Research Grants
HFSP Research Grants support innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries.
Distinguishing Features of the HFSP Research Grant Program
HFSP Research Grants support innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries.
Participation of scientists from disciplines outside the traditional life sciences such as biophysics, chemistry, computational biology, computer science, engineering, mathematics, nanoscience or physics is recommended because such collaborations have opened up new approaches for understanding the complex structures and regulatory networks that characterize living organisms, their evolution and interactions.
Research grants are provided for teams of scientists from different countries who wish to combine their expertise in innovative approaches to questions that could not be answered by individual laboratories. Preliminary results are not required and applicants are expected to develop new lines of research through the research collaboration.
It is understood that such research inherently contains risks and HFSP expects that teams of applicants address the risks and outline mitigation strategies for their research in case of failure and how they intend to achieve their goals.
Applications for applied research, including medical research typically funded by national medical research bodies, will be deemed ineligible.
Two types of Grant are available: Research Grants – Early Career and Research Grants – Program.
| Research Grants-Early Career | Research Grants-Program |
| All team members are expected to direct a research group (however small) and must have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD or equivalent). They must be in a position to initiate and direct their own independent lines of research. The HFSP award is not intended to create scientific independence, this is a decision of the research institute prior to the application. | Awarded to teams of independent researchers at any stage of their careers. The research team is expected to develop new lines of research through the collaboration. Applications including independent investigators early in their careers are encouraged. |
Both provide three years support for 2 – 4 member teams.
Awards are fixed sums dependent upon team size.
Awards may be up to a maximum of US$500,000 per year (teams of 4 or more).
Applicants: 'Letters of Intent for Research Grants (Award Year 2026)' are to be submitted via the HFSP website, compulsory initiation of a Letter of Intent 18 March 2025. Submissions of Letter of Intent on 27 March 2025.
More information on eligibility and guidelines is available on the HFSP website.