Life Sciences
This grant funds innovative research into the fundamental mechanisms, emergent properties, and purpose of life, supporting interdisciplinary studies in areas like origins, complexity, genetics, and biological diversity.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
John Templeton Foundation has archived this opportunity.
Funder: John Templeton Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2026 (Call for proposals deadline)
Funding Amounts: Varies by project; typically supports multi-year research grants in life sciences
Summary: Funds innovative research on the fundamental structures, mechanisms, and emergent properties of life, including purpose, complexity, and genetics.
Description
The John Templeton Foundation's Life Sciences program supports research and engagement projects that investigate the fundamental structures and mechanisms of the biological world. The program welcomes experimental and theoretical work on topics such as the origins of life, synthetic biology, and the diversity of living systems across all biological kingdoms. A primary focus is on advancing the scientific understanding of purpose in living systems, with an emphasis on emergent properties like directionality, agency, memory, and adaptive navigation. Research addressing foundational questions in complexity, emergence, genetics, epigenetic inheritance, plant resilience, and ecological health is also encouraged.
