McDonald Fellowships

The next McDonald Fellowship application round will be in 2028. There will be no application round for 2027. For questions about future opportunities, please contact fellowships@msif.org

What is the McDonald Fellowship?

The McDonald Fellowship enables early career multiple sclerosis researchers from low- and middle-income countries to work in a research institution outside of their own country. During the visit, participants either gain expertise or carry out parts of joint research projects.

Following the award, we expect applicants will be able to use the newly developed expertise and networks, continuing to undertake MS research and/or patient care in low- and middle-income countries.

Fellowship projects that focus on topics with clear benefits for people with MS in low- and middle-income countries will be prioritised.

The fellowship payment is a two-year grant, consisting of 55,000 EUR per year, paid to the host institution and then used to pay the fellow. 

One Fellowship is awarded in partnership with ECTRIMS and is known as the MSIF-ECTRIMS McDonald Fellowship. This Fellowship funds candidates undertaking their project in Host Institutions in Europe only.

Another Fellowship is awarded in partnership with MSIF’s member organisation, France Sclerose En Plaques (FranceSEP). This is known as the MSIF-FRANCESEP McDonald Fellowship.

The recipients of the previous McDonald fellowships can be found here.

Who is eligible?

All candidates must:

• Be educated to post graduate level (at least MSc, preferably PhD/MD) in an area relevant to multiple sclerosis.
• Have had fewer than 5 years postdoctoral research experience. Career breaks and additional circumstances that may have affected/delayed your research career will be taken into account.
• Be citizens of a low- or middle-income country (all countries with a low, lower middle or upper middle income as defined by the World Bank)
• Be working or studying in a low- or middle-income country at the time of application OR working or studying in another country on a project which started within the six months prior to application.

Those who have previously held an MSIF Du Pré grant are eligible to subsequently apply for a McDonald Fellowship.

The McDonald fellowship may also be used to part fund a PhD programme, where the candidate has already been accepted for the PhD programme in a recognised institute (within the six months prior to application) but who doesn’t have enough funding to cover the total cost.

What type of research project is eligible?

The proposed research must be relevant to multiple sclerosis. If there is an element of the research involving related conditions (such as NMOSD or MOGAD), it is essential that you explain the relevance of the research to understanding MS.

Host institutions

This is a joint application from the applicant and host. Before applying, candidates need to have identified a suitable project and host supervisor at an institution outside of their own country.

A project host must be agreed before commencing the application.

Terms and Conditions

If successful, candidates and Host supervisors will be required to read and sign the Terms and Conditions of the award.

The McDonald Fellowship should start within 12 months of being awarded the funding.

How to apply

Apply through the application website (a link to the online application portal will be made available when the 2028 round opens).

• Identify your host supervisor and project or topic of interest.
• Agree the project proposal with your host supervisor.
• Complete all sections of the online application form. Pay close attention to the lay summary of the application. Advice on how to write a lay summary can be found at the bottom of this page.
• After you submit all your sections of the application, your host supervisor is contacted to submit a supporting statement using the same application form. Applications must be submitted with sufficient time for the proposed host to read through your application and provide a supporting statement before the deadline.
• Ask two referees (different people to the host supervisor) to send reference letters to MSIF before the deadline.
• Please ensure you read the Terms and Conditions of the Award to understand requirements around reporting and payments.

How are Fellowships awarded?

MSIF’s McDonald Fellowship panel, which includes scientists, clinicians and people affected by MS from different parts of the world, considers and selects successful candidates.

What evidence of results is needed?

A short report must be submitted at the end of the first year of the fellowship. Second-year funding depends on the submission of this report. Upon completion of the fellowship, a final report and expenditure summary is required. Electronic copies of reports, papers, abstracts and posters resulting from the visit should also be submitted. Papers produced as a result of or in connection with McDonald Fellowship-funded research should acknowledge the fellowship and include the address of the MS International Federation’s website: www.msif.org

Support from organisations

We are grateful to our partner organisations ECTRIMS and FRANCESEP. Without their support, these awards would not be possible.

More information about ECTRIMS can be found here: ECTRIMS
More information about FranceSEP can be found here: FranceSEP

What is the lay summary?

An integral component of the application is the 500-word lay summary.

Start your lay summary by introducing your topic of research and provide some background. Introduce what your research area is about, why it is important. Then explain the specific problem your research proposal aims to solve, e.g. a gap in the literature, a scientific conflict, etc. Finally, summarise what impact your research would have on people affected by MS.

Use simple language: Use simple, everyday language to explain your research proposal. Avoid using complicated words and phrases that may be difficult for a 12-year-old to understand. Words like “Remyelination, “demyelination”, “myelin” are not common words and should be explained.

Use concrete examples: Provide concrete examples to illustrate your research proposal. This will help the reader understand the research proposal more easily.

Use analogies: Use analogies to explain difficult concepts. For example, the brain and nerves can be compared to a computer with wires that are insulated by myelin, the plastic wrapping of electric cables.

Define technical terms: If you need to use technical terms, make sure to define them in simple language.

Keep it short and simple: Focus on the key points and avoid going into too much detail, but use all 500 words to your disposal. Try to capture the big picture.

Test it out: Before submitting your summary, test it out on a friend, family member, or colleague who is not educated in MS to see if they understand it. If not, make revisions until the summary is clear and easy to understand.