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The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) will award one ESC Basic Research Fellowship 2027 for a year of research in a European laboratory. The programme is open to cardiovascular researchers aged 40 or under. Scientists working in clinical medicine can also apply (escardio.org).
Who can apply
Applicants must be no older than 40 on the application deadline. They must be members of the ESC Council on Basic Cardiovascular Science.
Applicants must work in cardiovascular research and agree to spend a year at a host laboratory. The lab must be in Europe and must be different from their current laboratory.
Researchers choose their own topic and host laboratory. Preclinical research projects will receive preference.
What the fellowship supports
The fellowship allows researchers to spend one year at a European research laboratory. ESC awards one such fellowship per calendar year.
Preference will go to applicants who will learn new methods through the programme that will help them in their future careers. When choosing a lab, researchers should consider what they can learn there.
The application must explain how the applicant plans to use the funds and include a projected budget. Applicants must also commit to returning the grant to ESC if it is not used within nine months.
How to apply
- Choose a European laboratory and a research topic, then get a letter confirming that the lab agrees to host you.
- Describe the project’s aim, the methods you will use and the results you expect, and prepare a projected budget.
- Put the documents into a single PDF file to attach to the online application.
- Read the rules on how personal information is processed and sign in to your My ESC account.
- Go to New Grant Application, where you need to select Grant Applications, then Application form for the 2027 ESC Basic Research Fellowship.
- Complete the form and attach the PDF containing your documents.
ESC checks eligibility during the application process. Applicants who do not meet the formal requirements will not see the Basic Research Fellowship form.
Documents to prepare
The main document is a motivation letter of up to two pages. It must include:
- date of birth;
- details of your work in cardiovascular research;
- a description of the project’s aim;
- research methods;
- expected results;
- a plan for using the fellowship funds, with a projected budget;
- a commitment to return the grant if it is not used within nine months.
Attach a one-page CV with a list of publications. You will also need a letter of acceptance from the host institution and a letter of support from your current institution.
You must also provide a separate written commitment to present your results at the next Frontiers in CardioVascular Biomedicine scientific meeting.
How selection works
ESC selects one fellowship recipient each year. Applications are accepted from basic researchers and scientists working in clinical medicine. Preclinical projects receive preference.
Returning to a laboratory where you have already worked reduces your chances of receiving support. Applicants planning to return to a previous lab are unlikely to receive the fellowship unless there are exceptional circumstances.
What to check before applying
One important detail: the host laboratory must be different from your current one. Even if your project fits the research criteria, you still need to move for a year.
Check that your documents are complete. The motivation letter must include a budget and a commitment to return the funds, and the attachments must include both letters from the institutions.
To compare other programmes, see the ISN fellowship in nephrology and Swiss government scholarships.
The next step is to make arrangements with the host laboratory: its letter agreeing to host you is a required part of the application.
