• Else Kroener Excellence Grants 2026: Funding program for US-based outstanding medical researchers
• The Else Kroener Fresenius Foundation (EKFS) will provide a total of €10 million in funding for 2026
• Offer long-term career opportunities in Germany
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Else Kröner Excellence Gran ts 2026
For decades now, advances in medical research in the USA have helped to find cures for diseases and save lives all around the world. Restrictions on scientific freedom and cuts to the funding for research areas deemed undesirable are increasingly impacting the work of some scientists living and researching in the USA, however. With the Else Kröner Excellence Grants, the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS) aims to enable outstanding scientists to successfully continue their medical research in Germany. Medical faculties and universities wishing to host a US-based scientist at their research facility in Germany can apply with the scientist to the EKFS for funding. In 2026, the foundation has once again earmarked a total of €10 million for this initiative.
Eligibility requirements:
(I) Host institution:
- Outstanding research environment for the scientist’s research area (e.g., a relevant Excellence Cluster or Collaborative Research Center).
- Financing concept, where relevant also detailing any additional financing from the host institution and outlining the research possibilities.
- Concrete plans – and at a later stage in the selection procedure, also a formal commitment – to employ the scientist currently based in the USA long term.
(II) Scientist:
- Existing or anticipated outstanding achievements in medical research (comparable with the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, an ERC Advanced Grant, or involvement in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Program).
- Declared willingness to relocate, along with a statement on how relocation would benefit their research.
The selection procedure involves several steps. Initially, only an informal proposal of max. three pages is required. It should outline:
- The scientist’s international excellence (CV, list of their ten most important publications in the past ten years, and third-party funding).
- The significance of the research to advancing medicine at the research facility.
- The host institution’s employment model (indicated the funding amount requested).
- The host institution’s excellence in the relevant research area (supporting evidence or key figures required).
Each medical faculty/university can submit one proposal per funding round. This must be submitted together with the scientist from the USA either by the dean of the medical faculty or the president of the university and, where appropriate, jointly with the medical director of the affiliated university hospital.
The deadline for this call for proposals is June 15, 2026.
The utmost confidentiality will be maintained throughout the entire selection procedure. Proposals must be submitted to the program manager, Dr. Cornelia Voss, via email ( C.Voss@ekfs.de ).
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