The Basic Science Award is funded by the IES to enable researchers (clinical or non-clinical) to undertake laboratory based small research projects or pilot studies. The funding for 2026 is a grant worth a maximum of €10,000 (sterling equivalent). One award will be offered in 2026. Salary support can be requested but should not make up the entirety of the grant. Spend on overheads should also be kept to a minimum (<30% of the funding amount sought).

Applications will be accepted from applicants within the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland for clinical or basic science laboratory based projects. Applications are particularly welcome from younger academic researchers who are within five years of their first appointment. Applicants must demonstrate that they have a genuine research interest in Endocrinology within the island of Ireland and show that they have a full time post for the lifetime of the proposed grant.

All Applicants on the Basic Science Grant application must be fully paid members of the Irish Endocrine Society and the principal author of the study needs to be in good standing with the Irish Endocrine Society.

Applications must be completed in the IES Basic Science Grant application form. Closing date is 30th April 2026 midnight. 

Winner of the Basic Science Award will be announced at AGM later in the year. Successful applicant of the IES 2026 Basic Science grant must be prepared to submit their findings by abstract to the IES Annual Meeting in 2027.

The application guidelines and form, including the assessment criteria are attached below.

Application Guidelines: IES_Basic Sicence Grant_Scheme_Guidelines 2026

Application form: IES Basic_Science_Grant_Application_form-2026

 

Winner of IES 2025 Basic Science Grant

Dr Wuyun Grace Zhu and Dr Stephanie Annett, RCSI “Investigating FKBPL and DLK-Dependent Pathways as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Diabetes”

2023 Basic Science Award

No applications

2022 Basic Science Award

Dr Keith Rochfort and Dr Hannah Forde "To elucidate the effect of semaglutide on a three-dimensional model of the blood retinal barrier in a diabetic setting."

Dr Marie McElroy, Prof Jochen Prehn and Prof Michael O'Reilly "Evaluation of androgen driven cancer cell estosis as a potential mechanism of endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer."

IES Basic Science Grant 2019 Award

Dr Paula O'Shea and Dr Islam "Development and validation of a method to measure Glycated CD59 to diagnose Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)"

2018 Basic Science Awards

Dr James Gibney and Dr Fiona McGillicuddy “High density lipoprotein particles as metabolic hormones – does diabetes alter the signalling pathways induced by these particles to increase cardiovascular risk”.

2017 Basic Science Awards

Andrew McCloskey and Professor Aine McKillop "Investigation of the mechanistic function of GPR120 in islet cell physiology using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and intracellular signalling analysis"

2016 Basic Science Awards

Prof James Gibney and Dr Fiona McGillycuddy: To compare high-density lipoprotein function and composition in type 1 versus type 2 diabetes and determine relationship to early measures of atherosclerosis.

Dr Shona Pfeiffer, Prof Jochen Prehn and Dr Maria Byrne: An in vivo pre-clinical study exploring microRNA-224 (miR-224) as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetes.

2015 Basic Science Awards

Dr Conall Dennedy: An investigation of the effects of oxysterols in modulating adrenocortical carcinoma.

Professor Finbarr O’Harte: Pre-clinical development of novel apelin-13 drug candidates for diabetes therapy

2014 Basic Science Awards

Professor Aine McKillop: Targeting G protein coupled receptors with novel lipid agonists as a potential therapy for type 2 diabetes

Mr Conor Kerley & Dr John McDermott: Dietary nitrate to attenuate impaired glucose tolerance: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

2013 Basic Science Awards

Dr Francis Finucane, Dr Amir Shafat: Title: Oral glucose breath test for diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Dr Yasser Abdel-Wahab, Dr Peter Flatt: Title: Pharmacological studies of novel amphibian skin peptide-analogues for the treatment of type-2 diabetes

2012 Basic Science Awards

Dr N Irwin: Title: Harnessing the potential of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) for treatment of bone disorders

Dr K Mullan & Dr P Mullan Title: Prospective study of the effect of  25 OH Vit D and 1,25 OH2 Vit D on coronary heart disease risk : PRIME study (Prospective Epidemiological Study of Myocardial Infarction)

Aim: The aim of this award is to promote research in Endocrinology and Diabetes in Ireland.The IES offers one annual clinical research grant to the value of €10,000 for clinical research carried out predominantly in Ireland

Rules:

• Both the principal applicant and the supervisor should be members paid-up members of the Irish Endocrine Society. If not a member, it is possible to apply for membership in advance of submitting for the grant.
• The research should be carried out substantially within Ireland.

