Verified

Thoracic & Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship

European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)

The Thoracic & Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship aims to provide an unprecedented opportunity for young thoracic surgeons to improve their understanding of diagnoses and treatment in thoracic oncology. We aim to support you master state-of-the-art skills in surgical management focusing on minimally invasive approaches at the Shanghai Chest Hospital, a super-high-volume centre in Shanghai. Training items can be tailored to the need of the fellow, depending on their practice at home countries and their previous experience in thoracic surgery. Participation in clinical trials under the guidance of mentors is encouraged for the fellows to learn the principles and methods of study design, execution, data analysis, results presentation, and paper writing.

Fellowship Overview

The selected Fellow will get full exposure to the following:

Basic VATS skill training at the simulation centre.
Scrub in as cameraman and first assistant.
Wet lab training for lobectomies (thymectomy, esophagectomy).
How to do a standard lobectomy and segmentectomy (thymectomy, esophagectomy).
Principles and skills in lymph node dissection under VATS.
How to cope with unexpected situations during VATS procedures.
Journal club and MDT conferences.
Clinical research group meetings.

Learning Objectives

Improved understanding of modern principles in diagnoses and treatment in thoracic oncology, including lung cancers, mediastinal tumours, and esophageal diseases.
Building competency in independently performing thoracic procedures, focusing on skills for minimally invasive approaches.
Mastering basic knowledge in clinical studies related to thoracic surgery.

Specific Learning Objectives

Understanding of modern principles in decision making on surgical indication, resection extent, and lymph node dissection for lung cancers (thymic tumours, esophageal cancers, etc.).
Mastering necessary skills in minimally invasive lobectomy, segmentectomy, and lymph node dissection for early-stage lung cancers (thymectomy, oesophagectomy, etc.).
Getting to know basic ideas in clinical study design, data analysis, and manuscript writing.

Funding

This Fellowship includes a generous financial contribution of €11,350 towards living and travel costs. In addition, EACTS will provide a bursary towards the cost of your attendance at the 2027 EACTS Annual Meeting.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct relevance to cardiothoracic surgery (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

This is the most important success factor.

Competitive proposals should focus on:

Adult cardiac surgery
Thoracic surgery
Congenital cardiac surgery
Aortic surgery
Valve surgery
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
Robotic cardiothoracic surgery
Mechanical circulatory support
Heart and lung transplantation
Extracorporeal life support (ECMO)
Perioperative cardiothoracic care

Projects outside cardiothoracic surgery are generally not competitive.

2. Strong potential to improve surgical outcomes and patient care (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

EACTS prioritizes research that improves clinical practice.

Competitive proposals should demonstrate potential to:

Reduce surgical complications
Improve survival
Enhance perioperative care
Improve long-term outcomes
Improve quality of life
Optimize surgical decision-making
Improve patient safety

Projects with a clear pathway to improving cardiothoracic surgical care receive the strongest consideration.

3. Scientific excellence and rigorous methodology (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive proposals should include:

Important clinical or scientific questions
Strong scientific rationale
Appropriate study design
Robust statistical analysis
Clearly defined outcome measures
Feasible milestones

Scientific quality is a core component of EACTS peer review.

4. Innovation in cardiothoracic surgery (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive projects often investigate:

Novel surgical techniques
Robotic surgery
Artificial intelligence
Image-guided surgery
Tissue engineering
Advanced biomaterials
Digital surgery
Precision surgery
Surgical simulation
New cardiovascular devices

Innovative projects that can transform surgical practice are highly competitive.

5. Strong translational potential (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

EACTS supports research that bridges laboratory discoveries and clinical practice.

Competitive proposals often involve:

Translational cardiovascular research
Medical devices
Biomarker development
Clinical trials
Surgical technology
Regenerative medicine
Precision cardiovascular medicine

Applications should clearly explain how discoveries will improve patient care.

6. Early-career surgeon-scientist development (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

A defining feature of many EACTS funding programs is the development of future academic leaders.

Competitive applicants often include:

Cardiothoracic surgery residents
Fellows
Early-career consultants
Junior faculty
Surgeon-scientists beginning independent research careers

Reviewers assess leadership potential, academic commitment, and future contributions to the specialty.

7. Strong mentorship and institutional support (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive applications typically include:

Experienced mentor(s)
Strong host institution
Access to research infrastructure
Protected research time
Appropriate laboratory and clinical facilities

Fellowship programs place particular emphasis on the quality of the host institution and supervision.

8. International collaboration and knowledge exchange (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

EACTS encourages collaboration among:

European academic centers
International surgical institutions
Multidisciplinary research teams
Clinical trial networks

Many fellowship programs are specifically designed to promote international training and collaboration.

9. Feasible project design and realistic implementation (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive proposals demonstrate:

Realistic timelines
Appropriate budgets
Clearly defined milestones
Available infrastructure
Achievable project scope

Well-planned pilot or translational studies are particularly competitive.

10. Dissemination and contribution to cardiothoracic surgery (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive proposals should demonstrate plans to:

Publish in peer-reviewed journals
Present at the EACTS Annual Meeting
Contribute to EACTS educational activities
Influence clinical guidelines
Advance evidence-based cardiothoracic surgery

Broad dissemination enhances the long-term impact of funded research.

Specialties

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Surgery

Eligibility Requirements

Application and Selection

In order to apply for this fellowship there are some essential criteria you must meet:

Be an EACTS member
Last year or stage of training, or within the first four years of independent practice.
Formal medical education and a medical license in the home country.
Basic training in open thoracic procedures and peri-operative management
Be Fluent in English – English language proficiency in conversation and writing

Applicants who possess the following desirable criteria would be of particular interest:

Possibility of applying the knowledge and abilities acquired during the fellowship in home practice

In order to complete your application, you must submit the following documents*:

Letter of interest detailing the way in which you meet the above application criteria, along with your career aspirations and how you believe the Fellowship will impact your career.
Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications.
Summary of operative experience in Thoracic surgery.
Residency in a formal general thoracic/cardiothoracic training programmes in a recognised center.
Letter of support from a current supervisor.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: EACTS House, Madeira Walk, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1EU

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity