Risk-taking projects in neuroscience awarded DKK 60 million
There are plenty of innovative researchers in Denmark. Thirty of them have received a 2024 Lundbeck Foundation Experiment grant to test wild ideas in neuroscience that challenge traditional notions.
The grants aim to enable innovative and experimental projects, even though experience shows they often prove unfeasible.
"The projects sometimes don't hold water. But if they succeed, they could form the basis for new exciting projects – and an application for a larger grant. Therefore, we are happy to continue funding these quirky projects, which are a pleasure to follow," says Peter Thostrup, Scientific Programme Director at the Lundbeck Foundation.
The Lundbeck Foundation received around 250 applications for LF Experiment in 2024.
Thirty applicants have received a grant totaling DKK 60 million.
The grant is paid out over two years.
All the projects fall within neuroscience or related research areas that can enrich brain research. They have the potential to create groundbreaking new knowledge, even though odds are tough. Although the researchers face a tough task with a low success rate, there are many applicants for the grants:
"Experiment grants are our most popular call; clearly, there are many exciting ideas in the research environments and a strong passion for testing hypotheses despite a high risk of failure. We also believe the popularity is linked to the application process being anonymous and the grant size appealing to researchers at all levels," says Anette Høye, Senior Scientific Programme Manager at the Lundbeck Foundation.
The recipients of the two-year Experiment grants are at various stages in their careers – from postdoc to professor.
