Introduction

The Carlos Simon Foundation for Research in Women’s Health (Fundación Carlos Simón para la Investigación en Salud de la Mujer) (the “Foundation”) is pleased to offer a series of programs for young people interested in science within its summer school (the “Summer School”). The Summer School will be held at the Foundation’s facilities located in Ronda Narciso Monturiol, 11C, Paterna (Valencia, Spain).

Summer School Programs

The Summer School will cover diverse topics related to women’s health and reproductive biology. The specific topics for each program of the Summer School are as follows (the “Programs”):

• June 17^th-21^st. “In Utero Conversations: Unveiling Prenatal Connections Between Mother and Child.” Group: Materno-embryonic communication. Principle Investigator: Felipe Vilella
• June 24^th-28^th. “Microbiome Mysteries: Unraveling the Secret Roles of Bacteria in Pregnancy.” Group: The endometrial microbiome in human reproduction. Principle Investigator: Inmaculada Moreno
• July 1^st-5^th. “From Wet Lab to the Clinic: Preventing Pregnancy-related Complications.” Group: Maternal implications in the origin of preeclampsia. Principle Investigator: Tamara Garrido
• July 8^th-12^th. “Exploring Women’s Health: A Focus on Oncology.” Group: Molecular and cellular origin of gynecological tumors. Principle Investigator: Aymara Mas
• July 15^th-19^th. “Endometrial Regeneration: Navigating the Hype, Separating Fact from Fiction, and Embracing the Ups and Downs.” Group: Endometrial Regenerative Therapies. Principle Investigator: Xavier Santamaria
• July 22^nd-26^th. “From Data to Discovery: Bioinformatics under the sun.” Group: The uterus from a systems biology and artificial intelligence perspective. Principle Investigator: Beatriz Roson

Dates and Times of the Programs

The Programs will be held every weekday from June 17th to July 26th, 2024. Each Program will run from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm. Applicants may choose to attend one or more of the six Programs available, which are described above.

Fee

Assistance to each Program will cost €200 + Taxes (the “Fee”), to be paid by each participant selected to take place on the relevant Program. This Fee covers materials and reagents for training, shadowing, and liability insurance. This Fee does not cover accommodation, meals, or transportation.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to participate in a Program:

• Aged between 18 and 22 
• A strong interest in science 
• Fluency in English 

Registration

The registration period for the Programs will be open from February 15th to March 31st of 2024. To register, applicants must complete the following online registration form (https://forms.gle/bp77xQo5t4LsLbpr9)

A competitive selection process will determine the final list of participants. Factors considered in the selection process will include, among others, the number of Programs applied for, the date of registration, and the contents of the motivation letters submitted.

In any case, the decision of admission or rejection of the applicants will be made exclusively by the Foundation, without it having to provide the specific reasons that have led to the acceptance or rejection of any particular applicant.

Accepted candidates will be notified by email on April 5th, 2024. The list of admissions will also be published on our website (https://carlossimonfoundation.com/csf-summer-school-2024/).

The participants of the Programs will not be considered employees of the Foundation, nor will they be incorporated into its organizational structure. Under no circumstances will the participants of the Programs have an employment relationship with the Foundation, not even as provided for in the current labor regulations on apprenticeship or internships contracts.

Payment

Payment for the Programs must be made by bank transfer. The deadline for payment is April 30th, 2024.

Failure to pay the Fee in full within this period will result in the participant in question irrevocably forfeiting his or her place at the Programs in which he or she has been admitted.

Any participant who does not pay the corresponding amount by April 30th may be replaced by another candidate from the preregistration list, for whom a new payment schedule will be established.

Cancellation Policy

50% of the Fees pertaining to cancellations made before April 30th, 2024, will be refunded. Fees concerning cancellations made after April 30th, 2024, will not be refunded.

Behavior during the Programs

The participants in the Programs agree to follow the instructions of the Foundation’s staff at all times and to respect the Foundation’s facilities and the material and equipment provided to them for the purposes of the Programs.

Repeated disobedience of the instructions of the Foundation staff that hinders the development of a Program will determine the immediate expulsion of the participant involved.

Likewise, a participant who deliberately causes damage to other participants, to the Foundation’s facilities and to the equipment and material provided for the purposes of the Programs will be immediately expelled from the Program in which he/she participates.

The Foundation may exclude the participant expelled for the aforementioned reasons from other Programs in which he/she has been admitted, without it having to reimburse the Fees pertaining to said Programs already paid by the participant excluded, as well as reject his/her future applications to other activities organized by the Foundation.

Liability

The Foundation or any of its employees, directors, investigators, students or agents assume no liability for any accidents, injuries or damages of any kind to participants that occur outside the Foundation’s premises and the participants undertake to hold the Foundation and all of its employees, directors, investigators, students and agents harmless from any damage or claims derived from said accidents, injuries or damages. The Foundation has insurance to cover damages that occur within the Foundation’s premises. The participants are responsible for their actions and property while on the Foundation’s premises and undertake to hold the Foundation and all of its employees, directors, investigators, students and agents harmless from any damage or claims arising from their actions while on the Foundation’s premises or from damages on their property caused while located on said premises.

Once the daily schedule of the Programs has concluded, the participants in the Programs may leave the facilities.

It is recommended for the participants in any Program to ascertain whether they will need to take out travel insurance for the duration of their stay in Spain.

Image and Video Rights

The Foundation is committed to protecting the privacy of the participants in its Summer School. In compliance with the applicable regulation on data protection, the participants have the right to opt out of having their photographs and videos used in the Foundation’s promotional materials. To exercise this right, participants must contact the Foundation at least 14 days before the start of the relevant Program by sending a written communication through the following address: [email protected]. If the participants do not opt-out, their photographs and videos may be used in the Foundation’s promotional materials, including on its website, social media pages, and print publications.

The Foundation will only use participants’ photographs and videos in a manner that is consistent with the Foundation’s mission and values. The Foundation will not share the participants’ photographs or videos with third parties without their express consent.