HFSP announces winners: international project with the participation of a team from INTiBS PAN
We are pleased to announce that the Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences has been selected as one of the most prestigious research programs in the world – the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP).
The HFSP announced the awarding of research grants to 117 outstanding scientists from 31 countries, supporting pioneering, interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of cutting-edge scientific fields. In the 2026 edition, the program includes 34 Research Grants and 10 Accelerator Grants, and the success rate was only 2.9%, underscoring the exceptional competitiveness of the application process.
This year's program saw over 1,121 projects submitted, involving 3,126 scientists, of which only 44 projects were ultimately selected for three-year funding.
Among the beneficiaries was one project from Poland – conducted at the Institute of Human and Structural Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The project, titled: "Breaking the Limits of Sugar Sensing in Plants Using Photon Avalanche FRET" will be carried out by an international research team consisting of:
- prof. Artur Bednarkiewicz (INTiBS PAN) – co‑PI
- prof. Niko Hildebrant (Department of Engineering Physics, McMaster University, Kanada) – main PI
- prof. Wolf Frommer (Institute for Molecular Physiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Niemcy) – co‑PI
The project, planned for three years, focuses on breaking the current limitations in monitoring sugar metabolism in plants, using an innovative approach combining photon avalanche and FRET techniques. This research could open up entirely new directions in plant biology and life process imaging technologies.
The HFSP Research Grants program is open to international teams of two to four scientists at various stages of their careers, pursuing bold new directions in scientific collaboration. This year's award once again highlights the crucial role of global collaboration in research into the fundamental processes of life.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the team and wish them every success in implementing this exceptional project!
