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Call Facts

This is a call for early career ME/CFS researchers to conduct a six month research stay at a research organisation in Vienna or abroad.

Scope of the Call            
This call invites early career ME/CFS researchers to conduct a six months research stay in Vienna or abroad. The fellowshipsME/CFS aimFellowship programme aims to strengthen the ME/CFS community by supporting excellent young scientists, helping to accumulate expertise on ME/CFS within various research groups in Vienna. The programme provides a stipend for fellows to learn new methods and techniques in renowned laboratories in Vienna or abroad. The fellowship should help young researchers forge and strengthen international connections early in their career and enrich the ME/CFS research community in Vienna by allowing 

collaborative consortia to advance critical knowledge in post-acute infectious diseases, with particulartheir emphasis on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), through innovative projects that push the boundaries of current understanding in etiopathogenesis, diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions. We seek novel research approaches that address unexplored questions in the field, building strategically upon promising preliminary findings from the first round of WWTF funding, while integrating experimental and clinical methodologies through interdisciplinary teams. Successful proposals must demonstrate meaningful partnerships between researchers, patient representatives, and relevant stakeholders, with particular encouragement for interdisciplinary collaborations that leverage diverse scientific expertise to tackle complex research challenges. While ME/CFS represents a primary focus area, this call recognizes the broader landscape of post-acute infectious diseases, welcoming projects that investigate other conditions within this complex disease cluster that feature post-exertional malaise as a key symptom, with the ultimate goal of accelerating breakthrough discoveries that will improve patient outcomes and advance scientific understanding of these challenging conditions.expertise.

Who can apply?
  • PreviouslyEarly fundedcareer Principalresearchers Investigatorsstarting at PhD level (PI)exceptions andcan Co-PIsbe made (WWTFfor ME/CFSoutstanding Call 2024 - Understanding ME/CFS Call)
  • Core research team up to threeyoung researchers already showing academic success at an earlier stage of education)
  • The coordinating PIapplicants must be basedbased/will be hosted at a university or non-university research institution in Vienna
    •  
  • Co-PIs may be based outside of Vienna (funding limited to 30% of the overall budget)
Project Duration
  • 24 – 486 months
Funding             
  • Call volume: € 1,6 million200.000
  • ProjectFellowship budget: €up 500,000 -to € 800,40.000 per person
  • Personnel and non-personnel costs can be claimed
  • Max. 40%30% non-personnel costs
  • Project partners outside of Vienna may receive up to 30% of the total budget
  • Up to 20%No overhead costs
Timeline            
  • Proposal deadline:Deadline: JuneFebruary 23rd,3rd, 2026, 2pm CET 
  • Expected funding decision: October,late March, 2026
  • ProjectFellowship start:should start the latest January,in 2027June, 2026
Process
  • International Jury
  • International peer-review
  • Application via WWTF Funding Portal

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