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Scope of the call

This call is issued within the WWTF "Additional Measures" (“Ergänzende Instrumente”) specified in the WWTF Funding Guideline.  

This call is open to early-career ME/CFS researchers seeking to undertake a six-month research stay in Vienna or abroad. The ME/CFS Fellowship programme aims to strengthen the ME/CFS community by supporting excellent young scientists and promoting the exchange of expertise. 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.

Why ME/CFS?

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and poorly understood chronic disease. As part of the family of post-acute infectious diseases, it is characterised by a wide range of complex and serious, debilitating conditions with a variety of symptoms. This includes the cardinal symptom post-exertional malaise. Other symptoms like sleep dysfunction, pain, neurological/cognitive manifestations, as well as autonomic, immunological, and neuro-endocrinological symptoms are part of ME/CFS. Individuals with ME/CFS often do not return to pre-disease levels of activity. The cause of ME/CFS is currently unknown. ME/CFS affects individuals of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups. It is estimated that in Austria up to 80,000 patients suffer from ME/CFS, with women being more likely to be diagnosed than men.

The focus of this fellowship is on learning and exchange of techniques that advance the understanding of post-acute infectious diseases such as ME/CFS. However, grantees investigating other post-acute infectious diseases that show substantial post-exertional malaise in their phenotype are also eligible for funding. Please note that researchers solely addressing observational projects in clinical settings and health service research do not fit the scope of this call.

Phenotypic Characteristics

ME/CFS: The definition of ME/CFS must align with one or more of the following international consensus criteria:

Post-acute infectious diseases (PAIS): Other post-acute infectious diseases may also be investigated as part of the proposed fellowship. Recent research has shown significant overlap in the biological mechanisms between a wide range of post-acute infectious diseases. Early career researchers investigating other post-acute infectious diseases (e.g., long COVID) are therefore also eligible to apply for this fellowship . To be included in the scope of this call, the disease to be studied must meet the phenotypic criteria of post-exertional malaise as defined by one of the above-mentioned international consensus criteria.

ME/CFS Fellowship: What we expect

Early career researchers who wish to apply in this call must either: 1) be currently based at a university or non-university research institution in Vienna and seek to conduct a research stay outside of Austria; or 2) be currently based outside of Austria and seek to conduct a research stay at a university or non-university research institution in Vienna.

The aim of this call is to strengthen the ME/CFS research community globally, with a particular focus on Vienna. Through the fellowships, early career researchers should:

  • Develop core research and technical skills: Grantees should acquire broad and fundamental research training; e.g.: including designing, performing, and interpreting experiments, mastering associated experimental techniques, and developing strong foundations in experimental design, statistical methodology, and quantitative / qualitative reasoningreasoning.

  • Contribute to and learn from lab culture: Grantees should learn how to assess lab culture, understand the Host's mentorship and collaboration style, engage in community activities within and across ME/CFS labs and practice effective communicationcommunication.

  • Career development: Grantees should continue to develop essential professional skillsskills, likesuch as critical thinking, project management, communication, organization, and the ability to work independently and as part of adifferent team.teams. This includes receiving career guidance and developing a clear plan for their next career stage, which ultimately expands the scientific talent pool for ME/CFS research.

  • Broader Impact and Scientific Engagement: Grantees shouldare learnencouraged to think beyond the lab bench,bench and understand the contextbroader impact of their ME/CFS research research.

Important Technicalities

  • The overall duration is limited to 6 months:. If youapplicants planmust to deferdeviate from this timeframe, pleasethis indicatemust be indicated and argumentstrongly thisjustified in yourthe proposal.application. WeA highlyfellowship recommendduration staying forof 6 months.months is strongly recommended.

     

  • AllFellowships grantees shouldmust start their fellowship theat latest in June, 2026:2026. AtThis WWTF we have other, complementary activitiestimeline for ME/CFSstart streamlinedof with the ME/CFS Fellowship, so this timelinefellowships is mandatory for all granteesmandatory.

  • The fellowship contract will be signed between WWTF and the Viennese research institution of the outgoing/incoming grantee in Vienna:accordance thiswith is due to ourWWTF's funding guidelines and our role as local funder in Vienna. DetailsFore more details, please see here.

  • All applicants need tomust submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) from the dedicatedhost Host Lablab / Workingworking group: WeAll expectapplications allmust applicants to submitinclude a signed letter stating:from the host group, with the following information:

      • The nameName of the early career applicant
      • TheName name andof the responsible PI of the Hosthost Institutioninstitution
      • TheTimeframe dedicatedof timeframethe fellowship
      • The expectedExpected role of the applicant within the working group and 
      • The Host Lab / Working group's approach to mentorship and guidance for the duration of the fellowship
      • Signature of the host

Community Building 

Funded granteesfellows will beparticipate showcased viain WWTF and WE&ME public relationsrelation activities.activities to promote the outcomes of this call. This includes displayingfeaturing theresearch projects via respective websites,online, contributing to other multimedia activities and/or presentingpresentation theof their research work at stakeholder meetings relevant for making the outcomes of this call visible.relevant. To strengthen the ME/CFS research community, funded granteesfellows will also be invited to particpateparticipate in communityfurther actitivies.community-building activities.

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