In an effort to boost the international reach of metabolic research and advance findings within the field, Monash University in Australia is offering seed grants in metabolism research for scientists at its institution and at Yale School of Medicine.
Starting now through November 21, researchers at both institutions who work extensively in the areas of metabolism, diabetes, or obesity research are eligible to apply for grants of up to $38,000. In addition, separate travel awards of up to $4,000 will be offered to support the exchange of researchers between institutions. The grant application and guidelines can be accessed here — or by clicking on the documents at left.
The initiative was spearheaded by professor Tony Tiganis, Ph.D., director of Monash University’s Metabolic Disease and Obesity Program and Anton Bennett, Ph.D., co-director of Yale's Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism (ICSNM). Both scientists share a common longstanding research interest in how a family of enzymes involved in protein dephosphorylation are involved in metabolic disease. Researchers from the two universities have engaged in informal research collaborations over many years, Bennett says. “There is existing synergy and this is a way to bridge the gap on research projects,” he says. This past June, scientists from the Australian university’s Metabolic Disease and Obesity Program visited campus to present ongoing research and to hear from Yale’s ICSNM group. This meeting laid the foundation for a more extensive collaboration between the two groups.
“The goal with these grants is to facilitate a collaborative environment so that researchers can gather preliminary data and later apply for larger funding opportunities through other organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health."
Anton Bennett
“The goal with these grants is to facilitate a collaborative environment so that researchers can gather preliminary data and later apply for larger funding opportunities through other organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health,” Bennett says.
Monash University will fund up to four one-year project grants and five travel grants each year for researchers engaged in metabolic research.