ERA Curatorium Awards For Young Investigators

I. Description

Innovation in Nephrology in the Age of Digital Revolution is an annual award dedicated to young investigators/researchers who develop new ideas, projects, technologies and services in the field of nephrology that solve specific challenges. This award is given to young talents who have developed innovative and cutting-edge solutions to a specific problem.

The ERA Curatorium is a platform where ERA bodies and supporting members come together to promote different initiatives and to bridge industry and academia in the broader sense of nephrology. The initiatives supported by the ERA Curatorium cover a wide range of topics.

The ERA Curatorium Award aims to recognise outstanding innovation in nephrology by individual ERA members in the field of kidney disease, as well as the quality of young talented researchers.

The awardees will receive the «ERA Curatorium Awards for Young Investigators» during the ERA Annual Congress. There will normally be two awards of EUR 10,000.00 each in the categories of Young Nephrologist and Young Scientist.

The funds for these awards will come from the ERAC budget.

The awardees will be invited to the ERA Congress and will receive accommodation (i.e. reimbursement of travel expenses; 3 nights of accommodation and free congress membership).

 

II. Award Protocol 

The SAB will be in charge of evaluating the valid applications of candidates for the ERA Curatorium Awards.

The ERA Council will be in charge of deciding who will be the winners of the Awards based on the pre-selection done by the SAB.

A person can receive the Award only once, independently of the category.

The ERA Awards, the Diplomas and the prizes will be given during the ERA Curatorium Symposium at the ERA Congress by the Chair and Vice-Chair of ERAC.

Candidatures are open to:

— Young Nephrologists are all YNP Members (40 years old and younger at the time of receiving the Award; an extension of max 2 years of the age limit can be considered if the applicant’s career has been interrupted due to childcare or illness).

— Young researchers (i.e. bioengineers, engineers, chemists, biologists etc — 40 years old and younger at the time of receiving the Award) in the field of nephrology or related topics (an extension of max 2 years of the age limit can be considered if the applicant’s career has been interrupted due to childcare or illness).

As related research topics are intended:

Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring (i.e., Remote monitoring devices and apps that can collect and transmit vital data such as blood pressure, glucose levels, and kidney function, allowing healthcare providers to intervene promptly in case of any issues).

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (i.e., Digital access to patient information, data sharing among healthcare providers, leading to better-informed treatment decisions).

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (i.e., technologies that can assist nephrologists in early detection of kidney diseases and help optimise treatment strategies).

Big Data and Data Analytics (i.e., new methodologies able to process and analyse vast amounts of healthcare data).

Kidney Imaging (i.e.: Innovations in imaging technology, such as advanced ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI, able to visualize and diagnose kidney disorders)

Precision Medicine: I.e.:  new and innovative genetic tests, biomarkers and molecular profiling associated with kidney diseases)

Patient Engagement and Education: i.e., digital tools like mobile apps and online platforms that could provide educational resources, medication reminders, and lifestyle guidance to improve CKD patient outcomes.

Medical Wearables: such as smartwatches and fitness trackers that can monitor vital signs and activity levels, providing valuable data for nephrologists to assess a patient’s overall health and well-being.

 

III. Parameters

ERA Curatorium Awards for Young Investigators:

To apply, each candidate must have:

• Presented their own data in an oral presentation at an international conference.
• Be 40 years old or younger at the time of the award. An extension of the age limit may be considered if the applicant’s career has been interrupted due to childcare or serious illness, but in no case may the extension exceed 2 years.
• Candidates must be resident in a country within the ERA geographical area.
• Have at least 1 first or last authored paper in studies related to renal research (renal medicine). Have at least one abstract accepted at an ERA congress.
• Have at least one abstract accepted at an ERA congress.
• Letter of Recommendation: candidates must provide a letter of recommendation from a senior nephrologist/senior researcher in support of your application. Please note that the recommendation letter must clearly refer to the candidate’s scientific achievements in the research areas mentioned above.

 

IV. Submission of candidates

The candidates for the Awards are normally submitted through an open call. For the categories of the Innovation in Nephrology in the Age of Digital Revolution Award both SAB and the Council can also propose candidates. Candidates must submit their candidacy by filling in the form available in the open call.

 

V. Approved use of funds from the award

Awardees are required to use the funds awarded solely for the educational and research purposes as detailed below. Failure to comply with these spending rules may result in the revocation of funds or other penalties deemed appropriate by the awarding body.

After 18 months of receiving the award, the awardees must provide all the receipts and invoices for all purchases to demonstrate how the funds have been used in accordance with the approved expenditure categories.

A notification from ERA Headquarters will follow the submitted receipts for approval/non-approval process.

1. Eligible Expenditures

The funds received can only be used for educational and research purposes, such as:

• • Registration fees to attend congresses, conferences, seminars and other scientific meetings, as well as travel expenses related to the scope of the research project.
  • Subscriptions to journals, databases and other information resources necessary for research.
  • Purchase of laboratory equipment necessary for research as well as materials or components essential for project development.

 

Last update: November 2024