Serbian Clinical Immunology Fund
Funds of up to £3000 will support clinical immunology initiatives between Newcastle, UK and Serbia.
Applications to the Lilic-Abinun fund are now open. They will enable and enhance the practice of clinical immunology in Serbia. Topics covered include:
- adult and paediatric clinical immunology
- clinical immunology diagnostic services
- clinical immunology research
Proposals
Project proposals or educational activities should support the reciprocal exchange of:
- knowledge
- visits
- interactions
- forging of contacts
This exchange is between candidates from Serbia and candidates from Newcastle, UK.
We give special consideration to projects promoting collaboration of clinical immunology. This includes aspects such as:
- clinical
- diagnostic
- research
Proposals from Serbia-based candidates coming to Newcastle
- candidates (including doctors, nurses, technicians etc) attending as visiting clinical observers
- candidates visiting clinical diagnostic laboratories to acquire new skills
- candidates participating in ongoing research projects relating to primary immune deficiencies
- acquiring equipment for the advancement of research in Serbia
- attending educational events with participation of Newcastle University
Proposals from Newcastle-based candidates going to Serbia
- organising workshops and training courses in Serbia
- organising standardisation procedures and promoting accreditation of clinical and laboratory services in Serbia
- candidates from Newcastle taking part in ongoing research projects in Serbia
Awards
Candidates can apply for sums of up to £3000. Projects run for up to six months. The support and duration are flexible but must be justified in the project proposal. Possible changes are at the discretion of the selection panel.
Candidates
Eligible candidates include medical staff, clinical scientists and academics working in clinical immunology. Candidates should prioritise primary immune deficiencies but should not exclude other areas of clinical immunology.
Candidates should be:
- Serbian or UK nationals or residents
- working in Serbia or Newcastle
- proposing to work with host institutions in the alternate location
There is no age restriction, but candidates already established in their field will have preference.
Host institutions
Applicants must have been in contact with their proposed host organisation. They must also have an agreement in principle support the proposal.
Newcastle
Newcastle's host institutions include the University's Faculty of Medical Sciences. Linked NHS Teaching Hospitals in Newcastle and the North East are also involved.
Serbia
Serbia's host institutions include medical faculties at accredited universities. They also include linked teaching hospitals throughout Serbia, in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis, and Kragujevac.
Candidates should complete the online application form.
Applicants will need:
- details of the host organisation
- a named sponsor from the organisation
- a letter of support from the host
- letter of support from the applicant's home institution
- their latest CV
- project proposal, no more than 1000 words. This must include defined aims, objectives and outcome measures
- statement of anticipated impact for the advancement of clinical immunology, no more than 200 words
- detailed justification of funds requested, no more than 500 words
Within six months of project completion you will submit a final report to the Selection Panel and Host Institution. They will assess the report against anticipated objectives and outcomes. The report will become accessible on this website.
The award selection panel contains members from the Newcastle host institutions including:
- adult and paediatric clinical immunologists
- clinical scientists in diagnostic laboratories relevant to clinical immunology
- scientists and academics conducting research in the field of clinical immunology
Associate Professors Desa Lilic and Mario Abinun are medical doctors. They graduated at Belgrade and Sarajevo University respectively in the former Yugoslavia.
Both focused their clinical and research interests on immunology. They were active participants of the prestigious Yugoslav Immunology Society. They were also founding members of the European Society for Immune Deficiency.
Professor Abinun and his team conducted the first bone marrow transplantation in a child with severe combined immune deficiency. This was back in 1990 in the former Yugoslavia and Professor Lilic and her team prepared the bone marrow.
In 1992, both came to Newcastle, UK. Professor Abinun came to the newly-opened NHS paediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit.
Professor Lilic established her research group at Newcastle University. She also set up Clinical Immunology Diagnostic Laboratories at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and University Hospital of North Durham.
She established specialised Candidiasis clinics at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. The clinics focus on patients with Chronic Candidiasis, a topic prominent in her academic research.