Calls for Proposals FY 2025 Interstellar Initiative
Outline
| Status of Grants/Funding Opportunities | Grants/Funding Opportunities |
|---|---|
| R&D phase | Basic Study |
| Key Fields | Project for Seeds Development and Research Base |
| Submission Deadline | April 15, 2025 - May 22, 2025 (1:00PM JST) |
| Contact |
|
Public offering content
The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), in collaboration with the New York Academy of Sciences, is pleased to announce a call for proposals for the 2025-2026 Interstellar Initiative. The purpose of the call is to recruit Early Career Investigators (ECIs) to attend the 2025-2026 Interstellar Initiative.
The 2025-2026 Interstellar Initiative will address challenges in basic research to elucidate the complex mechanisms of living organisms. Research topics may include biological functions or pathological conditions at all levels of analysis: for example, studies on genes and individual molecules, intracellular networks, intercellular associations in tissues and organs, and networks underlying the complex functions of entire organisms. Translational research topics are discouraged.
Collaboration is key to truly innovative scientific discoveries and advancements. The Interstellar Initiative connects ECIs with peers in related but distinct disciplines under the guidance of mentors who are established scientists at the forefront of their respective academic fields.
This is a remarkable opportunity for ECIs to: (i) network with exceptional researchers from around the world; and (ii) build international research collaborations; (iii) receive expert guidance from leading senior scientists on the preparation of a compelling research proposal.
Up to twenty-four applicants will be selected. Successful applicants will participate in an orientation session (virtual) in August and a three-day workshop in New York City from September 17 to 19 2025. Teams are carefully matched before the workshop and strongly encouraged to connect virtually ahead of the in-person event (all teams will consist of one member from Japan and other two members from different areas of the world). During the New York City workshop, teams meet in person, build connections, and collaboratively identify complementary research areas to develop a joint research concept under the guidance of their Mentors. Each team will receive a maximum funding of 1.92 million Japanese Yen (direct cost) from AMED, administered through the PI’s institution in Japan. The final presentation session (virtual) is also planned in late January or early February (date will be announced later).
Please carefully read the NYAS website for Application Guidelines of Interstellar Initiative.
Program summary
The Interstellar Initiative ― presented jointly by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development and the New York Academy of Sciences ― recognizes the world’s most promising Early Career Investigators and connects them with peers, in related but distinct disciplines, providing a platform for them to develop a solution to a major research question. The aim is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and thereby catalyze discovery.
Eligibility
Applications are invited from Early Career Investigators who have backgrounds in the following broad categories:
- Biomedical Research
- Life Sciences
- Physical/Natural Sciences
- Biotechnology/Analytical technology (including data/computer science)
Early Career Investigator applicants must:
- Hold a doctoral degree or equivalent (PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, etc.)
- Have obtained their last doctoral degree within the past 10 years
- Have been engaged in active research for 10 years or less since obtaining their doctoral degree or equivalent
- Have ever obtained research grant on their own to carry out their research projects for more than 2 years or hold a tenure-track or equivalent faculty position at a university, private research institution, academic medical center, or national government laboratory
- Be proficient in speaking and writing in English for the purpose of professional science communication
- Have never participated in the Interstellar Initiative activities/workshops of the previous rounds.
Note: Exceptions to these requirements may be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the organizers. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact interstellar”AT”nyas.org or interstellar”AT”amed.go.jp. ※Replace "AT" with @.
Solicitation Period
How to Apply
Early Career Investigators must prepare a proposal that addresses the following:
Identify a critical question in basic research, emphasizing its significance and potential impact, and propose a research idea that leverages your expertise to address it. Please also describe how you hope to further develop and strengthen this idea through your participation in the Interstellar Initiative. Please note that this proposal is a starting point for team matching and idea development and may not be the final project you work on during the initiative.
Proposals may not exceed 1000 words in length, must be in English, and must address the evaluation criteria (please see the Application Guidelines). A supplementary figure may be included but is not required.
Applicants who belong to Japanese institutions must submit their application to both the Application portal and e-Rad portal. Note that applications submitted only through one portal will not be accepted.
Follow guideline attached to submit application to e-Rad portal.
Reference
Application Guidelines
04/15/25
Last updated 04/15/25