EPILEPSY RESEARCH UK CELINE NEWMAN EXCHANGE BURSARY

APPLICATION GUIDANCE

THE CHARITY

Epilepsy Research UK (www.epilepsyresearch.org.uk) promotes and supports scientific research in the UK into the causes, treatment, prevention and psychosocial aspects of epilepsy. It is the primary charity dedicated to funding epilepsy research in the UK.

This bursary has been established by Mr Paul Newman, Vice President of Epilepsy Research UK, in the name of his late daughter, Miss Celine Newman, who had epilepsy. Its purpose is to promote collaboration between epilepsy research institutes in the UK and in Marseille, France (where Celine received treatment for her epilepsy).

THE BURSARY

Epilepsy Research UK invites applications for a bursary of up to £5,000, to contribute to the costs associated with a short research visit (up to six months) by UK-based applicants to one of the centres of excellence for epilepsy research in Marseille (i.e. INSERM, INMED or Hôpital Nord)). Similarly, individuals in Marseille may apply to visit a recognised epilepsy research institute anywhere in the UK. Due to the bi-directional nature of the visits, the period of work covered by the bursary will hereafter be referred to as an “exchange”.

ELIGIBLE COSTS

Epilepsy Research UK will consider applications for travel, accommodation and subsistence costs associated with the exchange. Research costs cannot be included under any circumstances. Applicants are asked to respect that Epilepsy Research UK is a charity funded entirely by voluntary donations from members of the public and, as such, requests should not be excessive or unreasonable. The following costs are permitted:

·  Travel:

§  A maximum of two return trips, UK to Marseille or Marseille to UK

§  Additional travel expenses essential to the successful outcome of the exchange

·  Accommodation:

§  The cost of a stay in a hotel or university residence, or short-term let of an apartment

§  All relevant taxes and charges and other basic living costs (gas, electricity, etc.)

·  Subsistence:

§  Up to £25 per day (or equivalent), for a maximum of 60 days, to cover meals, etc.

ELIGIBILITY FOR FUNDING

All applicants must be affiliated with a recognised epilepsy research institute (either University or NHS) in the UK, or with one of the centres of epilepsy research excellence in Marseille (INSERM*, INMED** or Hôpital Nord). Priority will be given to clinical trainees and post-doctoral scientists who are at a more junior stage in their career, and who do not have a substantive contract.

SELECTION PROCESS

Bursary applications are submitted in June and are reviewed by a panel of senior epilepsy experts from the UK and Marseille. In mid-late July, one or more successful bursaries are announced. Applications from the UK and Marseille will be judged equally and there is no quota in operation. The decision of the judging panel is final and only limited feedback can be provided to unsuccessful applicants.

COMPLETION OF APPLICATION FORMS

Application form

An application form for the Celine Newman Exchange Bursary will be made available via our Research Register e-Newsletter and as an email attachment on request to Delphine van der Pauw, at . All sections of the application form must be completed and all relevant signatures must be obtained. Electronic signatures are permitted, on the understanding that the people in question are aware and in full agreement of their use. A copy of the completed, signed form must be emailed to Delphine, in Word format, by the deadline. A separate pdf of scanned signatures is acceptable.

Word limits

Our word limits are not flexible and exceeding these by any amount may result in your application being discounted.

Deadline

Applications must be submitted by 16:00 (UK time) on the day of the deadline. Any applications submitted after this time will not be considered. If you do not receive a confirmation of receipt within four hours of submitting your application, it might mean that your submission has not been successful. In this case, it is your responsibility to follow up with Delphine at Epilepsy Research UK (email , or telephone +44 (0)20 8747 5024), to check whether or not your application has been received.

Plain English summary

All applications must include a plain English summary, describing the work that you propose to do during your exchange, and how it will benefit your future research and epilepsy research in general. It may be helpful to imagine you are explaining your project to a journalist interested in epilepsy. Abbreviations and/or technical language should be re-written and generic statements about epilepsy should be avoided.

Approvals and licences

Details of any approvals (including ethics and NHS governance) or licences that are required for animal or clinical studies to be undertaken during the proposed exchange must be provided. If the application is successful, proof that these approvals are in place must be sent to Epilepsy Research UK before payment can be made.

ONCE A BURSARY HAS BEEN AWARDED

Start date

If your application is successful, you must begin your exchange no later than six months after the bursary award date.

Payment of bursary

Travel

Travel costs will be reimbursed by Epilepsy Research UK by direct bank transfer upon presentation of relevant receipts. Scanned copies of receipts can be sent via email to Delphine at Epilepsy Research UK ().

Accommodation

Hotel or University residence costs can be reimbursed retrospectively on a monthly basis by direct bank transfer, on presentation of relevant receipts. Alternatively, Epilepsy Research UK can arrange to pay rent directly to a landlord or letting agent on production of a contract.

Subsistence

The amount requested for subsistence in your application form (up to £25 per day, for a maximum of 60 days) will be transferred to your nominated bank account upon receipt of an email (to: ) from your host supervisor, stating that you have begun work at the host institution, and confirming the expected duration of the exchange.

Reporting

On completion of the exchange you must submit a detailed report using a form provided to you by Epilepsy Research UK, outlining the work that you have done and what you have gained from the experience. Your report must be received by Delphine at Epilepsy Research UK () no later than three months after the end date of the exchange.

Epilepsy Research UK – Application guidelines: Celine Newman Exchange Bursary 3