European Society Of Endocrinology
Charity Number: 1123492
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Quick Stats
- Annual Membership: 3,500+ direct members (20,000+ through affiliated societies)
- Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
- Decision Time: Varies by programme; typically notified after application deadline closes
- Grant Range: €400 - €3,000
- Geographic Focus: European (members only)
- Charity Number: 1123492
Contact Details
Website: www.ese-hormones.org
Email: info@ese-hormones.org
Phone: 0117 440 6489
Address: Bristol, United Kingdom
Overview
The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) was established as a registered charity (1123492) and company limited by guarantee to promote research, education, and clinical practice in endocrinology for the public benefit. With over 3,500 direct members and representing more than 20,000 endocrinologists through national affiliated societies, ESE provides grants exclusively to its members to make education opportunities accessible and ease the financial burden of attending events and training for endocrinologists at every stage of their career. In 2023, the organization underwent digital transformation with a new website and association management system, and the team grew to 19 people representing 7 countries across Europe. ESE's funding focuses on supporting conference attendance, training programmes, examinations, and observership exchanges rather than independent research grants.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
Meeting Grants: €400 each (rolling basis, online application)
- 100 grants available annually to ESE members for attending the European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE), ESE Postgraduate Training Course, ESE Summer School, or EYES Annual Meeting
- For Early Career Members or Members from low/middle income countries
- Can be used for travel, accommodation, or registration
- Paid post-event upon receipt of expense claim and supporting documentation
Basic Science Meeting Grants: €400 each (deadline: 19 March 2025 for ECE)
- 100 grants available to ESE members working in basic research
- Contribution towards attending ECE
- Applicant must be presenting author of accepted abstract
- Not available to those fully funded by industry
EYES Research Observership Programme (ROP): €1,000 each (annual deadline)
- Three observerships funded annually for one-month stays
- For early career investigators doing basic or translational research
- Must be fully paid current ESE Member
- Applicant must have published at least one paper indexed in Current Contents
EYES Clinical Observership Programme (COP): €1,000 each (annual deadline)
- For internal medicine and/or endocrinology/diabetology trainees
- Must be fully paid current ESE Member
- Requires at least one published paper indexed in Current Contents
EYES Advanced Research Observership Programme (A.R.O.P): Up to €3,000 each (annual deadline)
- For stays of up to three months
- For experienced basic and translational scientists/clinicians
- Must be fully paid current ESE Member
Examination Grants: €425 (50% of registration fee, rolling basis)
- Limited number available to ESE members in 'in-training' or 'reduced rate' categories
- For taking the European Board Examination in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Applied as direct reduction of exam registration fee
Patient Advocacy Group (PAG) Grants: €400 each
- For ESE Affiliated Patient Advocacy Group Members
- Contribution towards cost of one official attending ECE
ESE-SEEDER-EU Programme: Consultancy support (not financial)
- Provides consulting time from European research funding expert
- Helps with grant selection and writing for major EU funding schemes (Horizon Europa, Marie Sklodowska Curie, EU4Health, etc.)
- Covers areas like navigating EU funding landscape, understanding calls, consortium composition
- No financial transaction; consulting time only
Priority Areas
- Supporting endocrinologists at all career stages to attend ESE conferences and training events
- Enabling early career investigators to undertake observerships in leading European endocrinology centres
- Facilitating basic and translational research collaboration through exchange programmes
- Supporting members taking professional examinations in endocrinology
- Patient advocacy group participation in ESE activities
- Consultancy support for accessing major European research funding
What They Don't Fund
- Non-members
- Independent research projects not connected to ESE activities
- Delegates fully funded by industry for Meeting Grants
- Salary costs or institutional overheads
- General organizational running costs
- Retrospective funding (grants paid post-event with receipts)

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Governance and Leadership
Current Officers (2025)
President: Professor Wiebke Arlt (UK), serving 2025-2027
President-Elect: Professor Mirjam Christ-Crain (Switzerland), appointed May 2025, will become President in May 2027
Treasurer: Dr Sebastian Neggers (Netherlands), serving 2024-2027
Chief Executive Officer: Helen Gregson (UK)
Director of Strategic Partnerships: Dirk De Rijdt (Belgium)
The Executive Committee governs ESE, with the Officers Executive Board (President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, CEO, and Director of Strategic Partnerships) meeting regularly to ensure effective management. Executive Committee members serve four-year terms, with Treasurer and Secretary positions potentially extended for up to two years. The President-Elect serves two years before becoming President for a further two years.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
Meeting Grants, Basic Science Meeting Grants, and Observership Programmes:
- Log in to “My ESE” membership portal
- Access personalized grant application form
- Must be fully paid-up ESE Member before applying
- Online submission only
Examination Grants:
- Applications considered by ESE Executive Committee
- Successful applicants receive unique link to pay examination at reduced rate
- Grant applied as automatic reduction of registration fee
ESE-SEEDER-EU Programme:
- Apply through ESE for consulting time with European funding expert
- No financial transaction involved
Decision Timeline
Meeting Grants: Applicants notified as soon as possible after applications close and have been reviewed
Examination Grants: Notification as soon as possible after application deadline; Treasurer's decision is final
Observership Programmes: Annual call with specific deadline; winners announced in advance of planned observership dates (e.g., 2025 winners announced for observerships throughout the year)
ECE Congress Grants: Abstract submission deadline 22 January 2024 (for ECE 2024); grant application deadline 19 March 2025 (for ECE/Joint Congress 2025); notification before Early Bird Registration Deadline
Success Rates
Success rates and application statistics are not publicly disclosed by ESE. However, specific numbers are mentioned for certain programmes:
- 100 Meeting Grants available annually
- 100 Basic Science Meeting Grants available annually
- Three standard EYES Observership Programmes (ROP) funded annually
- Multiple Advanced Research Observerships awarded (2025: 5 funded plus 6 self-funded awardees)
- Limited number of Examination Grants (specific number not disclosed)
The competitive nature of grants is emphasized in application guidance.
