The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) is a funding programme for new, innovative and interdisciplinary basic research with a focus on investigating the complex mechanisms of living organisms. 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 who are based in different countries and 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.
Deadline
- Initiation of a Letter of Intent by opening and saving the online form (which creates a 7-digit LOI ID): 17 March 2026 9:00 AM (Eastern US Time)
- Submission of a Letter of Intent: 26 March 2026 9:00 AM (Eastern US Time)
- Submission of Full Proposals: mid-September 2026, on invitation only
HFSP offers two types of Reserach Grants
- Research Grants - Program: awarded to teams of independent researchers at any stage of their careers
- Research Grants - Early Career: 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
Eligibility
- Projects: HFSP supports interdisciplinary projects that challenge existing paradigms and extend the frontiers of life sciences by using novel approaches and techniques. Collaborations should be international, preferably intercontinental.
- Teams of scientists: 2-4 scientist (should not have collaborated before)
Funding
Budgets are not required. Awarded teams receive a fixed sum, over 3 years, depending on team size
- 2-member teams 300,000 USD annually (Total: 900.000 USD)
- 3-member teams 400,000 USD annually (Total: 1.200.000 USD)
- 4-member teams 500,000 USD annually (Total: 1.500.000 USD), if all members have their labs in different countries
