Swedish Research Council
Background
The Swedish Research Council is a government agency, under the authority of the Ministry of Education and Science, funding basic research of the highest scientific quality in all disciplines. The Swedish Research Council has a national responsibility to support and develop basic research and promote research innovation and research communication. The goal is for Sweden to be a leading nation in scientific research.
Research has been divided into four fields: humanities and social sciences, medicine, natural and engineering sciences and educational science. For each of these, there is a Scientific Council. These Councils play a central part, and they promote and support basic research in their respective fields by distributing grants for various projects and research appointments.
The Scientific Council for Medicine evaluates and assigns priorities for research in Medicine, Pharmaceutics, Odontology and the Care Sciences and, on behalf of the Swedish Research Council, awards grants in these fields. A large share of its research support has a direct focus on known diseases and health problems. In addition the research funded is concerned with clarifying general biological mechanisms which may be of significance for an understanding of disease processes and health problems. The bulk of the Council’s research support goes to projects initiated by researchers themselves and deemed most promising by other researchers, based on quality criteria, in the process of peer review. The Council supports very few programs. Among the programs are the Stem Cell Program and the Program in Care Sciences. Another prioritized area is support to young scientists.
In the field of Medicine, the Swedish Research Council supports international collaboration in research through grants, provides representation in several European research organisations, and works with research councils in other countries to promote collaboration in, and coordination of, international medical research. The Scientific Council administers a research programme on stem-cell research in collaboration with the International Stem Cell Forum (ISCF).
Annual research budget
With a budget of some € 378 million in 2008, the Swedish Research Council is the largest provider of public funds for Swedish basic research at Swedish higher education institutions and research institutes.
The Scientific Council for Medicine allocates € 84 million in research support during 2008.
Stem cell budget
Altogether the Swedish Research Council funded about € 2.3 million in stem cell research in 2005.
Stem cell strategy
The aims are to promote Swedish stem cell research of the highest quality, and to expedite the practical application of scientific advances.
Key stem cell investments
In 2002, The Swedish Research Council in collaboration with The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF) and the Swedish Association of Diabetes Research Fund initiated a joint program on Stem Cell research in Sweden.
The aims of the program are: to promote high quality stem cell research, and to expedite the practical application of scientific advances in our understanding of cell growth and differentiation that have implications for human stem cells or beta cell development.
The program with a total funding of € 8,4 million over six years has funded 16 projects and two networks.
Recent research achievements
Sweden is well placed when it comes to stem cell research – that applies both to research on stem cells and studies aiming at treatment with cell therapy. An important part of the research focuses on establishment of novel human embryonic stem cell lines, which is a cumbersome process. New methods for establishing lines are being studied with the aim to obtain clinical grade lines. Sweden has the highest number of stem cell lines in the world.
Other examples of research initiatives include determination of culture conditions to induce the proliferation and differentiation of human stem cells into various precursor cell types. This involves the study of the regulation of cell differentiation and development, which has implications for human stem cells or beta cell development. Differentiation of human ES cells to different types of nerve cells is being done in several laboratories. Efforts are also made to identify the genes expressed, and the temporal order of gene expression during development of pancreatic beta cells, nerve cells, muscle cells, hematopoietic cells or other differentiated cell types. Studies also include mechanisms to protect transplanted or newly formed tissues from immune attack. In addition, studies of the ethical and legal aspects of human embryonic stem cell research are performed.
- National (or regional) stem cell network or contact point
Swedish Research Council: www.vr.se
Other major funders of stem cell research in your country
Swedish Association of Diabetes Research Fund: www.diabetes.se
The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research: www.stratresearch.se
The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation: www.wallenberg.org/kaw
Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems, VINNOVA: www.vinnova.se
Brainpower: www.swedishbrainpower.se
Cancerfonden: www.cancerfonden.se
Helpful web-links
www.vr.se
www.diabetes.se
www.stratresearch.se
www.wallenberg.org/kaw
www.vinnova.se
www.swedishbrainpower.se
www.cancerfonden.se
