the evaluation as the experience achieved by the fellow has an added value if applied in the home environment.

 

IX. Start of fellowship

The fellowship should start, without any further significant delay, within 6 months after reception of approval by ERA. 

 

X. Payments and amounts
The payment of the fellowship will be the following: 75% of the total amount due to be paid 10 days prior to the arrival of the fellow in the host institute (travel ticket must be used to verify this date) provided that a letter from the chief of the host institute confirming that all is “on track” is received; the remaining 25% will be given to the fellow only after the “End of Fellowship” form will be submitted and approved.
 

The fellowship grant amounts are based on the EMBO -European Molecular Biology Organisation- daily subsistence rates: these daily flat fee figures will be applied for the duration of the fellowship and are meant to cover living expenses and any work-related taxes and insurances. A travel grant amount will also be added to the fellowship grant and it is meant to cover the expenses related to one round trip from the country of residence to the host country (Travel Grant Chart for fellowships and CME). IMPORTANT any taxes and insurances are the responsibility of the fellow, for no reason will ERA be held liable for these matters.  

In the event of early termination of the fellowship, the final balance to be paid will be reduced accordingly and any extra amounts already paid will have to be repaid back to ERA.  

ERA will not give any other financial support apart from what is clearly mentioned above. 

 

XI. Publications and visibility

Every publication (preferably in ERA journals) of work executed while in receipt of an ERA Fellowship, as well as after the end of the fellowship, provided that it is the results of work done during the fellowship, must acknowledge the support given by the ERA and a reprint (electronic format) must be sent to the ERA for verification purposes. Failure to give proper acknowledgement to ERA in publications may result in not being able to benefit from ERA support by the fellow in the future and/or allowing the receiving institute to host future ERA fellows.

 

XII. End of fellowship report
At the end of the fellowship, the fellows are asked to provide the ERA HQ with a report of the activity done at the receiving institute, using a specific template, within one month after the completion of the fellowship. The report must be signed by the supervisor.
Furthermore, this report must also include a statement from the chief of the home institute (or equivalent) confirming that the fellow has indeed returned to his/her home country after completing his/her fellowship.
Upon approval of the end report, the fellow will receive the last part of the fellowship payment as well as a certificate by way of acknowledgement: this document will include the dates and duration of the fellowship, the place and title of the project and it will be signed by the SAB Chair and the ERA President. 

 

XIII. Various
If a granted fellow “refuses” the fellowship, without a valid reason, he/she will not be able to participate in the ERA Fellowship Programme in the future; furthermore, the amount allocated for this fellowship will be lost. 

  

Last update: November 2024