Published 30.5.2023

The Board of the Sakari Alhopuro Foundation has decided to finance the work of medical and natural science postdoc researchers with a total of 881,936 euros. The largest single grants amounted to 60,000 euro. The researchers were awarded either a personal grant, a project grant or both. One third of the grants now awarded represent continued funding that will enable the researchers to carry on research projects they initiated earlier with support from the Foundation.

“By supporting talented individuals who have already earned their doctoral degree and wish to continue their career as researchers, we endeavour to safeguard the continuity of top research in Finland in the fields of medical science and the natural sciences”, says Professor Pentti Huovinen, Chairman of the Board of the Sakari Alhopuro Foundation.

The Foundation received altogether 154 applications, and funding was granted to 18 or about one in ten applicants. The majority of grant applications were from researchers working at the universities of Turku, Helsinki, Tampere and Oulu.

“In Finland, the research conducted in the fields of medical science and the natural sciences is multifaceted. That the applications in medical science covered such a wide range of specialties was particularly pleasing. Without quality research and highly committed researchers, it would be impossible for our healthcare services to provide efficient and advanced care for people in Finland”, Huovinen states.

Over the past three years, the Sakari Alhopuro Foundation has funded the coronavirus vaccine research carried out at the University of Helsinki with 1 million euro. In addition to the actual grants now awarded, the Foundation decided to provide continued funding worth 60,000 euro to support this research aimed at developing a nasal spray vaccine. The aim is to develop a new-generation SAR-Cov-2 vaccine that can be rapidly modified in response to new virus variants.

The names of the persons and projects that have received grant funding are found here.

          

Further information:     

Carita Rantanen, Managing Director
tel. +358 40 503 9609, carita.rantanen(at)sakarialhopuronsaatio.fi 

Pentti Huovinen, Chairman of the Board
tel. +358 40 505 2284, pentti.huovinen(at)sakarialhopuronsaatio.fi

                                                   

The purpose of the Sakari Alhopuro Foundation is to support and promote high-quality medical research, biodiversity, entrepreneurship as well as cultural and social well-being in Finland.