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Supporting research leaders at all career stages

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Research Leader Programme aims to ensure that excellent research leaders have the opportunity to pursue ambitious and innovative projects.

Latest news

Grant for investigating whether an antimalarial drug can improve pregnancy outcomes

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded a grant of DKK 10 million to Karen Schreiber, a doctor and Associate Professor at the Danish Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, to investigate whether the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine can help to improve the pregnancy outcomes of women with antiphospholipid antibodies.

Pregnancy often causes complications for women with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), in which their immune system produces antiphospholipid antibodies which interact with the body’s own cells. Women with antiphospholipid antibodies and APS have a much higher risk of preeclampsia, recurrent early pregnancy loss, intrauterine death and fetal growth restriction because the..

Meet our recipients

Project examples

Major grant for mapping the mechanisms behind nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Grant awarded to solve the genetic riddle behind genetic disease and pregnancy loss
Grant for investigating the dynamics of the largest carbon store in soil
Grant to reveal the secrets of bacteria

DKK 2.4 billion over 5 years

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has allocated DKK 2.4 billion (€322 million) for its Research Leader Programme aimed at excellent research leaders at different stages of their careers.

Individual grants of up to DKK 10 million are awarded each year. The 5-year grants are awarded within the scientific fields:

  • Bioscience and basic biomedical research (2018- );
  • Clinical and translational research (2019- );
  • Data science research (2020- );
  • Endocrinology and metabolic research (2018- );
  • Industrial biotechnology and environmental biotechnology (2021- );
  • Plant science, agriculture and food biotechnology (2021- ); and
  • Biotechnology-based synthesis and production research (2019-2020).

The grants are awarded based on applications submitted in open competition. Calls for applications are typically open in late fall with deadlines in January.

See all Novo Nordisk Foundation calls here.