Global MS research fellowships

A selection of fellowships and grants that MSIF members and partners offer to MS researchers around the world

Last updated: 11th May 2022

There are many fellowships and grants available around the world to individuals specifically for conducting research into multiple sclerosis. This page lists fellowships from MS organisations as well as some from MS centres and research institutions.

MSIF

Fellowships/grants for researchers from low and middle income countries to undertake placements anywhere in the world: find out more about our McDonald fellowships and Du Pre grants.

Australia: MS Australia

All Awards can be found here.

MS Australia Project Grants

MS Australia Postdoctoral Fellowship

MS Australia Postgraduate Scholarships

Incubator Grant

Fellowships open to Australian and New Zealand Citizens or Australian Permanent residents only.

Canada: MS Society of Canada

Fellowships offered regardless of citizenship as long as the studies are carried out in Canada. Fellowships also offered to Canadians/ permanent residents to do fellowships outside of Canada.

endMS postdoctoral fellowships
$41,000 per year (or $50,500 per year for those with an MD) for a maximum of 3 years
endMS doctoral studentships
$22,000 per year (or $50,500 per year for those with an MD) for a maximum of 4 years
endMS Masters studentship awards
$20,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years

For details see: https://beta.mssociety.ca/information-for-researchers/funding-opportunities/endms-research-and-training-network-awards-and-programs

France: ARSEP

Open to citizens from around the world, projects may take place outside of France as long as they are integrated into a multicenter project including at least one French team with a major role in the project.

For investigator-initiated support requests, no topic restrictions are imposed, other than the required demonstration of relevance to Multiple Sclerosis.

ARSEP supports 4 types of proposal

Fellowship
To fund a doctoral or post-doctoral candidate in studies related to MS, with salaries of € 35 000 for a doctoral fellowship and € 57 000 for a post-doctoral fellowship available.
Research grant
€ 50,000 is available to fund a project including laboratory expenses, equipment and access to a technology platform, with the possibility to use a third of a grant to fund a a technician.
Research grant + Fellowship
To support a Research grant AND a doctoral or post-doctoral fellow to work on this project.
Working visits
To facilitate exchanges between clinical centres and/or laboratories involved in MS. Travel may be within, to, or from France. It is primarily aimed at clinicians, researchers or technicians wishing to undertake a period of training in an area relating to MS at a different location from their current institution. € 6,000 can be requested to cover travel and accommodation for visits of up to 6 months.

For more details, including deadlines, regulations and eligibility, and the application process please see: https://www.arsep.org/fr/220-calls-for-proposals.html

Italy: Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla

Fellowships open to all citizens to conduct research in an Italian institution or to Italian Citizens to conduct research abroad.

Research fellowships
For young motivated researchers to out significant and independent research into MS. Fellowship is for up to 2 years and offers €24,000pa for fellowships used in Italy, and €33,000-38,000 (depending on the hosting country) for those used abroad.
Senior research fellowships
For graduates able to formulate and carry out an autonomous research project. Offered for a maximum term of three years with the possibility of renewal for a further period of two years, at €32,000pa for fellowships used in Italy, and €40,000-45,000pa for those used abroad (depending on the hosting country)
Rita Levi Montalcini career fellowship
3 year fellowship to enhance the career of Italian scientists, selected and assessed exclusively on the basis of excellence and independence criteria. Intended to help bring qualified Italian researchers back from abroad or transferring qualified researchers from one institution to another in Italy

For more details see: http://allegati.aism.it/manager/trackdoc.asp?file=/manager/UploadFile/2/20150323_991_ricerca.pdf&open=1

Netherlands: Stichting MS Research

4 year research fellowship
For postdoctoral researchers or medical doctors employed by a Dutch institution. Up to €430,000 over 4 years.
Global MS Research Booster Award
The Global MS Research Booster Award is a novel personal grant for researchers worldwide who aim to identify the cause(s) of multiple sclerosis (MS). The awards are up to €140.000 for researchers in the Netherlands and up to €180.000 for researchers in other countries to fund a two-year MS research project.
Gemmy & Mibeth Tichelaar Award
The Gemmy & Mibeth Tichelaar Award is a personal grant for Dutch researchers who aim to identify the cause(s) of multiple sclerosis (MS). Up to €60,000 over 1 year. One offered every 2 years.
Monique Blom-de Wagt Grant
Working visit for researchers employed by a Dutch institution to spend up to 6 months for fundamental MS-research. Up to €20.000 euro per year for one or more visits.
Working visits
For researchers employed by a Dutch institution to spend up to 6 months doing research abroad. Up to €3000. Two offered per year.

