Guidelines for Applicants

1 General

The Novartis Foundation for Medical-Biological Research funds Research Projects (A) and young Investigators Grants (B) in the area of medical-biological research.

The Foundation accepts applications for funding over one year up to a maximum amount of CHF 80’000.00 for:

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A) Research Projects to be conducted in Switzerland by members of a Swiss university or research institution. Applicants must be senior researchers responsible for the research project (PI).

B) Young Investigator Grants to advance scientific careers of young researchers (PhD/MD) from Swiss universities. Applicants should provide a letter confirming a senior leader supports the project.

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We do not sponsor projects that include any Novartis products.

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If your application is successful and your Young Investigator Grant or Research Project is awarded, you will not be eligible to apply for a grant in the same category for the next five years. However, you may apply for funding in a different category, provided you meet the respective eligibility criteria outlined in our guidelines.

There are three deadlines per year for the submission of grant application. The dates for submission for the year 2026 are as follows:

January 23rd, 2026

April 17th, 2026

September 11th, 2026

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2 Applications

2.1 Research projects

2.1.1 Financials

Our Foundation funds research projects up to a maximum amount of CHF 80’000.00 including charged social costs for salaries. Please ensure that you include – if applicable – these costs in your budget / total amount.

1. Salaries for research staff (i.e. PhD students, Postdocs or other staff needed), however, our contribution to research projects does not include the applicants own salary.
2. Instruments or Intrument fees
3. Miscellaneous (consumables, animal costs, publication fees etc.)

2.1.2 Documents

2.1.2.1 Application Form

You can download the application form here. Please fill it in and attach it to your application.

2.1.2.2 Scientific Part

Grant applications should be submitted electronically in English language according to the following guidelines:

Proposals should not be a copy-paste of the SNF grant proposal, but a self-standing outline of the planned research to be performed, in general over a one-year period. If your project exceeds a one-year period, please enclose information about the funding for the remaining / elapsed time frame.

Your application should include the following:

1. Summary / Abstract summarizing the research project to be funded (max. 1 page)
2. Background (max. 1 page)
3. Hypothesis and specific aims (max. 1 page)
4. Experiments to be performed, protocols, methods (max. 1 page)
5. Significance (max. 1 page)
6. Budget and budget justifications (max.1 page) (If the grant application involves salaries, the applicable social costs should be provided)
7. References

The scientific part should not exceed 6 standard pages (single-spaced, font size 12)

2.1.2.3 CVs and Publication Lists

Please include your CV and a publication list of the last five years in your application. Also do the same for involved postdocs if the grant is meant to cover their salaries.

2.1.3 Submission

Your application consists of three different parts:

1. Application Form in Microsoft Excel format (.xlsx)
2. Your application (see above instructions, pdf format, max. 6 pages) collated with all appendices 1) (PDF) in a single document
3. Your CV (max. 2 pages) and a list of publications (limited to the last 5 years) plus the CVs of your PhD student, Postdocs or other staff

1) appendices
a. SNF funding letter if pertinent
b. SNF grant summary if pertinent
c. Letters and summaries for other funding agencies
d. Offers from vendors (for laboratory equipment)
e. Approval letters for animal studies if pertinent
f. Positive opinion of the responsible Ethics Committee if the study involves human subjects or identifiable human material or personal data
g. Other relevant documents as applicable

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Send your application with all the documents mentioned above to the email address med_biol.foundation@novartis.com. Please mention what kind of grant you are applying for in the subject line (Research project / Young Investigator Grant).

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2.2 Young Investigator Grants

2.2.1 Financials

Our max. grant is CHF 80’000.00 including charged social costs for salaries. Please ensure that you include – if applicable – these costs in your budget / total amount.

1. Salaries for research staff (i.e. PhD students, Postdocs, or other staff needed - in exceptional cases the applicants own salary)
2. Instruments or Instrument fees
3. Miscellaneous (consumables, animal costs, publication fees etc.)

2.2.2 Documents

2.2.2.1 Application Form

You can download the application form here. Please fill it in and attach it to your application.

2.2.2.2 Scientific Part

Grant applications should be submitted electronically in English language according to the following guidelines:

Proposals should not be a copy-paste of the SNF grant proposal, but a self-standing outline of the planned research to be performed, in general over a one-year period. If your project exceeds a one-year period, please enclose information about the funding for the remaining / elapsed time frame.

Your application should include the following:

1. Application Form, Microsoft Excelformat
2. Summary / Abstract summarizing the research project to be funded (max. 1 page)
3. Background (max. 1 page)
4. Hypothesis and specific aims (max. 1 page)
5. Experiments to be performed, protocols,methods (max. 1 page)
6. Significance (max. 1 page)
7. Budget and budget justifications (max.1 page) (If the grant application involves salaries, the applicable social costs should be provided)
8. References

The scientific part should not exceed 6 standard pages (single-spaced, font size 12)

2.2.2.3 CV and Publication list

Please include your CV and a publication list of the last five years in your application. Also do the same for involved postdocs if the grant is meant to cover their salaries.

2.2.2.4 Confirmation letters / Support letters

This kind of application needs a written confirmation that the applicant will be corresponding author on any papers that will be published based on the submitted project should it be funded by the Novartis Foundation for Medical-Biological Research. In case you are an associate of a research group in Switzerland, please do include a signed confirmation letter by the group leader stating your independency as a researcher.

In case you hold an independent research position at the a Swiss Institute, please include a Support Letter by your last group leader.

In case you hold currently or going to hold an independent research position at a Swiss Institute, please provide a document confirming this employment.

2.2.2.5 Motivation Letter

Please also include a letter explaining your future career plans and motivation.

2.2.3 Submission

Your application consists of four different parts:

1. Application Form in Microsoft Excel format (.xlsx)
2. Your application (see above instructions, pdf format, max. 6 pages) collated with all appendices 1) (PDF) in a single document
3. Your CV (max. 2 pages) and a list of your publications (limited to the last 5years) plus the CVs of your PhD student, Postdoc or other staff
4. Confirmation letter / Support letter by the current or last group leader

1) appendices
a. SNF funding letter if pertinent
b. SNF grant summary if pertinent
c. Letters and summaries for other funding agencies
d. ffers from vendors (for laboratory equipment)
e. Approval letters for animal studies if pertinent
f. Positive opinion of the responsible Ethics Committee if the study involves human subjects or identifiable human material or personal data
g. Other relevant documents as applicable

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Send your application with all the documents attached to the email address med_biol.foundation@novartis.com. Please mention what kind of grant you are applying for in the subject line (Research project / Young Investigator Grant).