"The objective of CASCADE-FELLOWS is to stimulate and promote the career development of experienced researchers who show considerable promise to become future leaders in the field of endocrine disruptors, nuclear receptor biology and health risk assessment. The programme will be built upon an ongoing very successful trans-national fellowship and training programme, organised by the CASCADE Network of Excellence, which has integrated the resources of 21 European universities, research institutes and SMEs. CASCADE-FELLOWS, takes the existing fellowship programme to new levels by:- • opening the programme to applicants from all over the world, thus adding a significant international dimension to the trans-national mobility of fellows; • including new partner organisations who will host the fellows within the EU member states, associated countries and third countries, thus extending the trans-national mobility of fellows to and from a wider geographical area; • adding a transnational inter-sectorial exchange dimension between academia and SMEs with a novel component to enable academic research fellows not to have a gap in their academic careers; • providing a new incoming mobility component to enable top-class third country fellows to be hosted in Europe to both enhance competition and to establish mutually-beneficial research cooperation; • providing a reintegration component to counter the brain drain of European researchers to third countries. The focal point of the programme is the career development of the individual fellows. The programme is characterised by transparency and openness, granting the fellow freedom to choose the research project, host organisation and host supervisor. Guided by a personal career development plan, a one-to-one mentorship programme and reintegration opportunities, CASCADE-FELLOWS provides a comprehensive programme of support for the fellow to embark on a long-term scientific career which responds to changing market needs."