Verified

Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience The 34th Research Grant

Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience

Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience is a non-profit organization established on October 1, 1992 with funds donated by the late Mr. Masakane Mizutani, former Emeritus Chairman of Seikagaku Corporation, Tokyo, Japan. The objective of the Foundation is to promote world-wide progress in glycoscience. In accordance with this objective, the Foundation provides research grants to outstanding proposals for basic and applied studies on glycoconjugate in the fields of organic chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, cellular biology and medical sciences.

Grant:

In principle, a grant will be approved for one year, from April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2028. However, if desired, the period can be extended another year without any additional grant after obtaining the approval of the Foundation. The maximum amount of a grant is 7,000,000 yen (approximately US$43,000 or €38,000 as of March, 2026.)
The total budget for the grants is 70,000,000 yen per annum. The grant may be used for various items necessary for the proposed study, but not for the salaries of the principal or collaborative investigators. The proposed study may be a part of a large project, including an international collaboration. However, only a single investigator is considered to be the principal investigator. As much as 10% of the total grant may be used for indirect costs (overheads.)

Review:

In regular selections, new applications will be evaluated by a Review Committee consisting of knowledgeable specialists appointed by the Foundation. The review criteria will include 1) glycoscience field, 2) originality, 3) scientific and social merit and 4) feasibility. The track record of the applicant and the research environment reported by him or her are also considered.

Terms:

If a grant is awarded as a result of this application, the applicant organization would assume the legal and financial accountability for the grant as grantee. The organization must file a detailed financial report within two months following the end of the fiscal year (March 31 in Japan.) Also, the applicant would become the principal investigator and assume responsibilities on the scientific aspect of the proposed study. He or she must file a progress report within two months following the end of the fiscal year (March 31 in Japan.) The abstract of the progress report is opened to public on our web site. He or she must write an appropriate acknowledgment to the Foundation in all the publications resulted from the study and file two copies (reprints) of each publication to the Foundation.

Application:

1) Register your Last name, First name and e-mail address on the web site (https://mizutanifdn.or.jp/member/registration/ : Online Registration for 34th Research Grant will start from July 1, 2026 on website.)
2) URL of the submission page and password will be sent to you immediately.
If you do not receive this e-mail, please make sure to check the spam folder as well.
3) Access this page and fill in all necessary items.
4) Create pdf files of the application documents, papers selected by the applicant (maximum of 5) and relevant permission(s) respectively.
Please follow the instruction on the Application Form Page 2 to name these files.
5) Create the folder consisted of the above pdf files.
Please follow the same instruction as above.
6) Convert it to ZIP folder, then upload to the submission page. Only one folder can be uploaded.
7) Applications will be accepted from July 1 through September 1,2026 (until 23:59 Japan time).

The decision letter will be e-mailed no later than February 20, 2027. The name of the Grantees and their titles of the projects will be announced on our home page later. The grants will be remitted by the end of March. The awards will be effective on April 1, 2027.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong focus on glycoscience (highest predictor)

This is the most important criterion.

The Foundation specifically supports research involving:

Glycobiology
Glycochemistry
Glycoconjugates
Glycoproteins
Glycolipids
Proteoglycans
Glycan biosynthesis
Glycan-mediated cell signaling
Glycoimmunology
Glycosylation mechanisms
Glycan-based therapeutics

Projects outside glycoscience are generally not competitive.

2. Originality and innovation (very high predictor)

The Foundation explicitly lists originality as one of its formal review criteria.

Competitive proposals typically include:

Novel scientific hypotheses
Innovative experimental approaches
New glycoscience technologies
Previously unexplored glycan biology
Creative interdisciplinary concepts

Projects that substantially advance glycoscience are favored over incremental studies.

3. Scientific and societal merit (very high predictor)

The review committee formally evaluates both:

Scientific significance
Social (societal) merit

Strong applications demonstrate:

Advancement of fundamental knowledge
Relevance to biomedical science
Potential clinical or technological applications
Broad impact on glycoscience

Projects linking glycoscience to human health, biotechnology, or medicine are particularly competitive.

4. Strong feasibility and rigorous research design

Feasibility is another explicit review criterion.

Successful applications generally include:

Clear research objectives
Appropriate methodology
Realistic timeline
Well-justified budget
Achievable milestones

Reviewers assess whether the project can reasonably be completed within the one-year funding period (with the possibility of a no-cost extension).

5. Strong investigator track record

The Foundation states that an applicant's track record is considered during review.

Competitive investigators typically demonstrate:

Independent research capability
Peer-reviewed publications
Previous scientific achievements
Expertise in glycoscience or related disciplines

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research.

6. Excellent research environment and institutional support

Reviewers also consider the applicant's research environment.

Strong applications typically come from institutions offering:

Modern laboratory facilities
Access to specialized glycoscience technologies
Collaborative research environment
Institutional commitment

A supportive environment increases confidence that the project can be successfully completed.

7. Interdisciplinary approach

The Foundation welcomes projects spanning multiple scientific disciplines, including:

Organic chemistry
Biochemistry
Molecular biology
Cell biology
Biophysics
Medical sciences

Applications that integrate expertise across these areas often align well with the Foundation's mission.

8. International scientific excellence

The Foundation accepts applications regardless of nationality and funds outstanding researchers worldwide.

Competitive projects often demonstrate:

International collaboration
High scientific standards
Broad relevance to the global glycoscience community

Awardees have come from leading institutions across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia.

9. Potential to advance the glycoscience field

The Foundation's mission is to promote worldwide progress in glycoscience.

Projects that may lead to:

New biological insights
Improved analytical methods
Novel therapeutic strategies
Foundational discoveries
Future translational applications

are particularly attractive because they can influence the broader field.

Specialties

Endocrinology and Diabetes

Eligibility Requirements

The applicant (principal investigator) must 1) have a doctor's degree or its equivalent in a field relevant to the proposed project, 2) have a documented capability of performing independent studies, 3) be a member of a scientific institution (applicant organization) where he or she can carry out the proposed study and 4) have not been awarded the Mizutani grant between 2022 and 2026(the grantee may re-apply after a period of five years.)

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Marunouchi Center Building 9F, 1-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity