Applications for the 2023 Du Pré Grants are now open.

For prospective 2023 applicants, please read this text before continuing:

We urge all applicants to consider their projects and hosts for the 2023 round. Finding a host can take several months. Please contact our research team to discuss the topic of your research proposal before you apply, using the contact us form, selecting “Research grants and awards”.

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Please do not use this contact form if you are not working in the field of multiple sclerosis. Only applications in the field of multiple sclerosis are considered. Please ensure you have read the full eligibility criteria on this page before enquiring.

What is the Du Pré Grant?

The MSIF Du Pré Grant enables multiple sclerosis researchers and clinicians from low- and middle-income countries to make short visits (up to six months) to established MS research centres, outside of their own country. *For 2023 we are open to applications for virtual or local projects to overcome the travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19.

During the visit or virtual project, participants either gain expertise or carry out parts of joint research projects. This benefits care for people with MS and supports collaborative research. Following the award, we expect applicants to use the newly developed expertise and networks, and continue MS research and/or clinical practice in low- and middle-income countries.

Visits may last between two and six months. Each grant is up to a maximum of £6,000 GBP, to cover the cost of travel and living expenses or to top up an existing grant to extend a visit. *For 2023 we are more flexible on the use of funds if virtual or local projects are proposed, but this must be agreed upon in the project proposal.

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Please note:

This is a joint application from the applicant and host. Before nomination, candidates need to have identified a suitable project and host supervisor at an institution outside of their own country.

*For 2023, the host can also be identified within the applicant’s home country or neighbouring countries (if travel laws allow it in the country), provided there are sufficient resources (e.g. equipment, reagents…) and mentorship as well as an opportunity to learn new expertise and techniques.

A project host must be agreed before commencing the application. The deadline for the host statement is the same as the entire application: 30 June, 2023.

Who is eligible?

All candidates must:

Be educated to post graduate level (at least MSc, but preferably PhD/MD) in an area relevant to multiple sclerosis (MS)
Be citizens of a low- or middle-income country (all countries with a low, lower middle or upper middle income as defined by the World Bank)
Focus their research proposal in an area relevant to multiple sclerosis

Candidates must also be in one of the following situations:

Working or studying in a low- or middle-income country (all countries with a low, lower middle or upper middle income as defined by the World Bank) at the time of nomination
Working or studying in another country on a project which started within the six months prior to nomination
Studying in another country on a project supported by an MS International Federation grant
Not been awarded a McDonald Fellowship previously. Those who previously have held a Du Pré grant are eligible to subsequently apply for a McDonald Fellowship, but not the other way round.

Candidates are expected to return to their own countries at the end of the study period where they will contribute to advancing care and research in MS. A strong plan of how to continue one’s work after the award has ended is recommended.

The grant may also be used as a supplement for work related to MS by a candidate who has been accepted for training in a recognised institute (within the six months prior to nomination) but who doesn’t have enough money to cover the total cost.

Candidates and Host supervisors are required to read and sign the Terms and Conditions of the award (see below).

Expanded eligibility criteria

The 2022 Du Pré Grant requirements for applicants have been amended. Due to travel restrictions we are considering alternative ways to carry out research projects, allowing flexibility around how the Du Pré Grants are spent, as well as when and where the project would be carried out.

We encourage potential applicants to think creatively together with their proposed hosts about potential solutions.

A project may be:
A) in a research institute/hospital abroad if travel permits (as in previous years)
B) in a research institute/hospital in your home country
C) a virtual project, either in full or in part with host institution mentoring

Projects are only accepted if risk of travel is low; the project can be carried out safely with minimal risk to the applicant; there are sufficient resources and supervision to allow the proposed project to take place; and the project demonstrates sufficient value to the applicant.

Application forms include a question asking the applicant to write a plan for how to conduct the work or a part of the work if unable to travel.

These conditions will only change for the 2023 Awards round.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our research team using the contact us form, selecting “Research grants and awards”.

How to apply:

Identify your project and field of interest.
Contact and agree project proposal with a host (project supervisor in a lab or clinic).
If you do not have a host, contact the research team for advice as soon as possible.
Applicant completes all sections of the online application form.
After Applicant submits, the Host is contacted to submit a supporting statement using the same application form
Applicant asks the two referees to send their reference letters to research{/at)}msif{.dot/}org well before 30 June deadline
Applicants must read the Terms and Conditions of the Award to understand requirements around reporting and payments.
Applicants should pay close attention to the lay summary of the application. Advice on how to write a lay summary can be found at the bottom of this page.

*The host supporting statement is filled in once the Applicant has submitted their application. The proposed host will then be emailed with instructions to fill in the supporting statement in the application form in text only.

What is the deadline?

The application deadline, including the online application form, reference letters, and supporting statement from the host, is 30 June 2023.

You must submit your application with sufficient time for the proposed host to read through your application and provide a supporting statement. Allow 2-4 weeks for your host to complete this. Equally, you must ask both your referees to send one reference letter each to research{at}msif{dot}org before the deadline. Applications will be rejected if host statement or references are not received before 30 June.

Deadline of application: 30 June
Deadline of Host Supporting Statement: 30 June
Deadline of References: 30 June

Applicants will be informed of their application’s outcome in October.

How are grants awarded?

MSIF’s Du Pré Grants panel, which includes scientists and people affected by MS, considers and selects successful candidates.

What evidence of results is needed?

At the end of the award period, we will require a short report and expenditure summary. Electronic copies of reports, papers, abstracts and posters resulting from the visit should also be submitted. Papers produced as a result of or in connection with Du Pré Grant-funded research should acknowledge the grant and include the address of the MS International Federation’s website: www.msif.org

Who do I contact?

For more information, including assistance with identifying possible host institutions, please contact our research team using the contact us form, selecting “Research grants and awards”.

Terms and Conditions

The Terms and Conditions of the Award must be agreed and signed by both the Award holder and the Host supervisor. The Du Pré Terms and Conditions can be found here.

Lay Summary

An integral component of the application is the 500-word lay summary.

Start your lay summary by introducing your topic of research and provide some background. Introduce what your research area is about, why it is important. Then explain the specific problem your research proposal aims to solve, e.g. a gap in the literature, a scientific conflict, etc. Finally, summarise what impact your research would have on people affected by MS.

Use simple language: Use simple, everyday language to explain your research proposal. Avoid using complicated words and phrases that may be difficult for a 12-year-old to understand. Words like “Remyelination, “demyelination”, “myelin” are not common words and should be explained.
Use concrete examples: Provide concrete examples to illustrate your research proposal. This will help the reader understand the research proposal more easily.
Use analogies: Use analogies to explain difficult concepts. For example, the brain and nerves can be compared to a computer with wires that are insulated by myelin, the plastic wrapping of electric cables.
Define technical terms: If you need to use technical terms, make sure to define them in simple language.
Keep it short and simple: Focus on the key points and avoid going into too much detail, but use all 500 words to your disposal. Try to capture the big picture.
Test it out: Before submitting your summary, test it out on a friend, family member, or colleague who is not educated in MS to see if they understand it. If not, make revisions until the summary is clear and easy to understand.
Feel free to share the lay summary with the MSIF research team before submitting. Contact details can be found inside the application form.

MISF 2023 Du Pré Grants for Multiple Sclerosis Researchers