Applications Open for Laurent Fellowship and Travel Awards for Respiratory Health
The application deadline for the Early to Mid-Career and Senior Laurent Fellowships has been extended to 29 May 2026.
The Institute for Respiratory Health is proud to announce that applications are now open for the Laurent Fellowship and Travel Awards for Respiratory Health – a program that celebrates the life and work of Professor Geoff Laurent, a globally renowned Western Australian scientist whose career exemplified research excellence, international collaboration, and dedication to nurturing the next generation of researchers.
Made possible through generous philanthropic donations from Professor Laurent’s friends and scientific colleagues, the program ensures his legacy continues to inspire and support respiratory health researchers at The University of Western Australia (UWA), the Institute for Respiratory Health, and University College London (UCL) – the institutions closest to his heart throughout his distinguished career.
A tribute through action
Professor Geoff Laurent’s career was defined by meaningful research, knowledge exchange, and fostering academic partnerships across continents. The Laurent Fellowships and Travel Awards embody these values by creating pathways for collaboration between UWA/Institute and UCL researchers, strengthening the ties between two world-leading respiratory health research communities.
The program offers three distinct opportunities:
Early to Mid-Career Laurent Fellowship
Designed for emerging researchers, this Fellowship supports doctoral graduates (degree awarded within the past eight years) to undertake respiratory health research at a partner institution for one to three months. The Fellowship covers travel, accommodation, living expenses, and research costs, including laboratory consumables and database access.
This opportunity is ideal for researchers seeking to establish novel collaborative research programs, gain expertise in specialised research techniques, or access unique patient databases that will enhance their ongoing work.
Eligible applicants include researchers currently employed at UWA, adjunct staff in UWA-affiliated medical research institutes such as the Institute for Respiratory Health, or those who have recently completed their doctoral degree in respiratory health research at UWA.
Applications close Friday, 29 May 2026.
Senior Laurent Fellowship
This Fellowship encourages senior respiratory health scientists at UWA and the Institute for Respiratory Health to establish viable, long-term research collaborations with colleagues at UCL. Successful applicants receive funding for two to four weeks of travel between institutions, providing dedicated time to develop partnerships that will advance respiratory health research on both sides of the globe.
Applications close Friday, 29 May 2026.
Laurent Travel Awards
The Travel Awards alternate annually between supporting attendance at the International Colloquium on Lung and Airway Fibrosis (ICLAF) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress – two meetings that Professor Laurent was deeply committed to throughout his career.
In 2026, the Awards will support attendance at ICLAF in Sydney, with three awards available: one for a UCL-based recipient (with the potential to incorporate a visit to Perth as part of their travel) and two for UWA/Institute-based recipients.
ICLAF abstract submissions close Wednesday, 15 April 2026.
Building bridges, advancing research
The Laurent Fellowships for Respiratory Health represent more than funding opportunities – they are a living tribute to a scientist who understood that the most impactful research happens when talented minds collaborate across borders, when experienced researchers mentor emerging scientists, and when knowledge flows freely between institutions.
Through these Fellowships and Awards, Professor Laurent’s vision continues to shape the future of respiratory health research, creating connections that will benefit patients and communities for years to come.
How to apply
Full eligibility criteria, application forms, and detailed information about the program’s history and purpose are available here.
For more information about Professor Geoff Laurent and the establishment of this program, visit here.
The Laurent Fellowships for Respiratory Health are made possible by a group of dedicated friends and longstanding scientific colleagues of Professor Geoff Laurent, who wished to ensure that his legacy would not be forgotten.