Human Frontier Science Program

The Human Frontier Science Program promotes international collaborations on the mechanisms

underlying the complex functions of living systems.

HFSP supported research must be novel, interdisciplinary, and intercontinental.

Member Supporting Parties

G7 CountriesCanada , France , Germany , Italy, Japan, UK, USA

Switzerland

European Union (through European Commission)

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal,the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden

Areas of Research Support

Research into the mechanisms underlying the complex functions of living organisms ranging from biological functions at the molecular level to higher brain functions.

Scientific Programs

• Research Grants: for international teams of scientist embarking on novel interdisciplinary research.

Program Grants

Young Investigators

• Long-term Fellowships: for postdoctoral training in another country; third year of support can be used for repatriation

• Career Development Award: funding to support independent research in home country by former LTF

• Short-term Fellowships: short visit to establish new collaborations

• Annual Awardee Meetings

New Developments- opportunities for young scientists -

• Long-Term Fellowships:- 3 years with possibility of repatriation

- Career Development Award – independent research support for fellows returning to their home countries

• Research Grants– special program for Young Investigators– introduction of two step review procedure with letter of intent

Nationality Eligibility Criteria

• Long-Term Fellowships:– Nationals of Member Supporting Countries can undertake a fellowship in

any country with the exception of their home country or country in which they performed/received their doctoral degree

– Nationals of other countries must undertake a fellowship in one of the Member Supporting Countries

– Fellowships cannot be used to move from one laboratory to another in the same country

• Research Grants– There are no restrictions on the nationality for team members, however

the Principal Investigator must be from a Member Supporting Country.

Research Grants

• For novel, innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to basic biological research

• International , especially intercontinental collaboration

• Involvement of other disciplines such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science and engineering

• International, intercontinental research collaboration in the field of basic biology

• Original, challenging ideas are most welcomed• Researchers early in their careers are strongly

encouraged to apply• Preliminary results are not required• Pioneering journeys into uncharted scientific

territories: greater potential rewards of “science”

Human Frontier Science Program

Young Investigator Grants

• 3 years at $250,000 per year• Within 5 years of obtaining an independent

position• Not more than 10 years after PhD

Program Grants

• for scientists at any stage of their careers • team members are expected to embark upon new

projects • 3 years up to $500,000 per year

Research Grants Application procedure

• Submission of Letter of Intent by March 30, 2001• Electronic submission via web site• Selected invitations for full applications

(Deadline September 2001, for awards March 2002)

Germany10%

France9%

Canada4%

USA35%

Italy2%

Japan17%

UK11%

Switzerland5%

Other EU7%

0%Germany

France

Canada

USA

Italy

Japan

UK

Switzerland

Other EU

Research Grant Holders Country Distribution 1990-2001

Intercontinental Collaboration

• International, especially intercontinental collaboration

• 80% of HFSP-funded research grants from 1990 to 2000 involved intercontinental collaborations

Research Grants 2001

Young Investigators Program Grants

85 applications / 12 awardsNeuroscience: 28 appl. / 6 awardsMolecular: 57 appl. / 6 awards

301 applications / 41awardsNeuroscience: 99 appl. / 12 awardsMolecular: 202 appl. / 29 awards

Canada3% France

9%

Germany8%

Italy5%

Japan13%

Switzerland3%UK

16%

USA26%

Other EU9%

Other 8%

Canada3%

France9%

Germany9%

Italy3%

Japan9%

Switzerland3%

UK12%

USA37%

Other EU6%

Other 9%

HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAMRESEARCH GRANTS

ITALIAN PARTICIPATION ON RESEARCH GRANTS (1990-2001)

  Italians Other Nationalities

Researchers 52 4In Italy

Researchers 38 - Outside Italy

Long-term Fellowships

• Goal: To enable scientists within 3 years of completing their Ph.D. to obtain postdoctoral training abroad– Tenure up to 3 years– 3rd year can be used for repatriation to home country

and can be deferred for up to two years– Repatriating Long-term Fellows are eligible for an

HFSP Career Development Award

HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAMLONG TERM FELLOWS 1990-2001 (1630 LTF)

 HOST COUNTRY OF LTF AWARDEES

USA65.1%

UK10.9%

Others0.8%

Other EU2.4%

France5.2%

Canada3.8%

Italy0.4 %

Japan0.7%

Sw itzerland3.7%

Germany7.0%

NATIONALITY OF LTF AWARDEES

Canada6.7%

France13.1%

Germany10.6%

Italy3.8%

Japan17.3%

Sw itzerland2.8%

UK8.0%

USA5.4%

Other EU14.8%

Others17.6%

HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAM ITALIAN HFSP LONG-TERM FELLOWS

HFSP FELLOWS 1990-2001

 FEMALE MALE TOTAL

20 42 62 

HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAM ITALIAN HFSP LONG-TERM FELLOWS

Host Country Number

CANADA 2FRANCE 4GERMANY 6SWITZERLAND 5THE NETHERLANDS 1UK 6USA 38

TOTAL 62 

HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAMLONG-TERM FELLOWSHIPS

STATUS OF FORMER ITALIAN HFSP FELLOWS* 

TOTAL 48

Returned to Italy 20Remained in Host Country 21Moved to Another Country 7

 

*Having completed their fellowships before 11/02/2002

Career Development Award

• Goal: To enable young investigators to develop independent research programs upon returning to their home country: – Provides $90,000 per year for 2 years for salary and

research support for former HFSP fellows. Funding can be extended to 3 years at $60,000 per year.

– Fellows must have returned to their home country and be appointed to a position allowing them to perform independent research

– Program will start at the earliest in 2003

Short-term Fellowships

• Goal: to enable scientists to establish new collaborations or to learn new techniques

• Provides travel and per diem for periods of 2 weeks to 3 months in a laboratory in a foreign country– For scientists at all stages of their careers to spend

time in a new laboratory– For former HFSP Long-term Fellows to visit their

former host laboratories

HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAMINFORMATION

 

http://www.hfsp.org

SECRETARY GENERAL: TORSTEN WIESELDEPUTY SEC. GENERAL TAKAYUKI SHIRAO

DIRECTOR OF FELLOWSHIPS: DANUTA KROTOSKI

RESEARCH GRANT DIRECTORS: MARTIN REDDINGTON

TAKASHI SHIMIZUFINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIONDIRECTOR PATRICK VINCENT