Application process

Applicants must submit by the closing date using the form on the IES website.

Closing date is 30th April 2026 midnight.   

Winner of the Clinical Science Award will be announced at AGM later in the year. Successful applicant of the 2026 IES Clinical Science Grant must be prepared to submit their findings by abstract to the IES Annual Meeting in 2027. 

The application guidelines and form, are attached below.

Application guidelines: IES_Clinical Sicence Grant_Scheme_Guidelines 2026

Application form: IES Clinical-Science-Award-Application-Form-2026

Winners of IES Clinical Science Grants

2025 Dr Clare Miller (PI Professor Michael O Reilly, RCSI)

The impact of weight loss induced by bariatric surgery on mineralocorticoid metabolism in men and women living with obesity

2023 Fay O'Donoghue Exploring the social support needs and health education preferences of women with gestational diabetes and their partners: A qualitative interview study

2022: Mairead Crowley Evaluation of glycemic control and pregnancy outcomes in women with HNF1A-MODY and HNF4A-MODY Prof. Maria M Byrne

2022: Ben Loughrey Exome Sequencing to Characterise the Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumour Microenvironment. Supervisor Prof. Steven Hunter

2018: Dr Julie Martin Grace and Professor Mark Sherlock “Impact of inhaled glucocorticoids on adrenal function”.

2017: Dr Claire Power

2016: Dr Rosemary Dinneen and Dr Mark Sherlock for "Optimising steroid replacement in patients with Addisons disease"

2015: Dr Paul McMullen and Dr Karen Mullan: "Iodine and selenium deficiency and the effect on thyroid function tests in pregnancy"

Grading: Applications will be initially assessed by the representatives from the Committee of the Irish Endocrine Society who will assess the applications with reference to the aims of the award. If necessary, applications may be referred for external peer review. 

The Irish Endocrine Society invites applications for two (€2,000) Irish Endocrine Society Summer Student Research Bursaries to encourage promising undergraduate students, medical students to pursue careers in endocrinology. The Society provides a stipend to each student award recipient to participate in research projects under the guidance of a Society member for 8 to 12 weeks during the summer. Successful applicants of 2026 IES Summer Student Bursaries must be prepared to submit their findings by abstract to the IES Annual Meeting in 2027. 

Application Requirements

• Summary of research project, jointly prepared by Mentor / Supervisor and Student including Student’s role in the research project (strictly 2 page application, minimum size 11 font)
• Mentor statement which includes Mentor’s role in the research project including his/her plans for training
• Student’s CV (mailing address and contact details must be included)
• The Mentor / Supervisor must be the paid-up members of the IES. Please contact the IES Treasurer irishendosubs@gmail.com to confirm your IES membership if required.
• Closing date in 30^th April 2026 midnight. 
• Applications to be submitted directly to: Dr Sinead Glackin at sinead.glackin1@hse.ie noting “IES Summer Student Bursaries 2026” as the Subject Heading.

 

In addition, the Irish Endocrine Society is delighted to offer a further two (€2,000) Summer Student Research Bursaries in conjunction with the HRB Diabetes collaborative Clinical Trial Network (DC-CTN) for Diabetes research projects. If applicants would like to be considered for the HRB DC-CTN bursaries, please indicate this in your applications. Successful applicants of 2026 DCCTN Bursaries must be prepared to submit their findings by abstract to the IES Annual Meeting in 2027. 

Application Requirements

• Summary of proposed research project (strictly 2 page application, minimum size 11 font), jointly prepared by Mentor / Supervisor and Student outlining the Student’s role in the research project.
• Mentor Statement which includes Mentor’s role in the research project including his/her plans for training
• Student’s CV (mailing address and contact details must be included)
• The Mentor / Supervisor must be the paid-up members of the IES. Please contact the IES Treasurer irishendosubs@gmail.com to confirm your IES membership if required.
• An additional requirement for the Irish Endocrine Society HRB DC-CTN bursaries is that the Mentor be a member of the HRB Diabetes Collaborative Clinical Trial Network.
• Applications to be submitted directly to: Dr Sinead Glackin at sinead.glackin1@hse.ie noting “IES Summer Student Bursaries 2026” as the Subject Heading.
• The closing date for receipt of applications is  30^th April 2026 midnight. 

The bursaries will be awarded following successful competition at the discretion of the IES Committee.

