Experienced brain researchers receive 84 million DKK to explore new paths mid-career
Meet the 15 experienced research talents who make up the Lundbeck Foundation's Ascending Investigators 2024
This year鈥檚 15 Ascending Investigators are all doing neuroscientific research. Their projects have the potential to make significant contributions related to the brain and diseases in the nervous system.
The 2024, Ascending Investigator grants are awarded to 15 scientist. Their research projects are quality-assessed by the Lundbeck Foundation鈥檚 Talent Panel, which consists of leading international researchers.
Six of the recipients are women, nine are men. This reflects the gender distribution among all applicants, where 39% were women and 61% men
They each receive an average grant of 5 million DKK, paid out over four years.
Ascending Investigator grants are aimed at talented mid-career researchers who wish to move in a new research direction related to neuroscience, or who have a small research group in the building phase and want to establish these further.
鈥淲ith the grant, we aim to solve an unfortunate problem that typically arises for mid-career researchers; they meet challenges when applying for research grants from both public and private sources, which tend to favor either new talents or large, well-established research groups,鈥 says Anette H酶ye, Sr. Scientific Project Manager at the Lundbeck Foundation.
The Ascending Investigator program is an important element in the Lundbeck Foundation鈥檚 cohesive effort to support Danish neuroscience. In the evaluation of applications, emphasis is also placed on the internationalization of research; a foucs area for The Lundbeck Foundation:
The 15 projects are all within the area of neuroscience, neurology, or psychiatry.
12 out of the 15 projects have an international dimension with collaborations with institutions in the US, Canada, and Europe, hereunder the Nordics:
鈥淲e are really pleased that 12 out of 15 grant recipients this year includes international collaboration into their project. There is solid evidence that international collaborations and the exchange of researchers significantly contribute to enhancing the quality and impact of research. And we believe it is also more interesting to be a researcher when you can form lasting bonds across borders and bring new knowledge home,鈥 says Peter Thostrup, Scientific Programme Director at the Lundbeck Foundation.
