More than 200 researchers in Europe have been awarded grants as part of the European Advanced Grants 2020 Advanced Grants Competition.

The latest European Research Council (ERC) grant competition involves four Irish researchers worth $ 500 million.

The Advanced Grants Competition 2020 provides funding for 209 leading researchers across Europe to continue their work.

Succeeds in studying the links between obesity and pancreatic cancer, threats from wildlife viruses, brain-inspired neural network computer chips, and new ways for architects to design future buildings.

The four Ireland – based awards are Jennifer McLean, Seamus Martin, Daniel Kelly from Trinity College Dublin and Kathleen James-Chakraborty from University College Dublin.

Trinity Marshal Patrick Prendergast said it was a great achievement for Trinity to win three highly competitive grants.

These latest awards, which support research in botany, immunity and bioengineering, showcase the diversity of world-leading research taking place at Trinity, ”he said.

McLean is a professor of botany at the Trinity School of Natural Sciences. They will lead the Terform project, which aims to study how plant life, plant characteristics and “characteristics” have influenced large-scale processes such as the evolution of the hydrological cycle and climate over the past 300 years.

Martin is a professor of medical genetics at the Trinity School of Genetics and Microbiology. He will lead a distress program aimed at understanding “smoking inflammation”, which can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer, obesity, neurodegeneration and diabetes.

Kelly is a professor of tissue engineering at Trinity and a leading researcher at the SFI Center for Advanced Materials. Kelly will lead growing 3D bioprinting technologies to deliver precisely controlled physical and biochemical signals to cells to design structurally and mechanically functioning musculoskeletal tissue.

James-Chakrabarty is a professor of art history at University College Dublin. She will lead the Expanding Agency project, which explores women, race and the global spread of modern architecture.

This is the latest ERC call under Horizon 2020, paving the way for Horizon Europe, the largest financial aid tool for research and innovation in Europe.

ERC President Professor Jean-Pierre Burgwignon said the toughest competition in the latest competition meant that only 8% of applicants won.

“Many of the best researchers with innovative ideas have excelled, but have not received funding due to budget constraints – another motivation at the national or local level to support these large projects,” he declared.

Researchers wishing to compete for the ERC Advanced Grant have until May 20, August 20, 2021 to apply for the next round of funding. More information about funding and applications.