NEW 4 ERC STARTING GRANTS

Four researchers from the CRG have been awarded Starting Grant scholarships by the European Research Council (ERC): Gian Gaetano Tartaglia, Pedro Carvalho, Salvador Aznar-Benitah and Toni Gabaldón. These prestigious grants are aimed at young researchers with less than twelve years of postdoctoral experience. This year's call had a budget of 800 million euros and 4,740 candidates applied. Only 536 were selected. Spain received 29 grants, 14 of which went to Catalonia.
 
This funding will allow the development of several projects. Tartaglia will investigate the role of non-coding RNA and protein networks in neurodegenerative diseases. Carvalho will work on the biogenesis of lipid droplets and lipid homeostasis. Aznar-Benitah will study the spatiotemporal regulation of epidermal stem cells via circadian rhythms and its impact on homeostasis and ageing. Finally, Gabaldón will focus on the study of evolutionary genomics of long non-coding RNAs.
 
In fact in Spain, the CRG is the centre with the most scientists having been awarded European Research Council (ERC) grants in the life sciences category, with 8 Starting Grants and 3 Advanced Grants, providing over 17 million Euros to undertake projects with other international centres. 
Please, find the official ERC press release with statistics and other information here.