The EBMT Travel Grants is a funding programme aimed at encouraging greater participation from both, European and international healthcare professionals, in EBMT educational meetings. These grants are designed to ease the financial burden of attending in person by covering registration fees as well as travel and accommodation costs.
For the 52nd Annual Meeting of the EBMT, a total of 13 travel grants were awarded. Below, you can read testimonials from some of the grant recipients.
Fernando Gibran-Nunes
Physician-Researcher, Centre for Advanced Therapies and Clinical Research, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil
Attending the 52nd EBMT Annual Meeting in Madrid was a remarkable experience. I had the privilege of presenting two first-author posters on CAR-T therapy and bispecific antibodies in lymphoma, and one of the most rewarding moments was seeing my work cited during a plenary talk — a truly encouraging sign for any early-career researcher. Beyond the presentations, I made meaningful connections that led me to join two EBMT Working Parties, and I am excited to actively collaborate and submit proposals through these groups. As a physician-researcher from Brazil, it is deeply gratifying to see that EBMT fosters an environment where these opportunities are genuinely open to early-career specialists from all over the world. I am very grateful for the travel grant that made this experience possible, and I look forward to contributing to the EBMT community in the years to come.
Tran Thi Dung
Nurse, Vinmec International Hospital, Vinh Tuy, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Attending the 52nd Annual Meeting in Madrid was a truly meaningful and unforgettable milestone in my professional journey, as it was the first time I had the opportunity to participate in such a large-scale, well-organized, and highly professional international congress. I felt both excited and inspired to be surrounded by leading experts and dedicated colleagues from around the world.
During the meeting, I gained valuable knowledge and updated my understanding of the latest advances in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and CAR-T therapy. The scientific sessions were not only informative but also highly practical, helping me better understand evolving treatment strategies and patient care approaches. Beyond the academic content, what impressed me most was the spirit of collaboration and innovation shared among participants.
This experience also motivated me to pursue further research and continuously improve my clinical practice. After returning, I shared the knowledge and insights gained from the congress with my colleagues, with the hope of contributing to better patient outcomes. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and sincerely hope to participate again in the future.
Akshay Deshpande
Consultant Paediatric Haematologist, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK
The travel grant provided me with a valuable opportunity to attend the Annual Meeting of the EBMT in Madrid, where I was able to present my work to an international audience and receive meaningful feedback. It was a chance to reconnect with colleagues I had worked with before, but more importantly, it was the opportunity to meet new people, fostering fresh connections and networking within the field. One of the highlights of the experience was meeting fellow Trainee Committee members from across the globe. Engaging with peers from diverse backgrounds allowed for the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, leading to the development of new friendships and potential future collaborations. Additionally, attending the sessions and listening to the inspiring work presented by others was incredibly motivating. It broadened my understanding of current advancements and innovations and reinforced my enthusiasm for contributing to the field.
Petra Vodickova
Staff nurse, Charles University Hospital, Pilsen, Czechia
Attending the Annual Meeting of the EBMT in Madrid was an extremely valuable and inspiring experience for me. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the EBMT travel grant that made it possible for me to attend this professional event.
As a nurse working in an apheresis centre, I greatly appreciated the scientific programme focused on the latest advances in transplantation and cell therapy. The lectures and discussions helped me to expand my knowledge not only in the field of apheresis procedures, but also in comprehensive patient and donor care.
I particularly appreciated the opportunity to share experiences with colleagues from different countries and institutions, which provided me with valuable new insights for my daily clinical practice.
As a host city, Madrid offered a dynamic and welcoming environment for international exchange, which enhanced the overall positive impression of the meeting. This experience strengthened my motivation for further professional development.
Mathilde Ruggiu-Goirand
Chef de Clinique Assistante, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, APHP, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
Attending the 52nd Annual Meeting of the EBMT in Madrid as a travel grant recipient was an incredibly enriching experience, both professionally and personally. As an oral presenter, I had the honour of sharing my research on the prognosis of invasive aspergillosis after allo-HSCT with leading experts in transplantation and infectious diseases. This opportunity fostered engaging discussions and provided valuable, constructive feedback that will help refine and strengthen my ongoing work.
I also had the privilege of serving as a junior chair, which was a particularly rewarding experience, as it helped me develop confidence in moderating discussions and engaging with both speakers and the audience.
Beyond these responsibilities, the meeting offered inspiring talks, dynamic exchanges, and meaningful networking opportunities. Interacting with peers and experts in such a collaborative environment was highly motivating, and I am truly grateful for this opportunity to be part of the EBMT community.
Polina Kotselyabina
Haematologist and PhD researcher, RM Gorbacheva Research Institute, Pavlov University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Attending the 52nd Annual Meeting of the EBMT in Madrid was an inspiring and highly valuable experience for me. I found the sessions on lymphoproliferative diseases especially valuable, particularly those addressing transplant strategies and cellular therapy in Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, as these topics are highly relevant to my clinical and research work. A particularly important part of the meeting for me was the opportunity to present my research during the lymphoma session and to receive valuable feedback from experts and colleagues that will help me further develop this work. I also greatly appreciated the discussions during the poster sessions, which provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and learn more about current research in haematology and transplantation. The meeting was not only educational, but also highly motivating for me as a young haematologist and researcher. I am sincerely grateful to EBMT for making this valuable experience possible.
