AVASTipendium for the human brain
SCHOLORSHIP PROGRAM
FOR SUPPORTING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE RESEARCH
Page 1 of 10
Contents
AVASTipendium for the human brain is a joint education scholarship program
initiated by The Alzheimer Foundation and sponsored by international software company
AVAST.
The project focuses on supporting the development of both research on and treatment
of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative brain diseases, as well as other purposes,
particularly:

to increase the expertise of junior specialists studying the causes and development of
Alzheimer’s disease and similar neurodegenerative brain diseases, as well as other
scientific and applied fields engaged in these diseases;

for development in the area of neuro-science fields, preferring research activities in
sectors occupied with Alzheimer’s disease, and which are not yet developed in the
Czech Republic, or are only marginally developed;

as a supporting initiative and motivational tool stimulating the research activity of
students, doctoral students, and junior doctors and researchers up to the age of 40,
occupied with Alzheimer’s disease and other related illnesses;

indirectly, also to develop international cooperation in the respective fields.
Preferred projects include those promising further development, which can lead to
efforts for obtaining subsequent grants and which promise interesting published outputs.
Page 2 of 10
Project guarantors
The Alzheimer Foundation
The Alzheimer Foundation was founded to support the research of Alzheimer’s disease
and other neurodegenerative brain diseases, leading to cognitive-function disorders and
dementia.
Its goal is also to improve the quality of patient care, expanding the range of provided
care and improving the conditions under which care is provided.
The AVAST Foundation
The AVAST Foundation was founded in 2010, continuing the philanthropic activities of
the founders of AVAST Software – one of the leading international software firms, developing
programs that protect roughly 200 million computers and mobile devices worldwide, more
than any other company.
The AVAST Foundation decided to support The Alzheimer Foundation’s project with an
annual donation of CZK 500,000 and at the same time become the patron of "people’s
memories."
Page 3 of 10
Support can be provided in the following fields












neurology
neuropsychology
psychiatry
biomedicine visualization and programming
clinical research statistics
ethics
neuroradiology
biophysics
statistics
medical physics
neuroepidemiology
and other sectors occupied with Alzheimer’s disease
Requests for financial support
The program is primarily intended for fellowships lasting 3 to 6 months, particularly –
though not explicitly – at international research institutes.
Recommended research institutes include:


University of South Florida, Tampa, USA;
Mayo Clinic Rochester, USA.
Another proposed area of financing is the applicant’s involvement in special education
events and courses in the given fields and also in the applicant’s active presentations at
popular international conferences and seminars.
In case the entire amount for the program is not allocated for the purposes described
above, it can also be used to finance the international exchange of academic and research
employees and the non-investment furnishing of the applicant’s workplace
laboratories.
Page 4 of 10
The program is specifically intended for financing








tuition, course fees, participant fees;
travel expenses;
lodging costs up to $1000/month;
boarding costs up to $50/day;
fees for the personal sponsorship of a selected tutor up to $500/month (the tutor must
provide an important research capacity in the given field and his/her name and fee must
be stated in the applicant’s request for a financial subsidy from the program, the tutor’s
name and his/her remuneration are evaluated separately within the scope of the
applicant’s program);
visas;
health and accident insurance;
paying rental fees for a passenger car, if necessary (this subsidy can be requested for
circumstances when it is not possible to provide accommodations near the project house
and when commuting between both places via public transportation is not possible in a
reasonable amount of time).
Who can apply for financial support from the program





a student in the last or next-to-last year of his/her postgraduate studies;
a distance or daily student of a doctoral study program at a Czech university or
research institute;
a doctoral study program graduate;
a physician practicing in the given field;
an expert occupied with Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative brain disease.
The applicant must meet the following criteria




must be no older than 40 years of age;
must work or study in the Czech Republic;
must commit to returning to the Czech Republic after the end of the project and to also
be involved with the professional research, academic or medical institute for a
minimum period of three years (failure to comply with this condition will result in the
recipient having to return the full amount of provided subsidy);
must demonstrate knowledge of the country in which the research fellowship will take
place, by providing a certificate or document for passing a language exam in his study
card (does not apply for Czech Republic/Slovakia).
Page 5 of 10
Conditions for requesting subsidy
The request shall be submitted in writing and electronic form until October 31st 2013 to
Alzheimer nadační fond, Šimůnkova 1600, Praha 8, 182 00 and also to email address
sekretariat@alzheimernf.cz.
The request must meet the following criteria and conditions:







