Multi-million SEK grants awarded to Uppsala research projects

The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation is the largest private financier of research funding in Sweden. In 2014, the foundation awarded SEK 1,7 billion to Swedish research and Swedish researchers. Now, the foundation has granted SEK 759 million to 25 projects considered to have a high potential for future scientific breakthroughs. The recipients are primarily projects in natural science, technology and medicine, but also include interdisciplinary projects.

Four of the 25 projects are coordinated from Uppsala University. In addition, several researchers at Uppsala University are co-applicants of projects coordinated from other Swedish universities.

These are the four projects with researchers from Uppsala University as their main applicants:

• The project “Towards control of formation and resolution of edema by deciphering mechanisms of vascular leak and lymphatic function” has been granted SEK 60 million over five years. Main applicant is Christer Betsholtz, professor at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology (IGP). Co-applicants: Lena Claesson-Welsh, Elisabeth Dejana, Katie Bentley and Taija Mäkinen at Uppsala University.
• The project “Evolution of new genes and proteins” has been granted SEK 47 million over five years. Main applicant is Dan I. Andersson, Professor of Medical Bacteriology at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology. Co-applicants: Leif Andersson, Siv Andersson, Johan Åqvist, Per Jemth and Maria Selmer at Uppsala University.
• The project “Exact results in gauge and string theories” has been granted SEK 34 million over five years. Main applicant is Joseph Minahan, Professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Co-applicant: Konstantin Zarembo at Uppsala University and Nordita (Nordic Institute of Theoretical Physics).
• The Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study (SCAS) has been granted SEK 18 million over five years to be used for an interdisciplinary research programme that aims to bridge the gap between the humanities and social sciences, on one hand, and medicine and natural science, on the other hand. Main applicant is Björn Wittrock at the SCAS. Co-applicant: Hans Ellegren, Dan Larhammar, Ulf Landegren, Nikolai Piskunov, Ulf Danielsson, Carl-Henrik Heldin, Gunnar Ingelman, Ulf Petterson at Uppsala University. SCAS is a national institute for advanced studies, primarily in the social sciences and humanities, hosted by Uppsala University.

‘It is pleasing to see us acquit ourselves well amidst the stiff competition for the generous grants of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. We are positioned firmly at the forefront of research’, Uppsala University Vice-Chancellor Eva Åkesson says. ‘It is particularly exciting for the SCAS to be given an opportunity to expand their work into natural science and medicine in order to create interdisciplinary collaboration in an established research environment steeped in the humanities and social sciences’.

Read more about the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation