Derek Gray Distinguished Traveling Scholarship Award

STAY 2021 APPLICATIONS PERIOD NOW OPEN - DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: FEBRUARY 24, 2019

Dear Colleagues, IPITA is once again pleased to offer research fellows the opportunity to apply for the Derek Gray Distinguished Traveling Scholarship Award based upon demonstrated research merit and future potential for both scholarly academic research and a commitment to the training of research scientists in the fields of islet and/or pancreas transplantation. The $10,000 USD scholarship provides financial support to travel to two or more institutions across the world in order to broaden the laboratory-based research experience of the scholar during his/her formative research training. The recipient will also have the opportunity to learn from established laboratory investigators in the fields of islet and pancreas transplantation biology. Applicant Eligibility – The Traveling Scholarship will be awarded to a post-doctoral research fellow or trainee with a PhD, MD, or MD/PhD degree who demonstrates scientific merit and future potential for academic research and mentorship of trainees in the fields of islet and/or pancreas transplantation. The applicant will be judged solely on merit. An ideal candidate would be an individual who has not yet reached the level of Assistant Professor or an equivalent junior faculty position, and within 5 years of receiving their advanced degree. The applicant must have a trainee or full IPITA membership. If you wish to apply for the award, please complete the application online. Only online applications will be accepted.

Award Application

Background

Professor Derek Gray, Professor of Experimental Surgery at the University of Oxford, has made many contributions to the experimental islet transplantation literature advancing our scientific knowledge thereby providing an important framework for refining the clinical procedure. He has continually provided a stimulating research environment for many young students and trainees and encouraged them to pursue academic research careers in transplantation. As a strong proponent of pursuing the goal of perfecting islet transplantation, he has also worked tirelessly to promote the mission of the International Pancreas and Islet Transplantation Association (IPITA). Professor Gray has served the Association in the past as Councilor, and most recently, as Secretary. In recognition of his many contributions to our society and the field of islet transplantation, the IPITA is proud to announce the establishment of the Derek Gray Distinguished Traveling Scholarship Award.

Objective

Purpose/Description

To establish a biennial award competition for a Derek Gray Distinguished Traveling Scholarship Award to be awarded by IPITA to a single research fellow based upon demonstrated research merit and future potential for both scholarly academic research and a commitment to the training of research scientists in the fields of islet and/or pancreas transplantation.

To provide financial support to travel to 2 or more (suggested maximum 4) institutions across the world in order to broaden the laboratory-based research experience of the scholar during his/her formative research training, and to provide an opportunity to learn from established laboratory investigators in the field(s) of islet and pancreas transplantation biology. The award will be offered to one individual every 2 years (usually even numbered years to coincide with the “between meetings” year of the biennial IPITA meetings).

Amount

Applicant Eligibility

$10,000 paid in one installment to the Awardee’s institution. The funds are intended to support travel and living expenses incurred during the period of training at host institutions.

The Traveling Scholarship will be awarded to a research or post-doctoral fellow or trainee having a PhD, MD, or MD/PhD degrees who demonstrates scientific merit and future potential for academic research and mentorship of trainees in the fields of islet and/or pancreas transplantation. The applicant will be judged solely on merit. An ideal candidate would be an individual who has not yet reached the level of Assistant Professor or an equivalent entry-level independent faculty position, and would be within 5 years of having received their advanced degree. Applicants must hold trainee or regular IPITA membership.

Past Recipients

Raphael’s Experience after receiving the award: “At the 2015 IPITA-IXA-CTS Joint Congress in Melbourne, Australia I was awarded the Derek Gray Distinguished Travelling Scholarship. As a surgeon and post-doctoral scientist, I am involved in pancreas and human islet transplantation. My research focuses on analyzing the demographic, proteomic and genetic variables that influence islet graft outcomes. My other fields of research are encapsulated islet xenotransplantation, alternative sites for islet transplantation and stem cell-based immunomodulation. The award has proved invaluable and has provided me with the opportunity to visit world-leading centers and meet experts in the field of both pancreas and islet transplantation. I was able to visit the Transplant Surgery Department and human islet isolation facilities at the University of California, San Francisco and University of Wisconsin, USA, and the Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of Oxford, UK. My research and career have significantly benefitted from these visits. I am wholly grateful to IPITA for awarding me the scholarship. It has allowed me the opportunity to meet and learn from outstanding mentors and colleagues in the islet and pancreas transplantation field around the world." Raphael P.H. Meier, MD-PhD Transplant Surgery University Hospital of Geneva Switzerland

Sarah’s Experience after receiving the award: “At the 2013 IPITA congress in Monterey I was awarded the Derek Gray Distinguished Travelling Scholarship. As a post-doctoral scientist I am involved in human islet isolation and transplantation, and my research focuses on understanding the detailed structure of the pancreas, in particular the islet-exocrine interface and its digestion during the isolation procedure, in order to improve islet isolation outcomes. The award has proved invaluable and has provided me with the opportunity to visit world-leading centres and meet experts in the field of both islet transplantation and extracellular matrix biology. I was able to visit human islet isolation facilities at the University of Uppsala, Sweden, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston and the University of San Francisco, USA. My research has significantly benefitted from visiting the Wellcome Centre for Cell Matrix Research at the University of Manchester, UK. I am wholly grateful to IPITA for awarding me the scholarship. It has led to some excellent opportunities and has significantly helped further my scientific career.” Sarah Cross, PhD Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism University of Oxford