For more details see http://msresearch.nl/onderzoekssubsidies

UK: UK MS Society

Fellowships for researchers enrolled in UK institutions to perform studies in the UK only.

Project grant
Innovative award
MS Society PhD Studentship
MS Society Junior Fellowship (Care & Services research only)
MRC-MS Society Career Development Award
MRC-MS Society Clinical Research Training Fellowship
Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowships
2 fellows (1 biomedical and 1 care and services)

For more details see https://www.mssociety.org.uk/ms-research/for-researchers/types-of-grants#phd

USA: National MS Society

For all Awards follow this link.

Some fellowships offered to non US citizens to work in USA and others that require US citizenship or residency (for working in USA or abroad).

Sylvia Lawry physician fellowship
$65,000 a year for 2-3 years to train young doctors to conduct MS clinical trials. Applicant must have completed a neurology residency in the US and be licensed to practice medicine in the US.
NMSS-AAN MS clinician scientist development award
$75,000+ a year for 3 years. Applicant must have completed a neurology residency in the US and be licensed to practice medicine in the US.
Postdoctoral fellowship
Salary plus institutional allowance for 1-3 years. Available to non US citizens. US citizens may train abroad.
Career transition fellowship
Up to 5 years. Available to non US citizens training at a US institution. US citizens may train abroad.
Harry Weaver scholar award
Salary and limited research support for 5 years. Applicant must be early in a faculty position at a US institution.

USA: American Academy of Neurology

Clinical Research Training Fellowship in Multiple Sclerosis

EUROPE: ECTRIMS

ECTRIMS offers a comprehensive range of fellowship programmes for researchers/clinicians to undertake placements in Europe. Please click here for an overview of ECTRIMS fellowships as well as information on the application process. An ECTRIMS fellowship provides you the resources, support and professional network to pursue your career in the MS field.

Postdoctoral research fellowship exchange programme
For young neuroscientists (an MD, PhD, ScD or equivalent professional degree) to facilitate their conduct of and training in basic, clinical or applied research related to multiple sclerosis (MS). €55,000 for 1-2 years.
ECTRIMS multiple sclerosis clinical training fellowship programme
For neurologists and other physicians who wish to enhance their skills in MS patient management and care and foster their careers as MS physicians. Available for 3, 6 or 12 months, must be under the direction of a senior clinical mentor at a European MS clinic and/or MS research center. Fellows may come from any location but priority will be given to candidates from developing countries. A stipend of €13,700 (3 month), €27,500 (6 month) €55,000 for a 1 year training program provided.
ECTRIMS multiple sclerosis nurse training fellowship programme
For qualified/licensed European nurses to provide the opportunity to obtain additional expertise through practical nursing experience and training in a mentored MS environment in Europe. The training period must be for a minimum of 6 months or up to one year in duration.
ECTRIMS-MAGNIMS fellowship in magnetic resonance imaging in MS
To foster the development of young researchers in the field of MS by supporting their work on scientific projects at renowned host institutions within the MAGNIMS network in Europe. Duration of 1 year, with an annual stipend of up to €55,000.

MENA region: MENACTRIMS

As part of MENACTRIMS’s commitment to support and expand MS research across the Middle East & North Africa region, they fund two Research Grants per year, of up to US$20,000. The research must be conducted in a country in the MENA region, and potential research areas include: Potential research areas that will be funded through the MENACTRIMS Research Grant will include; MS risk factors, epidemiology, natural history and other relevant topics to clinical practice in the MENA region. Read more here, as well as accessing full eligibility criteria.