Five rising scientists receive grants worth millions to lead their own research projects
Five talented early-career scientists will each receive DKK 10 million to pursue their projects and develop as research leaders over the next five years.
The Lundbeck Foundation Fellowship programme, now in its 18th year, has awarded more than 100 grants worth a total of DKK 1 billion (EUR 134 million) to promising early-career researchers in Denmark and overseas.
- The Lundbeck Foundation received a total of 74 applications of which 39 were from men and 35 from women.
- 4 male applicants and 1 female applicant were selected.
- This year鈥檚 LF Fellows are from Spain, Greece, the USA, and two are from Denmark.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to contribute to advancing Danish health science research by supporting early-career scientists in pursuing a career as research leaders with their own research group鈥, says Line Vildbrad Kristensen, Senior Scientific Program Manager at the Lundbeck Foundation.
The fellowship grants cover a five-year period and help to ensure that researchers have the financial scope and stability needed for pursuing their scientific ambitions and becoming international research leaders.
Support for research leadership
In parallel with the financial support, the Fellowship program also includes a mentored leadership development component. Fellows are not only talented researchers who must plan and carry out scientific projects, but they must also act as leaders for future talents and manage to create a positive group environment which promotes well-being, motivation and ultimately research quality.
According to Peter Thostrup, Scientific Program Director and responsible for competitive calls for funding under the Lundbeck Foundation, feedback from the first intake on the two-year LF research leadership program has been largely positive. He also emphasizes that nurturing talent is part of a wider strategic agenda:
鈥淲orking with talents and for diversity is a discipline of relevance to us all, and one we have to master organisationally and nationally. I believe we can improve on that both in industry and in research,鈥 Thostrup adds.
Wide range of research fields
This year鈥檚 five LF Fellows were selected from among more than 70 applicants. They focus on different areas in health science in which they have demonstrated exceptional expertise and the potential to make significant breakthroughs in their respective fields, which span from DNA damage, epidemiological research in mental health disorders, pain research and cancer to cellular stress.