Reapplication Policy
ESE's reapplication policy is not explicitly stated in public documentation. However, one key restriction is noted:
- Members can only be awarded one ESE Meeting Grant per calendar year (either a Meeting Grant OR a Basic Science Meeting Grant, not both)
For unsuccessful applicants wishing to reapply to the same or different programmes, specific policies are not publicly available and would require direct contact with ESE.
Application Success Factors
Key Requirements
Membership: All grants require current, fully paid-up ESE membership before application. Membership categories include Student, Early Career, Full Member, and Reduced Rate (for low/middle income countries per World Bank classification).
Abstract Presentation: Meeting Grants and Basic Science Meeting Grants require being the presenting author of an accepted abstract at the congress.
Publication Record: EYES Observership Programmes (COP and ROP) require at least one paper published and indexed in Current Contents.
Career Stage Alignment: Many grants target specific career stages (Early Career, in-training, etc.). Ensure your career stage matches eligibility criteria.
Industry Funding: Meeting Grants explicitly exclude those fully funded by industry.
Supporting Documentation: Post-event grants require expense claim forms with supporting receipts.
Advice from the Funder
From research guidance materials: “Applicants are encouraged to read the guidance carefully in advance, to be specific and detailed when answering questions on the application form and to seek advice and feedback from colleagues before submitting the final application, as these grants are highly competitive.”
Recent Examples
2025 EYES Observership Programme Winners included:
- Karel David (Belgium) - visiting Institut Cochin, Paris
- Elizabeth Nowak (Germany) - attending SEMPR, University of Curitiba, Brazil
- Magdalena Zgliczynska (Poland) - visiting University of Turin, Italy
- Rosa Catalano (Italy) - visiting University Hospital Würzburg, Germany
- Cem Sulu (Turkey) - visiting Queen Mary University of London
Winners demonstrated clear plans for observerships at prestigious European endocrinology centres with established mentors.
Tips for Standing Out
- Join ESE Early: Ensure membership is fully paid before application deadlines
- Submit Quality Abstracts: For conference grants, abstract quality determines eligibility and demonstrates research merit
- Build Publication Record: For observership programmes, published work indexed in Current Contents is mandatory
- Identify Strong Mentors: Observership applications require established mentor relationships at host institutions
- Submit Complete Documentation: Post-event grants require expense claims with receipts; incomplete submissions delay payment
- One Grant Per Year: Strategically choose which ESE Meeting Grant best supports your development since only one is allowed annually
- Leverage ESE-SEEDER-EU: Use consultancy support to improve applications for major European research funding schemes
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Members Only: ESE grants are exclusively for ESE members; external organizations and non-members cannot apply
- Career Development Focus: All grants support professional development, training, conference attendance, and exchanges rather than independent research projects
- Small Grant Amounts: Most grants are modest (€400-€1,000), with observership grants up to €3,000; these are contributions, not full funding
- Competitive but Accessible: With 100 Meeting Grants and 100 Basic Science Grants available annually, reasonable chances for eligible members who meet criteria
- Post-Event Payment: Most grants are reimbursement-based, requiring upfront payment by applicant with post-event claims submission
- Abstract Quality Matters: Conference attendance grants require accepted abstract presentations, making research quality essential
- Strategic Timing: Plan membership renewal and abstract submissions to align with grant deadlines; grants cannot be awarded retrospectively
- Not for General Grant Seekers: This funder supports only endocrinology professionals who are ESE members for their career development; not suitable for general charity applications or external organizational funding
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References
- European Society of Endocrinology website: www.ese-hormones.org
- ESE Grants and Awards page: https://www.ese-hormones.org/grants-and-awards/
- ESE Meeting Grants: https://www.ese-hormones.org/grants-and-awards/grants/meeting-grants/
- ESE Basic Science Meeting Grants: https://www.ese-hormones.org/grants-and-awards/grants/basic-science-meeting-grants/
- EYES Research Observership Programme: https://www.ese-hormones.org/what-we-do/grants-endorsements/exchange-programme-observership-grants/eyes-research-observership-programme-rop/
- EYES Advanced Research Observership Programme: https://www.ese-hormones.org/what-we-do/grants-endorsements/exchange-programme-observership-grants/eyes-advanced-research-observership-programme-advanced-rop/
- ESE-SEEDER-EU Programme: https://www.ese-hormones.org/what-we-do/grants-endorsements/training-and-research-grants/ese-seeder-eu-programme/
- ESE Executive Committee: https://www.ese-hormones.org/about-us/committees-and-boards/executive-committee/
- “EYES Observership Programmes 2025 Grant Winners announced”, ESE News: https://www.ese-hormones.org/news/eyes-observership-programmes-2025-grant-winners-announced/
- “Recognising excellence in endocrinology, ESE announces the winners of its prestigious Awards for 2025”, ESE News: https://www.ese-hormones.org/news/recognising-excellence-in-endocrinology-ese-announces-the-winners-of-its-prestigious-awards-for-2025/
- UK Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/ (Charity Number 1123492
- ESE 2023 Trustees Report and Financial Statements (PDF): https://www.ese-hormones.org/media/wybhysah/2023-trustees-report-and-financial-statements.pdf