We are delighted to announce the new ERKNet research fellowship programme. This programme is intended to facilitate research projects focusing on ERKReg data.

In the first part of the first call, senior ERKNet researchers have submitted project proposals and the most promising of which have been selected for financial support. These projects are now open for applications from interested young scientists.

Projects:
The focus of the research proposals are on rare disease topics supported by data collected in our ERKReg registry. The project descriptions are available here.

Supervision:
Successful applicants will execute their projects under the mentor's supervision. They will stay at the ERKNet Office in Heidelberg, Germany, where intense support from the ERKNet coordination team including a project manager, a data manager, and a statistician will be provided. Alternatively, the exchange can also take place at the mentor’s institution.

Timing: 
The research stay can last up to 10 weeks. The timing of the stay is flexible and will be determined after the final approval of the candidature. It is possible to split the research stay in two phases.

Eligible candidates:
- Clinicians with research focus
- PhD students
- Postdocs (max. 3 years after PhD)
- Employment in ERKNet member or Affiliated Partner centre
- Different country of residence as the project mentor
- Only one fellowship per person
- No participation in a previous ERN exchange fellowship

Content of Fellowship support:
- Travel cost for one return trip (EU unit cost/depending on distance)
- Accommodation for working days (EU unit cost/depending on country)
- Subsistences (lump sum to cover food, public transport, weekends)
 

Call for Project Proposals:
The call for project proposals is currently open and will close on 14 November 2025. Please submit them here!

Call for Exchange Fellows:
The next call for fellowship applicants will open in December 2025. Stay tuned!