From LIVES 2025 onward, the ESICM Research Awards will be renamed the ESICM Research Grants. This new title more accurately reflects the purpose of these competitive funding opportunities: to directly support and enable high-quality, impactful research led by our members.
ESICM 2025 Research Grants
ESICM offers direct funding to researchers in the field of Intensive Care Medicine. Intensivists working in all areas of the discipline are invited to apply by submitting their proposed research projects.
14 grants (TBC) for a total value of €295,000 are available in 2026 including two industry-funded awards: the ESICM Jordi Mancebo Fisher&Paykel Award and the ESICM Fresenius Kabi Award.
How to apply
For information relating to the application process and conditions, please read the ESICM 2026 Awards Programme Overview. Candidates are advised to read this document carefully before submitting their application. Any application that does not comply with the guidelines will, unfortunately, be rejected. Read more here on the short application platform.
Except for the ESICM Research Committee and Executive Committee members who do not qualify, the Society accepts applications from anyone who is a member.
The submission platform is now closed.
There are two stages to the application process:
- First, candidates must submit a short application. This is an outline of the aims and methodology of the proposed research project and must include an estimated budget and timeline. All short applications are reviewed by the Research Committee.
- Those selected will be contacted in April and asked to submit a full application. This is a full project description with details regarding feasibility, research design and methodology.
All full applications are reviewed by a minimum of two independent expert assessors. These assessments are thoroughly discussed at the Awards Jury Meeting by members of the Research Committee. The Jury meeting takes place around the end of the Summer.
We wish to draw your attention to the following conditions of entry in particular:
- ESICM wishes to encourage research carried out across several countries.
- After a year, awardees will be requested to provide research@esicm.org with a progress report.
- Successful applicants shall be required to submit their primary paper to ICM.
Please note that the most suitable award category for each application is decided by the Jury and not chosen by the applicant.
Please write to research [ @ ] esicm.org for any questions
Available Research Grants
Through its research programme ESICM provides an impetus to research activities among the Society’s members. Facilitating and promoting research is one of the principal objectives of the Society.
The range of grants offered by ESICM covers the entire spectrum of critical care, including but not limited to basic, translational and clinical research, patient and family partnership, digital health and multi-disciplinary care.
ESICM Basic Science Grant
The Basic Science Grant has long supported research in this area. This category covers all areas of basic research from basic cellular and molecular physiology, cell biology, molecular biology and genetics to animal physiology. The Basic Science Grant is a sum of €20,000 and is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Florian Blanchard “Electrophysiological analysis of Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate-induced sleep in intensive care patients”.
ESICM Fundamental Research Grant
Groundbreaking intensive care treatments are so often discovered through fundamental research. The new Fundamental Research Grant has been created to encourage exploratory research across the broad field of intensive care medicine. The Fundamental Research Grant is a sum of €20,000 and is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Timothy Snow “Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of serum in sepsis (AImS study)”.
Professor Burkhard Lachmann Grant
Projects that are pre-selected for the Basic Science Grant may go forward for consideration for the Professor Burkhard Lachmann grant, with the agreement of the candidate. The Professor Burkhard Lachmann Grant is a grant of €5,000 and is fully funded by the International Foundation for Clinically Oriented Research (IFCOR).
2024 Awardee: Louis Boutin “GALECTin3 levels in the Artificial Kidney Initiation in Kidney Injury 2 (GALECTAKIKI)”.
ESICM Family Partnership Grant
Any research proposal that centres on the needs, priorities and expectations of patients and their carers will qualify for this grant. Other elements, such as patient-carer interactions and long-term outcomes in ICU survivors, are relevant. We encourage N&AHP members to apply. The Family Partnership Grant is a sum of €20,000 and is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Jill Moser “From critical illness to chronic condition: Uncovering new-onset diabetes in ICU survivors (CANDY-ICU)”.
ESICM Global ICU Grant
The Global ICU Grant is intended for projects conducted in a Low & Middle Middle-Income Country as defined by the 2021 Low & Middle Income Countries list compiled by the World Bank and approved by the WHO. The projects should have an educational element focusing on improving patient care. The Global ICU Grant is a sum of €20,000 and is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Ruchi Gupta Singla “Comparison of complete blood count and peripheral smear with procalcitonin and C reactive protein in diagnosis and prognostication of bacterial sepsis: A multicenter study in lower-middle income country”.
