France 2030 Initiative Awards Funding to 15 Biomedical Researchers

On July 7, 2025, it was announced that 15 outstanding researchers have been recognized with the 'Chaires d’excellence en Biologie/Santé' as part of the France 2030 initiative. This significant initiative aims to enhance France's appeal in the realm of biomedical research and innovation, underlining the country's commitment to tackling major health challenges. Each selected researcher will receive funding ranging from 2 to 5 million euros over the next five years, aimed at supporting groundbreaking research projects that merge fundamental and translational research, focusing on critical health issues such as cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.

This announcement was made by prominent officials including Catherine Vautrin, Philippe Baptiste, and Yannick Neuder. The latest laureates bring the total to 37 since the initiative's inception, following the inclusion of 22 laureates in the previous year. Among the newly honored researchers, seven are women and eight are men, showcasing diversity within the program, with three recipients relocating to France to further their research endeavors. Notably, some of the French laureates previously conducted their work in the UK and an American laureate was based in the US before moving to France.

The funded projects are poised to make significant strides against major diseases, with six focusing on cancer and five on neurodegenerative illnesses, including Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The research spans various fields such as cellular biology, genetics, immunology, and microbiology, and aims to deepen understanding of complex diseases, paving the way for innovative treatment options. The initiative is managed by the Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR), which is channeling part of an 80 million euro budget designated for around 40 chairs under the France 2030 plan, designed specifically to attract world-class researchers to boost the French research landscape.