the applicant’s own description of the project, 2 page maximum – A4 format, with
standard formatting (Arial or Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1.5 row spacing) and a
summary up to 350 words long;
justification of the importance of the project or program, which the applicant
individually proposes for a maximum period of 6 months and outlines the potential
application of newly acquired information and experience;
curriculum vitae that includes the applicant’s age and signature, involvement in grant
activities within the scope of domestic and international grants and a listing of selected
published papers (1–1.5 page (A4 format) maximum);
list of contact information for event organizers, tutors, or institutes sponsoring the
project;
structured, transparent budget requested by the applicant;
undergraduate and postgraduate students and recent graduates shall provide
recommendations from tutors and one independent person in the Czech Republic or
abroad, working in the field or a related field;
research and expert workers shall provide at least two references – from the worker’s
subordinate and a colleague or professional international partner.
Selection procedure
The selection procedure is conducted in two rounds.
As part of the first round, up to five of the most successful applicants will be invited as
part of the second round to a personal interview, by the evaluation committee, consisting of
members of the Alzheimer Foundation board of trustees, representatives of the AVAST
Foundation and, in justified cases, also an independent expert in the given field.
The results from the selection procedure will be available on the Alzheimer Foundation
and AVAST Foundation websites, and the selected applicants will be informed in writing.
Multiple applicants can be supported as part of a single competition. A subsidy
agreement will then be concluded with the successful applicants.
Page 6 of 10
Assessment criteria
The assessment criteria for projects brought forward includes particularly originality,
applicability, contribution to society, economic impact, and benefits to the applicant and
his/her research team.
Obligations of the recipient of financial subsidy
The recipient of financial subsidy from the Alzheimer Foundation and AVAST
Foundation program shall submit a report within 30 days after the conclusion of the project
containing the description of utilizing the financial donation, project development and results,
and the overall evaluation of the project and its benefits, preferably along with photographic
or other type of documentation.
The recipient shall further submit a report for the potential presentation of a subsidy
provided by the Alzheimer Foundation and AVAST Foundation (with a list of outputs, internet
and media links, etc.).
As part of the Alzheimer Foundation and AVAST Foundation, the recipient of financial
subsidy for the three to six month international fellowship shall:


submit a travel report, travel expense documents for the statement of travel
expenses and other expenses and for the statement of provided deposits, and
provided the recipient had a personal tutor, his/her evaluation report shall also
be submitted;
submit a grant request to any of the grant agencies in the Czech Republic or
send an original article to be published in the review magazine, dedicated
to the Alzheimer Foundation - AVAST Foundation program, within 12
months after the end of the stay.
Financial statements, including documents, confirmation of involvement, and any copies
of certificates (provided courses were attended) are part of a special annex.
Page 7 of 10
Ethical codex of the recipient of subsidy
Professionalism – recipients perform tasks in their respective fields at a high
technical level, act correctly toward the employees of other institutes and other applicants for
subsidy from the Alzheimer Foundation - AVAST Foundation program.
Selflessness – recipients must not obtain financial, material, or other advantages for
himself/herself, his/her family, or friends, via means acquired from the Alzheimer Foundation
- AVAST Foundation program.
Responsibility – recipients are responsible for their actions and decisions within the
scope of supported work tasks defined, and they respect legal regulations and rules of the
program.
Transparency – recipients always act in a transparent manner and must be capable of
justifying and proving their decisions.
Honesty – recipients will not take advantage of information about organizations,
companies, and individuals obtained during work carried out on projects supported by the
Alzheimer Foundation - AVAST Foundation program.
Loyalty – recipients will always act in such manner to prevent putting their
creditability and the good reputation of the Alzheimer Foundation - AVAST Foundation
program at risk.
Humanity – recipients will not betray the general principles of research and doctor
ethics.
Page 8 of 10
FAQ
I have already been accepted to participate in the study fellowship/course/conference,
however, I cannot afford to finance my activities myself and did not receive a subsidy
from other sources I applied for. Can I apply for a subsidy with the Alzheimer
Foundation - AVAST Foundation?
Yes. Apart from other programs, our program aims to support special and justified
education activities. We also know that an applicant may have attempted to obtain a financial
subsidy elsewhere, but did not succeed due to insufficient personal or project quality, because
this type of activity is not commonly supported in the Czech Republic.
Can I enroll in the Alzheimer Foundation - AVAST Foundation program even though I
already have a scholarship?
Yes. However, activities you are requesting a subsidy for must not already be financed
in another manner. For example, you already have travel expenses, lodging, and boarding
provided, but do not have money for the course/conference fee – in this case you can apply for
subsidy via our program. Attach your confirmation of acceptance to the course/conference
and upon returning, submit the documents necessary to process the statement.
Can I enroll in the selection procedure repeatedly, even though I was not selected last
year?
Yes. However, we cannot guarantee you will be luckier a second time around. The
reasons why it did not work out previously are very important.
Can I enroll in the selection procedure repeatedly, even though I was already selected
last year?
Yes. Requests are evaluated based on quality, originality, and applicability upon
returning to the Czech Republic.
Is the scholarship coupled with obligations?
Yes. Our goal is to provide talented and goal-oriented young individuals the
opportunity to achieve academic success and subsequently utilize their newly found
experience for technical activities in the Czech Republic.
The applicant for financial subsidy, as part of the Alzheimer Foundation - AVAST
Foundation program, shall utilize the allocated resources economically and properly settle
accounts after the end of the project.
Page 9 of 10
By accepting financial subsidy, the applicant is obliged to quickly submit a grant
request focusing on research, for which the applicant requested a subsidy for as part of the
Alzheimer Foundation - AVAST Foundation program at any of the grant agencies in the Czech
Republic, or to send an original article to be published in the review magazine, dedicated to
the Alzheimer Foundation - AVAST Foundation.
Page 10 of 10