Nearly 500 scientists from 62 countries applied for the five-year awards. HHMI selected researchers from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Mali, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, and Uruguay. Each will receive $350,000 to $500,000 U.S. dollars over five years.
"Through its international program, HHMI is supporting scientists of the highest quality in their home countries," said Institute President Thomas R. Cech, a Nobel prize-winning chemist. "We also bring these international scholars together with each other and with other scientists in the HHMI community to create an international network of scientific excellence."
Since HHMI awarded its first infectious diseases and parasitology grants in 2000, more than 50 transnational collaborations have sprung from annual science meetings where the international research scholars gather to present their research and learn what their colleagues from around the world are doing.
"HHMI's international program underscores a growing recognition of the international scope of science and of the way international cooperation invigorates research," said Peter J. Bruns, HHMI vice president for grants and special programs. "HHMI's support of these scientific leaders in their home countries encourages the most creative researchers, strengthens their research environments, and provides vital educational opportunities for upcoming scientists. Networking
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Contact: Jennifer Donovan
donovanj@hhmi.org
301-215-8859
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
7-Jul-2005