SFETD- French Society for the Study and Treatment of Pain - Gisèle Guilbaud Award

Prix Gisèle Guilbaud (SFETD)

You will receive a one-off research grant of 15,000 EUR to start, continue or complete a research project on pain in a laboratory or medical facility in France. The funds will go directly towards your project and cover costs for one year. It is awarded annually by the French Society for Pain Research and Treatment (SFETD), the French branch of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). The award is named after Gisèle Guilbaud, a leading pain researcher who passed away in 2013.

Who can apply

• Career stage: You are a young healthcare professional or a young researcher who is either studying for a PhD or holding a postdoctoral position (a research post following a PhD).
• No permanent post: You do not have a permanent (full-time) post.
• Age: You are under 40.
• Field: Your project focuses on pain research. Depending on the year, this may involve basic research or a combination of basic and clinical research.
• Where the work happens: They are carrying out their research in France.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Supervisor: A research supervisor from your laboratory or medical institution will support your project. A supervisor may only support one application per round. A supervisor who is already receiving ongoing SFETD funding may not support any further applications.

How to apply

Please request the application form by email from the SFETD Secretariat and then submit your complete application documents as a single PDF file by 28 April 2026. Only complete applications that comply with the rules will be forwarded to the judging panel, which comprises members of the SFETD Research Committee and the Executive Board. You will be notified approximately four weeks after the deadline as to whether your application has been accepted. The winner will be announced at the SFETD Congress in November.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a single, specialised award, and the field is narrowly defined: you must be under the age of 40, not be in permanent employment, and be working in France on the topic of ‘pain’. If you meet these criteria and submit a compelling project proposal with a credible supervisor and a host laboratory, you stand a real chance of winning. The jury places great emphasis on the originality and feasibility of the project. It may also decide not to award the prize at all if the applications are of insufficient quality; therefore, a well-prepared, thoroughly substantiated application dossier is crucial.