For further information Contact Dhia Chandraratna International Medical & Scientific Research Officer. 2008 McDonald Fellowship Information for Candidates.pdf (48 kb) Promotional posters for use by university departments and research institutions: 2008 MSIF Research Awards Poster

The MSIF Ian McDonald Fellowship, known as the McDonald Fellowship, was established in 2007 to honour the memory of Professor Ian McDonald, a world leader in MS research and former Chairman of MSIF’s International Medical and Scientific Board (IMSB).

Prof McDonald had a monumental impact on MS research, treatment and understanding, providing invaluable breakthroughs in the field.

Prof McDonald also gave hours of time and expertise to MSIF. He was a member of MSIF’s IMSB from 1980 and its Chairman from 1999 to 2003. He was also the driving force behind the development of the MSIF project, the Sylvia Lawry Centre for MS Research, inspiring others to give their time, energy and funds to this vital undertaking.

Further information on Professor McDonald's achievements.

The McDonald Fellowship was formerly the Du Pré Fellowship.

Fellowship

• MSIF offers a number of McDonald Fellowships annually to young and talented researchers generally, but not exclusively, from emerging countries.
• The Fellowship enables the recipient to work with the world's leading researchers in MS with a view to returning to their own country to establish a programme of MS research that involves the application of the newly learned techniques.
• The Fellowship consists of a two year grant, in the region of UK£25,000 per year, to cover travel and living costs, and an additional contribution of UK£2,000 per year to the host institution.

Eligibility

• Candidates must be citizens of an ‘emerging country’*.
• Candidates must be working or studying in an emerging country* at the time of nomination OR working or studying in another country on a project which commenced within the 6 months prior to nomination.
• The candidate’s focus of research should be in one of the areas of neuroscience appropriate to MS.
• Before nomination, candidates need to have identified a suitable project and discussed their involvement with the project supervisor of the institution.
• It is anticipated that the award may be seen as a contribution to the country from which the candidate comes, as a step toward establishing greater expertise in MS research in that country.
• The Fellowship may also be used as a supplement for work related to MS by a candidate who has been accepted for training in a recognised institute (within the 6 months prior to nomination) but for whom there are insufficient funds available to cover the total cost.
• The research should be in an area that makes it likely that the studies and expertise can be transferred in the candidate’s home country.

Nomination of Candidates

University departments must nominate a candidate. This nomination should include:

• A letter from the candidate detailing their reasons for nomination.
• A signed letter from the candidate’s current supervisor supporting the nomination.
• The candidate's curriculum vitae clarifying his or her previous experience.
• Testimonies (references) from at least two people with whom he or she has worked.
• A description of the field of research that the candidate wishes to be trained in or the research project that he or she wishes to carry out. This should be written by the applicant and should be a maximum of four A4 pages including the background to project, aims and methodology to be used. A list of references should be added as an appendix which may also include figures.
• A signed letter of support from the project supervisor of the host institution, indicating that appropriate facilities will be made available. The letter should be on institution-headed notepaper.
• A one-page statement as to what the future plans of the candidate might be when he or she returns to their country of origin.

2008 McDonald Fellowship Nomination Form

Deadline

The deadline for nominations is 30 June 2008

Selection

The members of the MSIF IMSB Executive Committee consider and select successful candidates.

Fellowship recipient(s) will be announced the week commencing
6 October 2008

Evidence of Results

MSIF requires a short report at the end of the first year of the Fellowship. Second year funding is dependent on the submission of this report.

Upon completion of the Fellowship, a final report is required. This should detail:

• What the recipient has gained from the Fellowship
• Their achievements in the project field
• The particular area of expertise which is being transferred back to the country of origin

2007 McDonald Fellowship Recipients

In its inaugural year MSIF awarded five McDonald Fellowships. Read more about the young researchers from Argentina, Brazil, Romania, Spain and Thailand who will spend two years studying and working in the world’s leading MS research centres in Australia, Italy, the UK and USA.

Du Pré Fellowship

Jacqueline du Pré, born in Oxford, England in 1945, is acknowledged as one of the greatest cellists who ever lived. Throughout her career she performed with prestigious orchestras and soloists all over the world. In particular, her recording of the Elgar concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1965, aged only 20 years old, brought her international recognition.

In 1973, at the age of 28, Jacqueline du Pré was diagnosed with MS. She continued to perform and to teach, and even had James D Wolfensohn, a former Chairman of MSIF and former President of the World Bank, as a student. In 1987, 14 years after being diagnosed, Jacqueline du Pré died at the age of 42.

In honour of Jacqueline du Pré’s life and work, MSIF established the Du Pré Fellowship to support young and talented researchers from emerging countries. Between 1985-2005 eight researchers were awarded the Fellowship.

Past Du Pré Fellowship Recipients

Dr Marcelo Matiello from Brazil received the Du Pré Fellowship in 2005 and Dr Natalia Nikolaeva from Russia in 1999.

Past Recipients of the Du Pré Fellowship