Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine goes to European Research Council grantees

European Commission

MEMO

Brussels, 6 October 2014

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine goes to European Research Council grantees

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2014 has been awarded with one half to John O´Keefe and the other half jointly to May‐Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser, for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain. Both May‐Britt Moser and Edvard Moser are recipients of European Research Council (ERC) grants, and all three have participated in EU-funded research projects.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said: "I warmly congratulate John O´Keefe, May ‐ Britt Moser and Edvard Moser on their achievement. I am particularly proud that both May-Britt and Edvard Moser are holders of European Research Council Advanced Grants. The ERC supports the very best pioneering researchers across Europe, and has made a real impact since its launch in 2007. This is why we decided on a significant boost for the ERC budget in our new research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020."

May‐Britt Moser received her ERC Advanced Grant in 2010, with Edvard Moser receiving a first Advanced Grant in 2008 and a second in 2013. They have also coordinated and participated in projects funded by the European Union's Research Framework Programmes. John O'Keefe has also participated in research projects funded by the Framework Programmes.

The European Commission proposed a significant boost of the ERC budget in the new research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 (2014-2020). The ERC will account for €13 billion of the Horizon 2020 budget of €80 billion for the period 2014 - 2020.

President Barroso is today opening a conference in Lisbon under the theme: "The Future of Europe is Science" ( IP/14/1092).

For more on the Nobel Prize: http://www.nobelprize.org/

For more on the European Research Council: http://erc.europa.eu/

For more on Horizon 2020: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/

The Future of Europe is Science website: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/event/conference/future-europe-science-october-2014