The Purpose of the EANS Research Fund
Diseases of the brain and spine in Europe are of major importance to patients, their families and society.
As the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies our focus is on neurosurgical conditions which include brain injuries, brain tumours, stroke, epilepsy, hydrocephalus and disorders of the spine. While advances have been made in the treatment of these conditions there remain many unanswered questions and major opportunities to improve treatment and outcome for patients.
Our mission is to achieve this through comprehensive research strategies including both basic science laboratory research and clinical studies including trials. Access to research funding from large grant funding bodies, for example, the European Union and national government agencies and charities is highly competitive and usually requires initial pilot research data. We have therefore established a research fund to enable early stage projects the acquisition of the pilot data necessary to apply for more substantial funding. We achieve this through the award of € 10000 seed grants for neurosurgical research projects.
Beneficiaries and criteria for participation
We aim in particular to nurture young researchers who are developing a research career. Applicants should be either neurosurgical trainees, research fellows or junior consultants (5 years or less). The awards will be available to neurosurgeons in all member countries of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies to encourage European cooperation and collaboration. The principal named applicant must also be an individual member of the EANS. Not a member yet?
Sign up now!
The fund provides seed grants across the various neurosurgical specialties addressing operative neurosurgery (microsurgery), brain injury, vascular neurosurgery, oncology, spine surgery, functional neurosurgery, peripheral nerve surgery, cerebrospinal fluid disorders, paediatric neurosurgery and pre-clinical neuroscience. Beyond scientific excellence, it is also of the research funds interest to ensure representativeness across different neurosurgical specialties.
Experimental, clinical and translational research projects will be eligible for funding. There is a maximum of one submission per applicant, to be submitted by a principal named applicant, plus a maximum of 2 co-applicants.
Each award of €10,000 should be spent within 12 months of receipt. The award will be paid to the employer of the principal named applicant.
WORDS FROM THE DIRECTOR
The review of the projects submitted in 2024 indicates that many excellent research projects, and good research environments, are created throughout Europe. This also means that the competition for grants, also seed grants from the EANS research fund, is increasingly competitive. The core concept of the fund is still to fund projects by young neurosurgeons, with projects where there are possibilities of deliverables of pilot data within the funding period. Funding deemed to be “on top” of already large ongoing research projects will not be prioritized. I am truly looking forward to receive the applications for 2025.
