2025 Young Medical Scientist Research Grant by Daewoong Foundation

(Poster_eng)2025 Young medical scientist Research Grant_page-0001

Now Open: 2025 Young Medical Scientist Research Grant by Daewoong Foundation

Konsorsium Bioteknologi Indonesia (KBI) is pleased to share the 2025 Young Medical Scientist Research Grant from Daewoong Foundation. This grant supports promising young biomedical researchers to expand their research capacity and grow into globally recognized scientists, delivering innovations that advance global healthcare.

About Daewoong Foundation

Established in 1984 by Daewoong, one of Korea’s leading pharmaceutical companies.
The foundation nurtures global talent in and outside Korea through research grants, scholarships, and professional mentoring, contributing to medical technology advancement and public health.
It actively fosters academic networks and collaboration, including initiatives and partnerships relevant to Indonesia’s research community.

Program At-a-Glance

Research period: 1 year, December 2025 to November 2026.
Grant amount: Up to KRW 50,000,000 (tax-exempt, including indirect costs).
IP/ownership: Research outcomes remain the property of the researcher; publications should acknowledge Daewoong Foundation support.
Application language: English.

Priority Research Themes

Drug Discovery and Basic Research:

- Novel mechanism-based degraders for undruggable targets, including protein, antibody, and mRNA modalities.
- AI-driven drug discovery for novel target identification, lead generation, and efficacy optimization.
- Innovative gene therapy platforms and disease-related gene discovery.
- Development of innovative cell therapies for functional restoration of target tissues.

Platform Technology:
- Formulation optimization for targeted delivery of biopharmaceuticals to low-access tissues such as the CNS, including BBB shuttle approaches and receptor-mediated transcytosis.
- Investigation of novel compounds and aging pathways using human-like non-human primates; as context, there are exploratory opportunities utilizing non-human primate models in Indonesia for aging and disease research.

Eligibility

Under 45 years old per program terms, i.e., born on or after January 1, 1980.
Degree: MD, VMD, RPh, or PhD.
Open to researchers affiliated with institutions in Korea and overseas, regardless of nationality, including university faculty/researchers, affiliated hospitals or research institutes, and public research institutions.
Clinical research involving human subjects is not eligible.
Preference may be given to applicants with relevant achievements in target fields.

How to Apply

Single-PI or collaborative projects are accepted; collaborative applications must designate a Principal Investigator who submits the application.
Method: Email submission to medischolar@daewoong.co.kr.
Application window: August 11 – September 12, 2025, 24:00.
Required documents:
- One official recommendation or endorsement letter from the applicant’s institution.
- Research proposal.
- Budget plan.
- For animal experiments: after selection, submit IACUC approval and the final approved research protocol. Failure to submit may result in cancellation.

Notes:
- Submissions are final; documents will not be returned and cannot be modified.
- Individuals restricted from participating in national R&D projects as of the application date are ineligible.
- No concurrent support from other Daewoong Foundation programs in 2025; multiple applications are allowed, but if selected for more than one, you must choose one.

Selection Timeline

August 11 – September 12, 2025: Application submission.
September 15 – 28, 2025: First-round document review.
September 30, 2025: First-round results.
October 21, 2025: Second-round interviews, including a 10-minute oral presentation and Q&A.
November 2025: Final announcement.
November – December 2025: Contracting and research start.
May 2026: First report and second disbursement.
H2 2026: Research exchange meetings for networking and consulting.
November 2026: Final report and last disbursement.
Note: The schedule may be adjusted due to internal or external circumstances.

Evaluation and Selection

Applications are reviewed by Daewoong Foundation’s selection committee comprising field experts and professors.
Comprehensive evaluation considers research content, originality and innovation, appropriateness of the plan, potential impact, budget adequacy, and team capability.
Shortlisted candidates in Round 2 will undergo a 10-minute oral presentation and Q&A before final selection.

Funding, Contract, and Reporting

Contracting parties: the researcher and the affiliated institution’s research administration (e.g., university research office).
Disbursement: three tranches — upon selection, upon submission of the first report, and upon submission of the final report.
Indirect costs: follow the institution’s internal policy.
The grant must be executed according to institutional research fund management rules; no separate settlement report is required after completion.
If research is not carried out within the designated period, funds must be returned in full; extensions may be requested in advance if needed.
Reports: midterm at six months and final report at one year, using the foundation’s templates, including original research data and the researcher’s CV. Reports are reviewed and may require revisions. Research exchange meetings are organized around reporting for added support.

Benefits for Awardees

Research funding up to KRW 50,000,000.
Access to expert consultation via research exchange meetings.
Equipment support if needed.
Networking with companies for potential commercialization.
Full ownership of outcomes, with acknowledgment of Daewoong Foundation in publications.

Call to Action for KBI Members

We strongly encourage eligible KBI members to apply and to share this opportunity with colleagues. This is a timely pathway to strengthen Indonesia’s biomedical research footprint, accelerate translational impact, and build international collaborations.

Program Contact