ERN-RND resumes it’s Short Exchange Programme. The call for 2025 is now open.
Exchanges can be undertaken for hands-on-training purposes, meetings, workshops or complementary teaching purposes.
The evaluation and ranking of the received applications will be done by the ERN-RND Management Team.
The deadline for submission of applications is 31 March 2025. Please apply via the form at the bottom of this page.
Call specifics:
1)
Cross-border exchanges are preferred, but exchanges within one country are also possible
2)
Applications that are organised within ERN-RND are preferred, but applications from external institutions will be considered.
3)
Group applications (for example to discuss data or prepare a paper) are possible.
What it is about
The Exchange Programme 2025, co-funded by the European Commission, aims to support the sharing of knowledge and stimulate collaboration between health care professionals in European Reference Networks (ERNs).
Healthcare Professionals affiliated to ERN institutions (Full Members or Affiliated Partners) will receive organizational and financial support for secondments in ERN expert centers other than their home institution. The objective of the ERN-RND Exchange Programme is thereby to palliate specific knowledge or fill potential expertise gaps by facilitating the arrival of high-level expertise in a considerable number of diseases to a big number of Healthcare Providers.
Healthcare professionals can apply for interregional or international exchange. Exchanges can be undertaken for hands-on-training purposes, meetings, workshops or complementary teaching purposes. An exchange will only be funded for up to 10 working days. Co-, Double- and supplemental Fundings for the same exchange are impossible.
The next round of visits starts in spring 2025 and exchanges need to be completed until one year after exchange approval.
Exchanges can have any scope within the area of rare neurological diseases.
Who is eligible
Healthcare professionals across disciplines (e. g. neurologists, physiotherapists, nurses…) working in one of the ERN-RND Full Member or Affiliated Partner institutions can apply for funding of their exchange visit. Find a list of our members here.
About the course
- Applications can be submitted as of now and until 31 March 2025. We recommend to submit an application at least eight weeks prior to the planned secondment.
- They will be evaluated and ranked by the Management Team after closure of the application phase. Applications get accepted and confirmed upon the evaluation outcome.
- Afterwards, all necessities for stay and travel are finally organised, e.g. exchange logistics within host institution, ticket and accommodation bookings.
- The stay can last up to 10 working days (2 weeks). Exchanges longer than 10 working days are also possible in exceptional cases.
- A final report concludes the exchange completion and outcomes and legimitates fund transfer.
Experiences from previous exchanges
You can click through the comments of previous programme participants below.
Some participants can also be found on our ‘Meet the member’ page like Bélen from Vall d’Hebron University Hospital
Belén Pérez Dueñas
Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
The days I spent at the department have inspired me a lot. I have learnt from them how to improve our clinical and research work at Vall d’Hebron. Also remarkable were the educational and multidisciplinary sessions they organised for the best care of patients.
– Belén about her exchange to UMC Groningen, The Netherlands
The exchange was very successful. Besides the intense exchange of clinical expertise (with regard to ataxia and diagnostics / differential diagnoses in dizziness/vertigo), we were able to proceed in the analysis and manual segmentation of high and ultra-highfield MR, particularly the infratentorial structures. Further collaborations, particularly within the field of MR biomarker analysis are planned. The scientific impact was high and will result in established research collaborations.
– Lukáš about his exchange to University Hospital Bonn, Germany
Lukáš Martinkovič
Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
Clara Bernardini
University Hospital Pisa, Italy
Engaging with the professionals at my host center, who were extremely knowledgeable and supportive, was both enriching and highly stimulating. Additionally, being in a clinical setting different from my own and following the various steps of patient diagnosis and management allowed me to compare the knowledge I had acquired at my clinic with that of another specialized center in this field. I believe this experience is essential for acquiring the tools to comprehensively address these conditions.
– Clara about her exchange to Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
How does funding work
After confirmation of an estimated funding grant, participants need to book their travel and accommodation themselves and take care of any logistics surrounding the exchange. Accommodation, travel and subsistence costs are getting reimbursed after completion of exchange and submission of a concluding report. The reimbursement amount is determined by duration of stay (number of working days), host country and unit cost regulations of the European Commission (see Decision C(2021)35 or the download file in the Application Form)
Please note that the programme does not compensate the hosting institutions for any effort and expenses on their side.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted via the online application form which is open as of now until 31 March 2025.
They are getting reviewed, evaluated and ranked by the ERN-RND Management Team after the deadline. Confirmation takes up a few weeks.
A successful application contains:
- Your personal details and your home institution’s address
- Information about your host institution
- The period and duration of your exchange
- Motivation and objectives of your exchange
Contact
