UK NEQAS is pleased to announce updated information on the UK NEQAS Travel Award.  This award is available through open competition to UK workers in laboratory medicine (Public Health Service, National Health Service, University or Private) who wish to attend a National (or in exceptional circumstances) International scientific meeting to present the results of a scientific study which includes data obtained with UK NEQAS samples or specimens.  Both oral and poster presentations are eligible.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of scientific merit but priority will be given to:

• Junior members of staff
• Those applications which in the opinion of the assessors give the best value for money.
• Applications must be submitted at least 3 months in advance of the meeting start date.
  UK NEQAS Organisers and Managers are not eligible to apply.

The following eligibility criteria must be met.

• The applicant must intend to submit the data (in the form of a meeting abstract) to the appropriate meeting organisers in time to meet any necessary deadline.  IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR THE ABSTRACT TO HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED WHEN APPLICATION IS MADE.  HOWEVER, IF A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT SUBSEQUENTLY HAS THEIR ABSTRACT REJECTED THE AWARD WILL NORMALY BE FORFEIT.
• The data must not have been published previously nor presented at a National or International meeting.  It is permissible however for the data to have been presented previously in oral or poster form at a local scientific meeting.
• Study leave should have been granted to the applicant by the applicants institution.

The applicant will be expected to write a short report on the meeting outlining the benefits gained from attending and present the data at the UK NEQAS Consortium meeting if required.

The award may cover the following expenses, exact details of which should be supplied with the application, with details of any additional support available.

• The conference registration fee.
• Standard rail travel within the UK to the conference venue (or UK airport if overseas) from the applicants place of work.
• Return air fare (at the cheapest available price) to the conference venue.
• Hotel accommodation for an appropriate number of nights.
• An additional amount for subsistence, fares, tolls etc.
• The maximum award for any one application is £500.00

 The decision of the assessors is final.  The awarded expenditure will be reimbursed after the meeting upon receipt of evidence of attendance and appropriate receipts.  The agreed value of the award is the maximum which will be reimbursed.  Under no circumstances will this amount be exceeded.