Submit your Expression of Interest and Scholarship application
The portal will open at 09:00 GMT on Monday 12 October 2026 and will close at 23:59 GMT on Monday 30 November 2026.
Please see below for full details.
The portal will open at 09:00 GMT on Monday 12 October 2026 and will close at 23:59 GMT on Monday 30 November 2026.
Please see below for full details.
Preparing Africa for the Next Generation of Respiratory Virus Threats
The International Society for Respiratory Viruses (ISRV) is delighted to bring its flagship five-day School of Respiratory Viruses to Africa for the first time.
Taking place in Accra, Ghana, the 8th ISRV School of Respiratory Viruses will bring together early-career researchers and professionals for five days of intensive learning, scientific exchange, practical and interactive sessions, professional development and networking.
The School will be hosted at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana, and will provide participants with opportunities to learn from and engage with leading respiratory virus experts from Africa and internationally.
The ISRV School of Respiratory Viruses is designed to support the development of the next generation of researchers and professionals working across respiratory virus research, surveillance, clinical practice and public health.
The 2027 School will have a particular focus on Preparing Africa for the Next Generation of Respiratory Virus Threats, combining global expertise with African perspectives, priorities and experience.
Across the five-day programme, topics are expected to include:
The programme will combine scientific lectures with interactive sessions, practical learning and laboratory observation activities, group work, case studies, poster presentations and networking opportunities.
Participants will also have opportunities to engage directly with faculty through professional-development activities, mentoring and informal discussions, including proposed Ask the Expert sessions.
A detailed programme and confirmed faculty will be announced in due course.
The School is aimed primarily at early-career researchers and professionals working in respiratory viruses and related fields.
We welcome Expressions of Interest from individuals working or studying in areas including virology, immunology, epidemiology, surveillance, diagnostics and laboratory science, vaccines and immunisation, clinical research and practice, public health, One Health, outbreak preparedness and response, modelling and data science, and health policy.
Applications are welcomed from:
ISRV defines an Early Career Researcher/Professional as being within eight years’ whole-time equivalent of completing their highest degree, with appropriate allowances for career breaks, parental leave, caring responsibilities and part-time working. Click here to find out more about how we define Early Career Researchers (ECRs).
We particularly encourage applications from early-career researchers and professionals based across Africa, while applications from other regions are also welcome.
Participants must be available to attend the full five-day School from 10–14 May 2027.
To support equitable access to the School, ISRV offers Standard and Reduced registration rates.
The Standard Rate applies to participants based in countries classified as high-income economies by the World Bank.
The Reduced Rate is available to participants based in countries classified by the World Bank as low-income, lower-middle-income or upper-middle-income economies.
The applicable rate is based on the country in which you are currently based for your work or studies, rather than your nationality.
Shared, same-gender twin-room accommodation is the standard residential arrangement for the School. Single occupancy is available as an optional upgrade, subject to availability, while a non-residential option is available for participants who do not require ISRV-arranged accommodation.
Applicants should consider the registration options and costs below before submitting an application.
| Registration option | Reduced rate | Standard rate |
| Residential – twin share (standard) | £150 | £650 |
| Residential – single occupancy (upgrade) | £500 | £1,000 |
| Non-residential / Registration Only | £100 | £400 |
Residential – twin-share (standard)
The standard residential registration includes:
Participants selecting the standard residential option will share a twin room with another School participant.
Applicants may indicate a preferred sharing partner during the application process, provided both individuals agree to the arrangement. Where no preferred sharing partner is identified, ISRV will coordinate room allocations based on same-gender sharing.
Room-sharing arrangements will be confirmed following participant selection and registration.
Residential – single occupancy (upgrade)
Participants who would prefer their own room may request single-occupancy accommodation for an additional £350 compared with the equivalent twin-share registration rate.
Single-occupancy registration includes the same School programme and benefits as the standard residential package, with six nights’ accommodation in a private room instead of a shared twin room.
Single occupancy is subject to availability and is not the standard residential arrangement.
Where a participant has an accessibility, medical or other justified requirement for single occupancy, this can be considered separately as part of their individual accommodation and financial-support arrangements. Applicants should indicate any relevant requirements during the application process.
Non-residential / Registration Only
Participants who do not require ISRV-arranged accommodation may select a Non-residential / Registration Only option.
This includes:
Accommodation is not included with this registration option.
Participants selecting Non-residential / Registration Only are responsible for arranging and paying for their own accommodation and for their own daily transportation between their accommodation and the School venue.
ISRV will not arrange or reimburse accommodation or routine daily travel to and from the School venue for participants selecting this option, unless specifically agreed as part of an individual support arrangement.
Thanks to funding supporting the ISRV Education Programme, a limited amount of financial support is available to help early-career researchers and professionals who would otherwise be unable to attend the School.
We recognise that country income classification does not necessarily reflect an individual applicant’s or institution’s ability to fund participation. We also recognise that applicants may require different types and levels of support.
If you would be unable to attend the School at the registration rate applicable to you, you can request financial support as part of your Expression of Interest and Scholarship Application.
