ISPPD-12 provides abstract submitters with an opportunity to apply for the Young Investigator Award. Application is done via the abstract submission system.

Key Dates

• Application period: 1 October 2021 – 18 January 2022
• Notification date: Finalists are notified a week before the Symposium

GOAL

ISPPD will grant abstract awards to young investigators presenting their abstracts during the ISPPD-12 Symposium in Toronto, Canada. The goal of this award is to inspire young investigators to continue research on pneumococci and pneumococcal diseases by recognizing outstanding scientific investigations.

ELIGIBILITY

• ISPPD-12 Symposium attendee
• Currently in or within 5 years of completing a training programme
• Must be the presenting author on the accepted abstract

PROCEDURE

• Eligible persons submitting abstracts to ISPPD will note at the time of submission if they would like to be considered for the award.
• Reviewers for each abstract category will list their recommendations for the top 2 (if <10 eligible abstracts in the category) or 3 (if 10 or more) abstracts from among those submitted for award consideration.
• A panel of judges will receive the recommended abstracts before ISPPD-12 Symposium and select 12 finalists. During ISPPD-12, the judges will review the posters and select the winners.
• Abstracts will be considered in two categories:
  1. Clinical and epidemiological studies
  2. Basic or translational science and microbiology

For each category, three finalists and one winner will be selected from among ISPPD-12 participants based in high-income countries and the same number selected from among those based in lower or middle-income countries, with country income categories as defined by World Bank

REVIEW

Scoring criteria:

1. Novel content and potential contribution to scientific advancement
2. Clear description and presentation of methods and findings
3. Potential for significant public health impact

Judges:

The panel of judges will include 5 persons:

1. Panel leader from the host country
2. Basic/translational scientist or microbiologist from a high-income setting and a second from a low- or middle-income country
3. Clinical or epidemiology expert from a high-income country and another from a low- or middle-income country

AWARD

Finalists will be acknowledged with a ribbon that will be displayed on their ISPPD-12 poster or in their presentation slides during the Symposium. Winners will be announced at the start of the final plenary session or closing ceremony. Winners will receive a certificate and free registration for the next ISPPD (ISPPD 2024).

Young Investigator Award Winners 

ISPPD-12, 2022

Category “Clinical and Epidemiological Studies – High Income Setting”

• Winner: Elena Mitsi, United Kingdom
• Abstract: STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE COLONISATION ASSOCIATES WITH IMPAIRED ADAPTIVE IMMUNE RESPONSES AGAINST SARS-COV-2

Category “Clinical and Epidemiological Studies – Low- and Middle-Income Setting”

• Winner: Salahuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh
• Abstract: EVALUATION OF MACHINE LEARNING TO DETECT ADVENTITIOUS LUNG SOUNDS USING DIGITAL AUSCULTATION TO AID CHILDHOOD PNEUMONIA DIAGNOSIS

Category “Basic or Translational Science and Microbiology – High Income Setting” 

• Winner: Gerry Tonkin-Hill
• Abstract: CHARACTERISATION OF PNEUMOCOCCAL WITHIN-HOST DIVERSITY DURING TREATMENT, TRANSMISSION AND CARRIAGE VIA DEEP POPULATION SEQUENCING

Category “Basic or Translational Science and Microbiology – Low- and Middle-Income Setting”

• Winner: Jonathan Zintgraff
• Abstract: COMBINATION OF PREDICTIVE CLASSIFICATION ALGORITHMS, USING AUTOMATED TRAINING TECHNIQUES AND MALDI TOF MS FOR CAPSULAR SEROTYPING OF STREPTOCOCCUS PNEUMONIAE.