Interested Participants Must Apply by June 22

The Michelson Medical Research Foundation has opened the call for applications for the 2026 Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants, an international funding opportunity aimed at supporting early-career researchers working at the forefront of immunology, vaccine discovery, and immunotherapy. The annual program awards US$150,000 in one-year research funding to promising young investigators pursuing bold, high-risk, high-reward ideas to tackle major global diseases. Click here to access the call for applications.

Applicants must be 35 years of age or younger at the time of application and may include postdoctoral researchers, clinical fellows, doctoral students, and other early-career investigators. The program is international in scope, welcoming candidates affiliated with academic institutions, research centers, industry, or non-governmental organizations worldwide. Awardees are expected to dedicate a significant portion of their professional effort (at least 50%) to the funded research project during the grant period.

For the 2026 edition, submissions will be accepted until June 22, 2026 (11:59 PM EDT). Shortlisted applicants are expected to be notified in September 2026, with additional information requested in October. Final awardees will be announced in December 2026, and the grant period will run from January 1 to December 31, 2026.

Supporting the next generation of scientific innovators

Launched in 2017, the Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants seek to foster a new generation of scientists capable of advancing knowledge of the human immune system and accelerating the development of vaccines and therapies. The initiative prioritizes innovative and potentially disruptive research that addresses critical bottlenecks in vaccine development and deepens understanding of immune processes essential for effective immunotherapies.

Proposals submitted to the Michelson Prizes are evaluated by an international panel of leading scientists, with selection criteria focused on innovation, scientific merit, and potential impact. The program seeks ideas capable of transforming understanding of immune mechanisms and advancing the development of next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies.

The Michelson Prizes represent a significant opportunity for young scientists across the Americas and beyond to secure funding for ambitious research projects addressing pressing global health challenges. By supporting interdisciplinary and breakthrough approaches, the program aligns with broader efforts to strengthen scientific capacity and innovation in immunology throughout the region.