Nobel Prize goes to ERC grantees

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2014 has been awarded, with one half going to John O´Keefe and the other half jointly to May‐Britt Moser and Edvard 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 co-ordinated and participated in projects funded by the EU’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. The ERC will account for €13bn of the Horizon 2020 budget of €80bn for the period 2014-2020.