Funder: National Research Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (LOI initiation) | March 2027 (LOI submission) | September 2027 (Invited full proposals)
Funding Amounts: USD 300,000–500,000 annually per team for three years, subject to team composition
Summary: Supports new international, interdisciplinary teams investigating fundamental questions at the frontiers of the life sciences.
Key Information: Applicants must be independent research-group leaders; individuals and postdoctoral fellows are not eligible.
Description
The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) Research Grant Programme funds innovative basic research into the complex mechanisms of living systems. Implemented by the International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO), it supports new international collaborations combining distinctly different expertise. The National Research Foundation and South African Medical Research Council share the opportunity with South Africa’s research community through the country’s HFSP membership.
Research can span molecules, cells, tissues, organisms, cognitive functions, populations and ecosystems. HFSP prioritizes potentially transformative ideas that challenge existing paradigms, rather than incremental advances. Participation from physics, chemistry, mathematics, computing, engineering and other disciplines outside traditional life sciences is encouraged. High-risk, exploratory projects are welcome, and preliminary results are not required.
