RESEARCH FUNDING. Recently, the University of Gothenburg welcomed the chairman, vice chairman, and chief executive from the Torsten Söderberg Foundation. Since 2008, the foundation has granted almost SEK 70 million for research at Sahlgrenska Academy.
Two calls for proposals are currently active from the foundation:
- Academy Professorship
The call is administered by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA) and is announced almost every year. A new invitation to nominate for 2024 has been sent to all medical faculties in Sweden, where the Sahlgrenska Academy can nominate a maximum of two individuals, of which at least one should conduct disease-related research and at least one of the two nominees should be female. Information about our internal nomination process at the Sahlgrenska Academy has been sent to respective institutions. The deadline for institutions to submit their nominations to the Department of Research Support is April 2, 2024. - Research Grants
The call opens on August 10 and closes on September 1. Although doctoral students can be the sole principal applicants, it is uncommon for them to receive research grants. Excellence is always the main criterion in assessment. In recent years, the funds have decreased, and project grants have been reduced. However, there may be a slightly larger distribution space available for the fall.
The Söderberg Prize has been paused since the pandemic.
Requests promising projects close to the clinic
The visit took place in the university’s main building in Vasaparken. The foundation continues to follow the wishes of its founders, to support research and scientific education that benefits the country, primarily in the fields of economics, medicine, and jurisprudence. In medicine, it is primarily new promising projects close to clinical use that are granted.
“These types of meetings are not only important for the foundation’s follow-up work on granted projects but also provide an opportunity for us to learn about the goals and strategies of the foundation and the type of research and initiatives they want to support, so we can then convey this information to our researchers,” says Ellen Rydberg, head of the Department of Research Support.
The foundation uses permanent scientific advisers for each main area. These advisers are then free to seek assistance from other experts in the evaluation of incoming applications. The new scientific adviser for medicine is Göran K Hansson, professor of experimental cardiovascular research at the Karolinska Institute. He replaces the former chairman Hans Wigzell, professor emeritus of medicine and former rector at the Karolinska Institute.
Dean Jenny Nyström presented the faculty’s activities, highlighting the research that has made an impact on the treatment and care provided to patients today, and research that will affect future treatments. She expressed her gratitude for the funding that the foundation has contributed and her joy at the opportunity to meet them.
Two professors from the Sahlgrenska Academy who have received grants from the foundation, Fredrik Bäckhed and Milos Pekny, gave presentations during the visit. They talked about their respective projects, both within highly relevant and interesting research areas. Erik Pålsson, research advisor from the Department of Research Support, was also present.
BY: ELIN LINDSTRÖM
PHOTO: ELLEN RYDBERG AND ALLAN ERIKSSON
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