The University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University have received €3.72 million of EU funding to establish a postdoctoral research programme in immunology. With a total budget of €7.66 million, the programme will hire 22 international researchers for three years. The researchers will undergo training to become leaders in immunological research, as well as developing an understanding of the business world and social impact.

The European Commission awarded €3.72 million to the IMMUFELLOW programme (Interdisciplinary and Intersectoral Research Fellowship Programme for Future Leaders in Immunology), which is led by Professor Marko Salmi of the University of Turku.

The programme’s total budget is €7.66 million, €3.72 million of which is Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND funding from the European Union. The remaining funding will be collected from other sources. Eighteen of the research positions will be at the University of Turku and four at Åbo Akademi University.

Professor Salmi says that the EU funding complements the University of Turku’s immunological research, including the InFLAMES flagship programme and the ImmuDocs doctoral training pilot programme.

‘Now, postdoctoral researchers will also have their own programme, and we can bring them into an environment that has the necessary critical mass and modern infrastructure for top-level immunological research. We want innovative, enthusiastic and well-connected researchers here,’ says Salmi.

Due to the funding body’s rules, postdoctoral researchers cannot be recruited from Finland, but the search is on for future international leaders in the field. Finnish applicants may also be considered if they have spent most of their postdoctoral career abroad.

Recruitment will take place in two stages, with the first 11 postdoctoral researchers due to start work in the first half of next year. Those selected will be offered funding for three years, as well as the opportunity to work in partner organisations.

The new feature of IMMUFELLOW is its emphasis on fostering broad research collaborations between academia, businesses, and the public sector. Fifteen corporate partners and twenty other partners from across Europe are involved.

‘The programme combines cutting-edge research, interdisciplinarity and social impact. In training postdoctoral researchers, we emphasise entrepreneurial skills, economic impact and practical skills for working in different environments,” Salmi summarises.

Piia Seppänen, Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Turku, says she is delighted and proud that the university has been awarded several EU-funded programmes.

“Recruiting international postdoctoral researchers to Finland is important to us, and in this case, we are able to offer them a research environment that rivals its international counterparts. I see IMMUFELLOW’s close ties to businesses and social organisations as a particular strength. We hope that the programme will encourage researchers to settle in Finland.

Reko Leino, Vice Rector of Åbo Akademi University, shares this hope. Newcomers are welcome to stay in Turku even after their postdoctoral phase.

‘We are delighted with this investment in cutting-edge immunology research in Turku, also on behalf of Åbo Akademi University. The development of researcher training at its various stages, from doctoral dissertation research to the postdoctoral phase, forms an important whole which is now significantly supported by secured EU funding’, notes Leino.