About the prize
Until 2021, the prize was awarded every three years. Beginning in 2023, the prize has been awarded annually and is coordinated by the EFIS Task Force on Gender and Diversity, which reviews nomination packages and decides on the awardee. The prize consists of a €20,000 cash award, plus support for travel, accommodations and registration to attend an award ceremony to be held at the next European Congress of Immunology, ECI 2027 in Florence, Italy.
Nomination Process
Nominations are invited for female members of EFIS-affiliated national societies working in a European research institution who have run an independent laboratory for a minimum of four and no more than ten years. Candidates must have an outstanding track record of achievement in immunology.
Nominations must be submitted exclusively by an EFIS member society, which may submit up to three candidates. Nominations submitted independently without the endorsement of an EFIS member society will not be considered.
Nomination packages should include:
Nomination Letter
A letter of not more than three pages, submitted and signed by the President of the member society, outlining the nominee’s qualifications for the award. The letter should describe the nominee’s:
- Original research contributions and innovations o Mentorship of early-career researchers
- Service to the scientific community
Curriculum Vitae
A complete and up-to-date CV of the nominee.
List of Publications
A comprehensive list of the nominee’s publications, including titles and full citations. The list must clearly distinguish between:
- (a) Original research papers
- (b) Reviews and book chapters
- (c) Editorials (Conference abstracts should not be included).
Five Most Important Publications
A separate list in which the candidates identify their five most significant publications, along with a brief explanation of why they consider each publication important.
Additional Information (Tabular Format)
To facilitate evaluation by the jury, the submitting society must provide the following information in tabular form:
No. Information Required Details
- Year the candidate established their own laboratory
- Year of PhD/MD completion
- Number of supervised MSc and PhD students
- Any circumstances relevant to the prize’s eligibility time frame (minimum 4 years and maximum 10 years since establishing independence), e.g. parental leave, military service, illness. (Please confirm with the nominee that such information may be shared).
Submission Notes
- Incomplete or non-compliant submissions will not be considered.
- All documents should be submitted in English as PDF files.
- Please ensure that all information provided has been confirmed by the nominee.
Call for nominations for the 2026 Ita Askonas Prize will be announced soon.
