UCL achieves high success rate in ERC funding applications

Three research projects from UCL have been selected for Starting Grants from the European Research Council - overcoming stiff competition and short odds to achieve their success.

Out of 9,167 applications for funding from across the EU, just 3 per cent were successful. UCL researchers made six applications in total, and alongside the three successful bids, a further project made it onto the reserve list, so still stands a strong chance of being funded.

Michael Browne, Assistant Director, Research Europe and Head of the European Research & Development Office at UCL, said: "To secure three (possibly four) grants first time round is an excellent achievement for the respective researchers and for UCL. Thirty-three per cent of the evaluation criteria were based on the research environment and hosting institution so this really is a testament to UCL as well as the principal investigators."

The grants to be made, subject to contract, are:

• Principal investigator: Dr Nicoletta Kessaris, UCL Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research
• Title: Migration and integration of CABAergic interneurons into the developing cerebral cortex: a transgenic approach
• Budget: 1,250,000 Euros
• Principal investigator: Dr Antonio Guarino, UCL Economics
• Title: Learning and volatility in financial markets: theory, experiments and empirics
• Budget: 765,000 Euros
• Principal investigator: Dr Nicola Pavoni, UCL Economics
• Title: Social Insurance and Welfare-to-Work Programs: Optimal Design and Structural Evaluation
• Budget: 442,705 Euros

The grants should begin in Spring 2008.

To find out more about the ERC, follow the link at the top of this item.