Scientists in Hungary and Portugal get research boost

These two scientists will receive funding in 2008 similar to the previous nine awardees announced in November 2007. The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) introduced the scheme in 2006.

EMBO Installation Grants are awarded annually and aim to strengthen science in selected member states of the EMBC, the EMBO intergovernmental funding body. The EMBC Member States hosting the grantees generally finance the grants entirely. EMBC Member States participating in the scheme include Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Turkey.

Each scientist receives 50,000 euro annually for three to five years to help them establish their groups and themselves in the European scientific community. Grantees are integrated into the prestigious EMBO Young Investigator network, providing networking opportunities with some of Europe's best young group leaders and a range of career development programmes.

“EMBO congratulates these two scientists as recipients of the 2007 EMBO Installation Grants and welcomes them to the EMBO community,” said Hermann Bujard, EMBO Executive Director. “These talented scientists will benefit from the secure financial backing of their host countries plus the active interest and support of EMBO in their scientific and professional development. They represent a promising scientific future for the countries receiving them and for Europe as a whole.”

A committee of EMBO Members selected the successful candidates for the high standard of their research. By bringing this level of scientific talent into the participating countries, EMBO hopes to improve the competitiveness of these countries in European science.

Gergely Szakács is moving from the USA to set up his laboratory at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest, Hungary to research multidrug resistance in cancer. Szakács is the third awardee to establish a lab in Hungary of the total 11 scientists receiving the 2007 EMBO Installation Grants.

In Portugal, Monica Bettencourt-Dias's group is researching cell cycle links to cancer at the Gulbenkian Institute in Oeiras. Bettencourt-Dias moves from the UK and is the second awardee to set up in Portugal of the 11 grantees for 2007. Portugal's Foundation for Science & Technology (FCT) and the Gulbenkian Institute will share payment of the Dias grant. Recipients of the 2008 EMBO Installation Grants will be announced in November 2008.