Frequently Asked Questions

The School is aimed primarily at early-career researchers and professionals working in respiratory viruses and related fields.

This includes PhD/doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers and research scientists, clinicians and healthcare professionals, laboratory professionals, epidemiologists, public health professionals and others whose work is relevant to respiratory viruses.

Final-year Master’s students whose studies are relevant to the School are also welcome to apply.

ISRV defines an Early Career Researcher/Professional (ECRs) 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. You can find out more about our definition of ECRs here.

The ISRV School is designed for people who already have some grounding in their field and are looking to deepen and broaden their expertise.

You do not need to be a senior expert, but the School is not intended as an introductory course. The five-day immersive programme is best suited to people actively working, training or studying in a relevant field.

Yes. The School is intentionally multidisciplinary.

We welcome applications from people working across laboratory science, clinical practice, epidemiology, surveillance, public health, One Health, data and modelling, policy and other relevant disciplines.

Yes. You do not need to be a respiratory virus specialist, but you should have a relevant background and a clear interest in developing your expertise in this area.

Your Expression of Interest should explain how attending the School is relevant to your current or future work and professional development.

No. Applications are welcomed from all regions who are interested in the theme for this School – ‘Preparing Africa for the Next Generation of Respiratory Virus Threats’.

However, as this is the first five-day ISRV School of Respiratory Viruses to be held in Africa, we particularly encourage applications from early-career researchers and professionals based across the continent.

No. You do not need to be an existing ISRV member to apply.

Participants selected to attend the School will receive two years’ complimentary ISRV membership. Existing ISRV members will receive a two-year complimentary extension to their current membership.

All applicants will need to complete the online Expression of Interest and Scholarship Application.

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide information about your current role, studies or research, your experience and interests relating to respiratory viruses, and what you hope to gain from attending the School.

You will also need to provide:

• an Expression of Interest 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; and
• one letter of support from your supervisor, line manager, senior colleague or another appropriate senior professional who is familiar with your work and professional development.

You will also have the option to submit one research abstract describing your current research, project or other relevant work.

There is no payment required when submitting your application.

Your Expression of Interest statement is your opportunity to tell the School Organising Committee why you would like to attend the School and how you would benefit from taking part.

Your statement should be no more than 500 words and should help us understand:

• your current role, studies, research or professional work and how this relates to respiratory viruses or the wider themes of the School;
• why you are interested in attending the 8th ISRV School of Respiratory Viruses;
• what you hope to learn, develop or gain from participating;
• how attending the School would contribute to your research, work and/or professional development; and
• how you expect to apply or share the knowledge, skills and connections gained through the School within your work, institution and/or wider community.

You do not need to repeat information already provided elsewhere in your application. Instead, use your statement to help the Organising Committee understand what attending the School would mean for you and the potential impact of your participation.

We recommend being specific about your own circumstances, interests and development goals rather than providing a general description of the importance of respiratory virus research or the School.

Your statement must be written in English and should be checked carefully for spelling, grammar and accuracy before you submit your application.

Your letter of support should be provided by your supervisor, line manager, senior colleague or another appropriate senior professional who is familiar with your work and professional development.

The letter should provide additional context in support of your application and may comment on:

• your current role, studies, research or professional work;
• your interest, experience or involvement in respiratory viruses or a related field;
• your suitability for and potential to benefit from the School;
• how attending the School could contribute to your professional or career development; and
• how the knowledge, skills and connections gained through the School could benefit your work, institution and/or wider community.

The letter should be no more than one A4 page and should include the name, role, institution/organisation and contact details of the person providing the letter.

Your letter must be uploaded as part of your application before it can be submitted, so we recommend approaching an appropriate person in good time before the application deadline.

No. The abstract is optional and is not required for your application to be considered.

We recognise that not all early-career researchers and professionals undertake work suited to a traditional scientific abstract. You will not be disadvantaged if you choose not to submit one.

However, if you have current research, a project or other relevant work that you would like the Organising Committee to consider alongside your application, you are encouraged to submit an abstract.

Once you have submitted your Expression of Interest, you will be provided with a link to submit your abstract via the Abstract Submission Portal.

Your abstract should relate to respiratory viruses or a relevant area of research, clinical practice, surveillance, public health, policy or professional practice.

It can describe current research, a project or other relevant work in which you have been involved.

You may submit one abstract as part of your application.

You may be listed as a co-author on work submitted by other applicants where applicable.

All abstracts must be submitted in English.

The maximum word count for the body of the abstract is 300 words – this word count does not include the title.

Your abstract title should be no more than 25 words.

Where appropriate to your work, we recommend structuring your abstract around:

• Introduction – the background to your work;
• Context and Aim – the problem or question being addressed and what you aimed to investigate, understand or achieve;
• Method/Approach – how the work was undertaken;
• Findings/Results – your key findings, results or outcomes; and
• Conclusions/Impact – the implications or potential contribution of the work to research, policy or practice.

