Ascending Investigators 2021

DKK 55 million earmarked for talented researchers halfway through their careers

Samlet frise af alle bevillingsmodtagere for Ascending Investigator 2021

The Lundbeck Foundation is providing 11 neuroscience researchers with funding – each will receive DKK 5 million (approximately EUR 0.67 million).

In the midst of their careers, many biomedical science researchers at Danish universities and hospitals – typically at associate professor level – face the so-called hourglass dilemma, which is essentially all about lack of money.

Research grants – whether from public or private sources – have a tendency to favour either new talents or the older, well-established members of the professorship tier, while scientists at the “halfway point” typically find it more difficult to be given consideration.

Funding is slower to flow in, in the same way as it is more difficult for sand to flow through the narrowest part of the hourglass – in other words, in the middle.

Each LF Ascending Investigator receives DKK 5 million on average

 

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The Lundbeck Foundation Ascending Investigators programme is designed to mitigate this problem by developing particularly talented biomedical science researchers at the halfway stage of their careers in neuroscience and associated fields.

A total of DKK 55 million (approximately EUR 7.40 million) was allocated to the Ascending Investigators programme in 2021, and the money will be shared between 11 researchers, all in the midst of their careers.
Each receives DKK 5 million on average – to be paid out in instalments over the next four years.

‘The Ascending Investigators programme is a key element of the Lundbeck Foundation's coherent approach to supporting Danish neuroscience,’ says Peter Thostrup, Scientific Programme Director for the Lundbeck Foundation talent programmes.

As he says, the programme is highly popular: ‘65 researchers proposed themselves for this year’s grants, and the quality of all applications was reviewed by a special Talent Panel which then selected the 11 projects to receive funding.’

Six of the year’s grant recipients are women.

 

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As Anette Høye, Scientific Project Manager at the Lundbeck Foundation, explains, the projects represent a range of issues, each linked to neuroscience research in its own way: ‘These are all highly inspiring projects, with the potential to make significant contributions to neuroscience and the treatment of diseases related to the nervous system.’