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Institut Servier
FR
Bourses de recherche

Research grants

Overview

Research grants constitute a mobility support award for one year of research, designed to enable: 

  • Physicians, pharmacists and PhDs to acquire additional training at an internationally recognized university hospital centre abroad. 
  • Researchers (fundamental research, applied research) to complete their research work abroad (for French nationals) or in France (for international candidates), primarily in the following therapeutic areas: oncology, cardiovascular pathologies, neurodegenerative pathologies and paediatric pathologies. Any project involving a drug under development is excluded. 

Research grants are awarded twice a year (one session in March and one in October), following evaluation of applications by the Scientific Committee. 

Eligibility criteria

L’Institut Servier’s grants are awarded on application, following evaluation by the Scientific Committee. Candidates may consult the full call for applications regulations to verify their eligibility. 

Consult the call for applications regulations

French physicians, pharmacists and PhDs wishing to acquire additional training and/or complete their research work abroad, or international physicians, pharmacists and PhDs wishing to complete their training in France.

Age limit: 40 years old. 

Grants are awarded as a priority to research projects dedicated to the following therapeutic areas: oncology, cardiovascular pathologies, neurodegenerative pathologies and paediatric pathologies.

Any project involving a drug under development is excluded. 

The mobility support is granted for one non-renewable year, on the basis of a detailed budget estimate provided by the applicant.

The amount may not exceed:

  • 20,000 € for mobility within Europe 
  • 25,000 € for mobility outside Europe 

Exceptionally, support for a period of less than one year may be granted. However, the duration may not be less than 6 months and the amount will be adjusted proportionally. 

The application must be submitted online on the Institut Servier website and must include the following:

  • Application letter signed by the candidate 
  • Curriculum vitae, statement of qualifications and work 
  • RPPS number if French physician 
  • Research project (using the designated form) 
  • Letter of recommendation from the head of department or dean of the home faculty 
  • Acceptance letter from the head of department or host laboratory 
  • Budget estimate relating exclusively to the applicant (using the designated form) 
  • Commitment form 
  • Status of any other grant application in progress or already accepted 

Each application is evaluated by two qualified members of Institut Servier’s Scientific Committee according to the following criteria:

  1. Rationale and necessity of the mobility (3 points) 
  2. Scientific background and publications of the candidate (3 points) 
  3. Interest, relevance and scientific quality of the project (6 points) 
  4. Personal involvement of the candidate in the project (4 points) 
  5. Added value for the home team (2 points) 
  6. Candidate’s planned subsequent career path (2 points) 
Bourses de recherche

Testimonials

Awarded a mobility research grant from the L'Institut Servier, I was able to complete a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Professor Bruce D. Levy's laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. During this fellowship, I investigated the role of specific lipid mediators derived from essential polyunsaturated fatty acids in the resolution of inflammation. This opportunity allowed me to dedicate myself to translational research over an extended period, enabling me to acquire new skills, access cutting-edge technologies, and establish international collaborations. Furthermore, this experience confirmed my deep commitment to research and my desire to pursue a dual career combining clinical practice and fundamental research upon my return to France.

Dr. Stéphanie Pons DMD, PhD Physician-Scientist Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris INSERM U1342, Benajiba Team, Saint-Louis Research Institute, Parisoctorante en biologie cellulaire Université de Paris

The support of the L'Institut Servier was instrumental in funding my fellowship at the Mayo Clinic (2024–2025). This opportunity enabled me to develop both practical and scientific expertise in interventional neuroradiology, with a specific focus on spontaneous intracranial hypotension and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disorders. This experience allowed me to acquire advanced skills that I successfully transferred upon my return, leading to direct clinical applications for patients who frequently face diagnostic delays. Furthermore, it has enabled me to help structure a national network and launch multicenter research projects. My work primarily focused on better characterizing pathophysiological mechanisms, refining advanced diagnostic strategies, and developing novel endovascular therapeutic approaches for CSF disorders. Concurrently, I also worked on optimizing mechanical thrombectomy procedures and related devices, including the integration of artificial intelligence and anatomical factors. This also involved the development and validation of experimental models and innovative technologies, encompassing biomaterials, cell capture, novel access routes, and endovascular interfaces.

Dr. Julien OGNARD MD, PhD, HDR Associate Professor – Attending Physician University of Western Brittany (UBO), Brest University Hospital (CHU de Brest)

Thanks to the funding provided by the L'Institut Servier, I was able to undertake a one-year international fellowship at the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University in Canada. During this year, I acquired new skills and launched a research project focusing on adolescent and young adult gliomas using spatial transcriptomic analysis. Upon my return to France, this foundation led to the creation of a research partnership with the RHU COSY team at INEM, led by Professor Canaud, aiming to deepen our understanding of these diseases and drive the development of novel therapeutic treatments.

Dr. Alexandre Roux MD, PhD Neurosurgeon, Associate Professor – Attending Physician Department of Neurosurgery – GHU Paris – Sainte-Anne Hospital Researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP) – IMA-Brain Research Team, UMR 1266 INSERM – Université Paris Cité

The grant from the L'Institut Servier was far more than mere financial support: it was the catalyst for a scientific and deeply human journey at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. It allowed me to fully dedicate my postdoctoral fellowship to investigating the mechanisms of immune evasion in lymphomas, leveraging innovative single-cell biology approaches. This opportunity truly transformed my career path, connecting me to an international network and strengthening my long-term vision as a physician-scientist in hematology.

Amira MAROUF MD, PhD Necker Hospital, Adult Hematology Department (Prof. Hermine) & Imagine Institute (Prof. Hermine's Team)