ESICM Established Investigator Grant
The Established Investigator Grant supports investigators who have already established their independent research programme in the field of intensive care and emergency medicine, and who can demonstrate a commitment to the training of young colleagues. The proposal may rely on approaches ranging from basic cellular responses to outcome research, and may include clinical applications as well as translational science. The Established Investigator Grant is a sum of €20,000 which is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Martin Dres “Effects of nasal breathing on cerebral function and lung regional ventilation”.
ESICM Young Investigator Grant
ESICM wishes to invest in young, talented scientists who have the potential to become outstanding independent investigators. ESICM members aged 40 or younger at the time of applying are eligible for the Young Investigator Grant. Research proposals may focus on any aspect of intensive care medicine. The Young Investigator Grant is a grant of €20,000 and is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Kristina Fuest “Frailty Recognition and Assessment via Medical Photography in Major Surgery (FRAME)”.
NEXT Start-Up Grant
The NEXT Start-Up Grant supports the professional development of young and talented researchers with a solid background in research. Members under or equal to 37 years will qualify for this award. The NEXT Start-Up Grant offers €25,000 per year for up to two years. This grant is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Dhupal Patel “Transcriptional analysis of mechanisms and predictors in acute liver failure”.
ESICM Clinical Research Grant
The Clinical Research Grant is for projects carried out in a clinical environment. Some aspects of the proposal may involve collaboration with research laboratories. Applications that lack a clinical component will not be considered. Proposals may be based on approaches ranging from physiology, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic interventions, to epidemiologic studies and evaluation of practices. The Clinical Research Grant is a grant of €20,000 and is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Marlies Ostermann “SGLT-2 inhibitors to prevent acute kidney injury”.
ESICM Translational Research Grant
The interdisciplinary field of translational science identifies and supports the adoption of best medical and health practices. By creating the translational research grant, ESICM puts a spotlight on this area. The Translational Research Grant is a grant of €20,000 and is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Inès Lakbar “Immun4critcare”.
ESICM Levi-Montalcini Biomedical Sciences Grant
ESICM is committed to equal opportunity in science and has established this grant to encourage women to join the research community. ESICM looks forward to receiving applications from female scientists and physicians. The Levi-Montalcini Biomedical Sciences Grant is a grant of €20,000, which is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Chantal Boly “Unraveling the pathophysiology of augmented renal clearance in patients with traumatic brain injury to move towards precision dosing of antibiotics to prevent and treat ventilator-associated pneumonia”.
ESICM Multi-Disciplinary Care Grant
The Multi-Disciplinary Care Grant has been created to support healthcare professionals who have identified areas of intensive care treatment where research is required and who have perhaps never before considered entering the field of research. Applications are welcome from allied healthcare professionals of all disciplines relating to intensive care. The Multi-Disciplinary Care is a grant of €20,000, which is fully funded by ESICM.
2024 Awardee: Raquel Guillamat-Prats “Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of GPR55/LPI Axis Modulation in Neutrophils for ARDS Management”.
ESICM – Jordi Mancebo – Fisher&Paykel Healthcare SAS Grant
The call for the 2026 ESICM Jordi Mancebo Fisher&Paykel Grant applications is set to open on 1 February. Projects must pertain to physiological or clinical outcomes of less invasive respiratory support in acute respiratory failure. The ESICM 2026 Jordi Mancebo Fisher&Paykel Healthcare SAS grant is €20,000 and is fully funded by Fisher&Paykel Healthcare. Proposals from Europe and beyond are welcome.
2024 Awardee: Alessandro Santini “Respiratory system hysteresis as a novel early predictor of ventilator-induced lung injury: an experimental study”.
ESICM – Fresenius Kabi Clinical Nutrition Grant
The project focus is clinical nutrition.
The ESICM Fresenius Kabi Clinical Nutrition Grant is €20,000 and is fully funded by Fresenius Kabi. The proposals should include at least one country contributing to the design and / or conduct of the project.
2024 Awardee: Sandra Emily Stoll “Impact of cyclic enteral daytime feeding with ketogenic nighttime fasting on postoperative delirium in critically ill patients (DeliKet-Study)”.
ESICM – Getinge ECMO Support Grant
Supported by an educational grant from Getinge
For intensivists and ICU nurses passionate about ECLS/ECMO, this programme offers advanced training, global networking, and research funding.
Programme highlights:
- Fellowships with bedside teaching at leading academic centres
- Research funding – €20,000 grant + consumables for the top proposal
- Exclusive networking event at LIVES 2026
Eligibility:
Completion of the ECLS/ECMO learning pathway (LIVES workshops recommended) and ESICM membership required
Why Apply?
- Hands-on experience
- Global mentorship
- Funded research opportunities