What support can I request?
Financial support is flexible and will be considered according to individual circumstances. Depending on your needs and the funding available, ISRV may be able to provide support towards:
Supported non-residential places may also be available for eligible applicants who do not require School accommodation or travel support.
You do not need to fit into a particular scholarship category. As part of your application, we will ask you to tell us what support you genuinely need in order to attend, and whether you, your institution, employer or another organisation can contribute towards any of the costs.
For example, your institution may be able to pay your registration fee but you may require support with international travel; alternatively, you may be able to fund your own travel but require support with registration and accommodation.
How will financial support be allocated?
Financial support is considered separately from your registration category. Receiving travel support does not automatically mean that your registration fee will be waived, and applicants may be offered a combination of support appropriate to their individual circumstances.
Please only request the support you genuinely need in order to attend. This helps ISRV use the available funding effectively and support as many eligible participants as possible.
Scholarship funding is limited and financial support is not guaranteed. The level or type of support offered may differ from that requested, taking into account individual circumstances, any contribution available from the applicant or their institution, and the funding available.
All prospective participants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the online application portal.
The same application can also be used to request scholarship support. You do not need to submit a separate scholarship application.
As part of your application, we will ask you about:
Your EOI will include a statement of up to 500 words explaining why you would like to attend and how participation would benefit your work, research and/or professional development.
There is no payment required when submitting your application.
Letter of support
You must upload a one-page A4 letter of support from your supervisor, line manager, senior colleague or another appropriate senior professional who is familiar with your work and professional development.
The letter can provide additional context in support of your application, for example by commenting on:
The letter must be no longer than one A4 page and should include the name, role, institution/organisation and contact details of the person providing the letter.
Applicants will have the option to submit an abstract describing their current research, project or other relevant work as part of their Expression of Interest.
Submitting an abstract is optional and is not required to be considered for a place at the School. We recognise that not all early-career researchers and professionals undertake work suited to a traditional scientific abstract, and applicants will not be disadvantaged if they choose not to submit one.
If you choose to submit an abstract:
Where appropriate to your work, your abstract may cover:
We recognise that these headings may not be appropriate for every type of work. You may adapt the structure where necessary to best describe your research, project or professional work within the 300-word limit.
Applicants should submit one abstract only as part of their application.
If you submit an abstract and are subsequently selected to attend the School, you will be asked to prepare a poster based on your submitted abstract for display and presentation during the School. Further information about poster format, size and submission deadlines will be provided to successful applicants following selection.
Once you have submitted your Expression of Interest application, you will be provided with a link to access the Abstract Submission Portal.
How will applications be assessed?
Submitting an EOI, Abstract and/or Scholarship Application does not guarantee a place at the School or an award of financial support.
The application portal will close at 23:59 (GMT) on Monday 30 November 2026. After the portal closes, the School Organising Committee will review all applications on a case-by-case basis.
Selection will take into consideration:
Where financial support has been requested, the Committee will also consider the applicant’s individual circumstances, the level and type of support required, any contribution available from the applicant, their institution, employer or another organisation, and the scholarship funding available.
Our aim is to create a diverse cohort of early-career researchers and professionals who can learn from the faculty and one another and take knowledge, skills and connections from the School back to their institutions and communities.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 31 January 2027.
If you are selected, you will receive a formal invitation to register for the School. Your offer will clearly confirm:
Please do not make non-refundable travel or accommodation arrangements when submitting your application. If selected, please wait until you have received your formal offer and the relevant instructions from ISRV before making travel arrangements.
Successful applicants must complete their formal School registration and arrange payment of any applicable registration fee by 28 February 2027.
If your university, institution or employer will be paying your registration fee, we recommend beginning any necessary internal approval, purchase order or payment processes as soon as you receive your offer.
Please contact ISRV promptly if your institution requires an invoice or other supporting documentation.
Your place will only be confirmed once you have completed the required registration process and any applicable payment arrangements.
If you are unable to accept your place or secure the funding required to attend, please let us know as soon as possible. This may allow us to offer the place and/or scholarship funding to another applicant.
| Stage | Date |
| EOI and Scholarship Applications open | Monday 12 October 2026 |
| EOI and Scholarship Applications close | 23:59 (GMT), Monday 30 November 2026 |
| Organising Committee review and selection | December 2026 – January 2027 |
| All applicants notified of outcome | By 31 January 2027 |
| Successful applicants complete registration and payment | By 28 February 2027 |
| 8th ISRV School of Respiratory Viruses | 10–14 May 2027 |
Before applying, please make sure that you:
Applications close at 23:59 (GMT) on Monday 30 November 2026.
The portal will open at 09:00 GMT on Monday 12 October 2026 and will close at 23:59 GMT on Monday 30 November 2026.
If you have a question about the School, eligibility, registration or scholarship support that is not answered above, please contact:
We look forward to welcoming the next generation of respiratory virus researchers and professionals to Accra for ISRV’s first five-day School of Respiratory Viruses in Africa.