We recognise that this structure may not be appropriate for every type of research, project or professional work. You may adapt the structure where necessary to best describe your work within the 300-word limit.

Please check your abstract carefully for spelling, grammar and accuracy before submitting your application.

Yes, authors are permitted to include scientific symbols, tables, and/or diagrams in their abstracts – these can be attached as Supporting Documentation i.e charts, graphs and figures as an image.

You can also add additional documents as Supporting Documents (Word or PDF documents).

If you submit an abstract as part of your application 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.

Poster sessions provide an opportunity to share your work, receive feedback and discuss it with faculty and fellow participants.

Further information about poster format, size and submission deadlines will be provided to successful applicants.

You can edit any saved draft submissions up to the point before you click ‘Submit’. You can Save As before you submit to enable editing to your abstract – to edit your abstract click on the Edit button. Please make sure to click Submit once you are ready and before the deadline – we won’t be able to review draft abstracts.

Submitted Abstracts can be viewed only – click on the View button to view your submitted Abstract.

Places are allocated through a competitive Expression of Interest process.

The School Organising Committee will consider factors including:

• the relevance of your work, research or studies to the School;
• the potential benefit and impact of your participation;
• your career stage and professional development needs;
• your Expression of Interest;
• the supporting information provided by your supervisor or senior colleague;
• your optional abstract, where submitted;
• geographic and institutional representation;
• diversity across disciplines and professional backgrounds; and
• opportunities to support participation from settings that may otherwise have limited access to international respiratory virus education and networking.

Submitting an application does not guarantee a place at the School.

ISRV offers Standard and Reduced registration rates, with residential twin-share, residential single occupancy and non-residential options available.

The Reduced Rate applies to participants currently based for their work or studies in countries classified by the World Bank as low-income, lower-middle-income or upper-middle-income economies. The Standard Rate applies to participants based in high-income economies.

Full details of registration fees and what is included with each option are provided on the Expression of Interest and Scholarship Application information page.

Residential registration includes participation in the full five-day School programme, six nights’ twin-shared accommodation, breakfast, lunch and daytime refreshments, designated transport between the School hotel and venue, programmed School activities and visits, the Closing Dinner, School materials and educational resources, and a certificate of completion/CPD.

Yes. Shared twin-room accommodation is the standard residential arrangement for the School and is included in the residential registration fee.

Participants selecting the residential twin-share option will share a room with another School participant of the same gender, with separate beds.

If you are attending with a colleague or another participant you would prefer to share with, you can indicate their name in your Expression of Interest application. Both participants must agree to the arrangement and be selected to attend the School.

If you do not have a preferred sharing partner, ISRV will coordinate room allocations.

If you would prefer your own room, single-occupancy accommodation is available as an optional upgrade for an additional £350, subject to availability.

If you require single occupancy for accessibility, medical or other justified reasons, please indicate this in your application so that we can consider your requirements and any associated financial support individually.

Yes. A Non-residential / Registration Only option is available for participants who do not require ISRV-arranged accommodation.

Non-residential participants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own accommodation and routine daily transportation between their accommodation and the School venue.

Yes. 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.

Support is flexible and may include assistance towards registration and accommodation, full or partial economy travel to Accra and/or eligible subsistence costs.

Supported non-residential places may also be available for eligible applicants who do not require accommodation or travel support.

Once you have submitted your Expression of Interest application, you will be provided with a link to access the Scholarship Application form to complete an application for financial support.

No. You do not need to fit into a particular scholarship category.

Instead, the application will ask you 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.

This allows ISRV to consider different combinations of support according to individual circumstances and to use the available funding to support as many eligible participants as possible.

Yes. Travel support and registration support are considered separately.

For example, your institution may be able to pay your registration fee while you require support with international travel. Alternatively, you may be able to fund your own travel but require support with registration and accommodation.

Receiving financial support towards one element of your attendance does not automatically mean that all other costs will also be covered.

Not necessarily. Scholarship funding is limited and financial support cannot be guaranteed.

The level or type of support offered may differ from that requested, taking into account your individual circumstances, any contribution available from you, your institution, employer or another organisation, and the overall funding available.

If you are selected, your formal offer will clearly explain any financial support awarded, your registration fee (if applicable), what ISRV will support and any costs that you or your institution will be expected to meet.

Yes. This is a full-time, five-day, in-person School and participants are expected to attend the full programme from 10–14 May 2027, including lectures, workshops, group activities and other scheduled sessions.

Yes. Participants who complete the School will receive a certificate of completion that can be used as evidence of continued professional development (CPD).

No. Please do not make non-refundable travel or accommodation arrangements when submitting your application.

If you are selected, please wait until you have received your formal offer and relevant instructions from ISRV before making travel arrangements.

Expressions of Interest and Scholarship Applications close at 23:59 GMT on Monday 30 November 2026.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 31 January 2027.

Successful applicants will then be required to complete their formal School registration and arrange payment of any applicable registration fee by 28 February 2027.

You can contact the ISRV Education Team at schools@isrv.global.