SFETD / Fondation APICIL - APICIL / SFETD Research Award

APICIL / SFETD Research Award

You will receive a research grant of 15,000 EUR for a project on the subject of pain, which will run for up to 3 years. You may use these funds to finance new research or to continue or complete an existing project in the field of pain research. The award is presented jointly by two organisations: the French Society for Pain Therapy (SFETD) and the Fondation APICIL, a charitable organisation dedicated to alleviating physical and psychological pain. The funds will be paid to your laboratory or medical institution, not to you personally.

Who can apply

• Who you are: You work in the healthcare sector (in a medical or paramedical capacity) or you are a young researcher currently working on your PhD or undertaking a postdoctoral fellowship.
• Field: Your project is about pain. Previous prize winners have included representatives from the fields of psychology, sociology, philosophy, anthropology and other humanities and social sciences, as well as medicine.
• Where the research happens: You carry out the research in France.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Type of project: Your project must be people-centred and aimed at clinical application. It must be original and have clear objectives, a sound methodology, and a defined budget and timetable. Projects involving animal testing will not be accepted.
• Supervisor: Your academic supervisor must be employed at your laboratory or medical institution. They may only support one application per round of judging and may not support you if they are already receiving ongoing SFETD funding.
• No double funding: You may not receive another prize or grant for the same project at the same time.

How to apply

Please email your complete application as a single PDF file to the SFETD Secretariat. The deadline for the 2026 round is 28 April 2026. Around four weeks later, you will be informed whether your application is eligible. A jury comprising the SFETD Research Committee, members of the Executive Board and a representative from APICIL will then select the winner, who will be announced at the SFETD Annual Congress.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a single, highly endowed prize for a narrowly defined field: pain research carried out in France. Only a few are eligible, but as there is only one prize, competition remains fierce. The jury assesses the originality and soundness of your project, as well as your track record and the strength of your laboratory. If your work clearly aligns with the ‘pain’ focus and you submit a compelling, original project, your chances are good. Please note that the jury may decide not to award the prize at all if it considers the applications to be of insufficient quality.