The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) today announced a new competition to help scientists born abroad trained in the United States are building research programs after they return to their country of origin. early career scientists from 18 countries are eligible for 5 years, $ 650,000 price, and up to 35 grants will be made.
HHMI President Robert Tjian said the program is part of an effort to broaden the scope of international programs of the Institute, which now receive about $ 10 million $ 827 million Hughes spends each year on research and education. The United States leads a "large number" of foreign postdocs, that "I am absolutely," said Tjian. But many obstacles facing their scientific careers after their return home. "The goal is to provide those who want to go back with the ability" to continue to make high-end research, he said.
To be eligible, applicants must have completed graduate or medical school or a postdoc in the United States and started a laboratory in the last 7 years. Those selected will receive $ 250,000 the first year and $ 100,000 per year for 4 years. They will also attend meetings with the 350 HHMI investigators supports the United States.
Hughes began its international programs in 1991, with prices to scientists in Canada, Mexico, and later in South America and Eastern Europe. The 18 countries eligible for the new competition are "a new set of players," said Tjian. Canada, Uruguay, Venezuela, Peru, and nine East European countries have been abandoned, and China, Egypt, India, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and Turkey have been added. The countries were chosen because they have the infrastructure - like good education systems still support scientific news can not provide all the research funding they need for HHMI calls "potentially transformative projects research. "the applications are due February 23.
Bruce Stillman, a member of the medical advisory board of HHMI, said the new program will export the model to enable young scientists to work in the United States regardless . in many countries, Stillman said, the system is "very hierarchical" and dominated by older scientific or "scientific socialism", in which it is difficult for the best stand. "I think it's a good move . Hughes should put its money where it will make a difference, "said Stillman, president of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York. The program joins another new HHMI international company, a $ 60 million center in South Africa who will review co-incidence of HIV and tuberculosis.
Tjian also phases out programs based on geographical institute for researchers at all career stages and another international program focused on infectious and parasitic diseases, which together support about 100 investigators . HHMI has not yet decided what, if anything, will replace the funding it provides to these scientists established after the last grants managed in December 2011. "There may be a short break," said Tjian while the Institute evaluates the results of early-career program.
Some international researchers say they are not concerned about losing their HHMI support. But others, excluded from the new initiative because they do not qualify as early career researchers or do not form in the United States, expressed their frustration at the lack of information on Hughes plans for them . Marta Miaczynska International Institute of Molecular Biology and Cell in Warsaw says Poland is the overhaul of its subsidy system and is not sure how it will replace its HHMI funding, which covers 20% to 25% of costs his laboratory. "I regret that we can not seek renewal of our HHMI grants," said Miaczynska.
molecular biologist Alberto Kornblihtt of the University of Buenos Aires used 9 years of HHMI support to expand its laboratory and publishing a series of publications in high impact journals. But he is worried that this success will come to an end. the local funding "will not be sufficient alone to support the kind of science, we have managed to do through HHMI, "Kornblihtt said, that is not eligible for the new prices
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