The Pat Howlin Prize Lecture

Recognising Junior SSBP Members working on Intervention-Based Research

The Pat Howlin Prize Lecture

This award of free registration and a prize of £200 (or equivalent) is made to a junior researcher of the Society and will be decided by the Scientific Committee. The prize and certificate will be awarded during the AGM of the society. Please indicate if you wish to be considered for this award when submitting your abstract.

Pat Howlin

After 9 years as Chair of the SSBP, Pat Howlin stepped down in 2008. At the 2008 Annual General Meeting (AGM) the SSBP membership recommended that a named lecture or prize be instituted in gratitude for Pat’s excellent contributions to the Society.

Area of Research

Intervention-based research that links directly to the learning or behavioural problems of individuals with genetic syndromes and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Preference will be given to nonpharmacological interventions such as behavioural, cognitive or psychological. However, studies directly examining aspects of neurocognition and behaviour using pharmacological or medical studies will also be considered.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be current members of the SSBP.
Applicants must be either students or junior-level researchers in the early years of research.

This is defined as: In an official training scheme; Residents or fellows; current students; junior doctors; non-clinical students. Regardless of current position held, applicants will be eligible for only 3 years after the completion of their PhD qualification.
The proposed presentation must focus on intervention-based research.
Applicants must submit an abstract for an oral presentation by 31st May 2023.

For further advice or to confirm your eligibility, please email conference@ssbp.org.uk.

Closing date for applications: 31st May 2023.

Applicants should indicate whether they wish to be considered for the Pat Howlin lecture prize on their abstract submission form.

Award Procedure

The award was launched at the AGM in 2009. Abstract submission forms will have a box to indicate that the submitting author believes their abstract to fall within the remit of the Prize Lecture as listed above, and that they are eligible to be considered for the award.

The award will be judged by the Organising Committee of each Research Symposium who will make a recommendation to the SSBP Executive Committee at least 1 month prior to the SSBP Research Symposium. Once approved by the SSBP Executive, the successful candidate will be invited to present the Prize Lecture and any registration fees paid will be re-imbursed. The prize and certificate will be awarded during the AGM of the society held during the Research Symposium.

What our members and conference attendees have to say about the SSBP.

Attending the 2018 SSBP conference in Melbourne was an excellent opportunity for me to network with and learn from passionate and experienced professionals in the neurodevelopmental disability space.

As a full-time student, financial constraints can mean that conferences are often out of range.

Therefore, I was thrilled and very grateful to be awarded a student bursary, which was really

beneficial in assisting me in being able to attend my first conference and give a poster presentation.

The conference was extremely well organised and a highly valuable learning experience for me!

SSBP Student Bursary holder 2018