* Existing members of the HRB Diabetes Collaborative Clinical Trial Network can be found here. https://diabetestrialsctn.ie/network-members/.  A prospective Mentor / Supervisor interested in joining the HRB Diabetes Collaborative Clinical Trial Network can email the Network Program Manager Email Sharon.Conway@universityofgalway.ie

 

IES summer student Bursaries and DC CTN Bursaries 2025

1. Fionn Coleman, Mentor: Dr Antoinette Tuthill (Cork University Hospital) "General Knowledge and attitudes of partners and immediate relatives of adults with Type 1 diabetes regarding hypoglycaemia recognition and treatment"
2. Nicole Devitt , Mentor: Dr Antoinette Tuthill (Cork University Hospital) "A service evaluation of the Clinical management of CFRD-is it time for a change?"

2025 DCCTN bursaries

1. Matthew Gibney, Mentor: Prof Marie-Louise Healy, Dublin) "Review of outcomes and clinical care of patients referred with Thyroid cancer over 20 year period to a single institution"
2. Ann Robinson, Mentor: Dr Ben Loughrey, Belfast "The digital assessment of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein (CTLA-4) using multiplex immunofluorescence and artificial intelligence"

IES summer student Bursaries and DC CTN Bursaries 2024

Three 2024 IES Summer Student Bursaries awarded to:

1. Salma Ebrahim (Supervisor - Dr Marie McElroy) "The impact of bariatric surgery on classic and 11-oxygenated androgen metabolism in adipose tissue from patients with obesity"
2. Jack Cosgrave (Supervisor - Prof John McDermott) "Prevention of Diabetic Foot Disease - A Novel Patient Education Program"
3. James Gibney (Supervisor - Prof Marie Louise Healy) "Development of a Thyroid Cancer Database"

One 2024 DC CTN Bursary awarded to:

1. Eoghan Duffy (Supervisor - Professor Timothy O’Brien "Genetically modified human pluripotent stem cell-derived beta cell differentiation with gene editing and drug screening for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes"

The Winners of the 2023 Summer Student Awards are:

1. Jessica Sayfullaeva (Mentor Professor Francis Finnucane)
   Idenfitying Factors that Influence the Time to Onset of Ketosis in Exercise and Nutrition Scenarios: The TOKEN Study
2. Aarya Lakshminarayanan (Mentor Professor Sean Dinneen)
   Planning for Recruitment and Retention in the D1 Now Randomised Controlled Trial
3. Merhan Soltan (Mentor Professor Seamus Sreenan)
   Histological assessment of debrided material from chronic diabetic wounds. Are we currently discarding useful information?
4. Cara McDonnell (Mentor Dr. Karen Mullen)
   Effect of iodine enriched milk on iodine status: a randomised crossover intervention in healthy volunteer

Two DC-CTN 2023 Student Bursaries were awarded to:

1. Columb Kavanagh (Mentor Professor Fidelma Dunne)
   Identifying and Prioritizing Unanswered Questions Related to Type 1 Diabetes Management in Adults: A Priority Setting Partnership Approach
2. Liam Manning (Mentor Professor Seamus Sreenan)
   Estimating the population health impact and cost-effectiveness of implementing evidence-based Type 1 diabetes mellitus care in Ireland

The Winners of the 2019 Summer Student Awards are:

Jack Logue (Mentors Professor Seamus Sreenan and Professor John McDermott, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown)
Promoting appropriate discharge of uncomplicated type 2 diabetes patients from secondary to primary care.

JoonHee Kim (Mentor Dr. Maria Byrne, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital)
Phenotype, genotype and glycaemic variability in subjects with HNF1-beta mutations MODY 5. Response to appropriate therapy.

Rohil Dureja (Mentor Dr. Antoinette Tuthill, Cork University Hospital)
The Clinical Significance and Burden of Thyroid Nodules Discovered Incidentally.

The Winners of the 2018 Summer Student Awards are:

Aisling Hand (Mentor Dr Cynthia Coleman, NUIG)
Macromolecular crowding in the human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell culture for the development of a wound healing cell therapy product.

Benjamin Agnelli (Mentor Dr Antoinette Tuthill, Cork University Hospital)
The impact of glycaemic control and hypoglycaemia on cognitive function in older patients with type 2 diabetes: a case-control study.

Niall Dalton (Mentors Dr Orla Neylon and Professor Clodagh O'Gorman, University Hospital Limerick)
Activity levels and cardiometabolic risk in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Evelyn O'Shea (Mentor Dr Antoinette Tuthill, Cork University Hospital)
Four year follow up of health outcome status in women with previous gestational diabetes.