Fondation de France - Jean Valade Award

Jean Valade Award for medical research

As a early-career researcher, you will receive a one-off prize of 50,000 EUR; as an established researcher, the prize is 100,000 EUR for outstanding achievements in French medical research. You may keep up to 15% of this for yourself. At least 85% must be channelled into your team’s ongoing research. The Fondation Jean Valade and the Fondation de France award both prizes each year, totalling 150,000 EUR. You will receive the award at the annual ‘Soirée de la recherche médicale’, where you will present your work.

Who can apply

• Your position: You hold a permanent research post: Director of Research (DR), University Professor (PU) or University Hospital Professor (PU-PH).
• Where you work: You are a member of a research team at a non-profit research laboratory.
• Research field: Their research focuses on the fields of oncology, cardiology, the links between human health and the environment, neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders.
• Results: Your research has led to original findings, whether in basic research, clinical research or the humanities and social sciences.
• Use in humans: Your work can be applied to people in clinical practice, in epidemiology or through improved clinical practice. That is the decisive criterion.
• Age: Under 45 for the 50,000 EUR Young Talent Prize, 45 or older for the 100,000 EUR Senior Prize, calculated at the time of application. In the case of proven parental leave, adoption leave or long-term illness, an additional year may be added.
• Nationality: Open to French-speaking researchers, including those working abroad.
• Repeat rule: If you apply for three consecutive years, you must take a year’s break before you can apply again.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online. The deadline for applications is 16 September at 5, and applicants will be notified of the decision by post or email at the end of December.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a single, prestigious award presented each year to established medical researchers; consequently, competition is fierce, and only the most compelling applications are successful. The pool of applicants is limited, as candidates must already hold a permanent post, be working in one of the five medical fields mentioned, and demonstrate a clear path to application in humans. If your published results are relevant to these topics and demonstrate genuine clinical relevance, you are a serious contender.