The Society for Mucosal Immunology is accepting applications for travel award support to help offset the cost of childcare, to assist scientists with dependent children to attend the 2024 ICMI meeting.

To apply, an applicant must be a SMI member (trainee or regular) and submitted an abstract for ICMI 2024. Applicants will be notified by March 31, 2024 on the outcome of their application. Grants will be in form of reimbursement of qualified, documented expenses up to the awarded limit of $500. You may apply for both a childcare travel award and a regular travel award (that supports the SMI member’s travel). If both parents are SMI members and both are attending the meeting, only one parent may apply. Priority will be given to trainees.

Awards may be used for any the following:

1.    Home-based childcare expenses that are incurred because of the SMI member’s ICMI attendance. The funds cannot be applied to regular childcare expenses.

2.    Distance travel of a childcare provider to your home to care for your child(ren) while you are attending ICMI.

3.    Travel of a childcare provider to the ICMI meeting with you to care for your child(ren).

4.    Distance travel of your child(ren) to the location of a relative or other childcare provider.

Funds may not be used for regular ongoing childcare expenses, expenses related to the parent attending ICMI 2024 (registration, hotel, etc.), food, entertainment, or other non-approved expenses. Please note that childcare is not provided on site at ICMI 2024 and SMI does not provide or recommend child care providers. SMI does not assume responsibility or liability for childcare services and it is the responsibility of the parent to thoroughly research all childcare providers. If your needs change between submitting this application and attending the meeting you will need to notify SMI to explain the changes. SMI will evaluate the request and determine if you are still eligible for the award.

The deadline for applications is February 15, 2024. ​​