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 Countries
Canada , 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
Human Frontier Science
Program
• 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”
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)
Research Grant Holders Country Distribution
1990-2001
Other EU
7%
Switzerland
5%
0%
Germany
10%
Germany
France
9%
UK
11%
Canada
4%
France
Canada
USA
Italy
Japan
UK
Japan
17%
Switzerland
Other EU
Italy
2%
USA
35%
Intercontinental Collaboration
• International, especially
intercontinental collaboration
• 80% of HFSP-funded research
grants from 1990 to 2000
involved intercontinental
collaborations
Research Grants 2001
Young Investigators
Other EU
9%
Other
8%
Program Grants
Canada
3% France
9%
Other EU
6%
Other
9%
Canada
France
3%
9%
Germany
9%
Germany
8%
Italy
3%
Italy
5%
Japan
9%
USA
26%
Japan
13%
UK
16%
Switzerland
3%
85 applications / 12 awards
Neuroscience: 28 appl. / 6 awards
Molecular: 57 appl. / 6 awards
USA
37%
Switzerland
3%
UK
12%
301 applications / 41awards
Neuroscience: 99 appl. / 12 awards
Molecular: 202 appl. / 29 awards
HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAM
RESEARCH GRANTS
ITALIAN PARTICIPATION ON RESEARCH GRANTS
(1990-2001)
Italians
Other Nationalities
Researchers
In Italy
52
4
Researchers
Outside Italy
38
-
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 PROGRAM
LONG TERM FELLOWS 1990-2001 (1630 LTF)
NATIONALITY OF LTF AWARDEES
Others
17.6%
HOST COUNTRY OF LTF AWARDEES
Other EU
2.4%
Canada
6.7%
Others Canada
3.8%
0.8%
France
5.2%
Germany
7.0%
Italy
0.4 %
France
13.1%
Japan
0.7%
Sw itzerland
3.7%
Other EU
14.8%
Germany
10.6%
UK
10.9%
Italy
3.8%
USA
5.4%
USA
65.1%
UK
8.0%
Sw itzerland
2.8%
Japan
17.3%
HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAM
ITALIAN HFSP LONG-TERM FELLOWS
HFSP FELLOWS
FEMALE
20
1990-2001
MALE
42
TOTAL
62
HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAM
ITALIAN HFSP LONG-TERM FELLOWS
Host Country
Number
CANADA
FRANCE
GERMANY
SWITZERLAND
THE NETHERLANDS
UK
USA
2
4
6
5
1
6
38
TOTAL
62
HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAM
LONG-TERM FELLOWSHIPS
STATUS OF FORMER ITALIAN HFSP FELLOWS*
TOTAL
48
Returned to Italy
Remained in Host Country
Moved to Another Country
20
21
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 PROGRAM
INFORMATION
http://www.hfsp.org
SECRETARY GENERAL:
DEPUTY SEC. GENERAL
TORSTEN WIESEL
TAKAYUKI SHIRAO
DIRECTOR OF FELLOWSHIPS:
DANUTA KROTOSKI
RESEARCH GRANT DIRECTORS:
MARTIN REDDINGTON
TAKASHI SHIMIZU
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
DIRECTOR
PATRICK VINCENT