ANRS Emerging infectious diseases Start programme

The Start programme focuses on three key areas:

• Funding ;
• Scientific leadership ;
• Training.

Leading the scientific community

• A network of young researchers to accelerate career launch

The Start network is a cross-disciplinary network aimed at young scientists supported by the Start programme or other agency funding tools, as well as all those interested in ANRS MIE themes. Its aim is to help them launch their careers. Through dedicated tools and events, it encourages exchanges and collaborations between different disciplines and themes, and helps young researchers to become fully integrated into the research ecosystem.

The network also relies on the mobilisation of young researchers, who are invited to share their ideas and needs to enrich and co-create the initiatives that will be put in place.

• Two thematic networks that complement the Start network also exist today:

1. The AMYB network (ANRS MIE Young Basic research community network), founded in 2021 on the initiative of four young researchers funded by the ANRS MIE. Its aim is to bring together young scientists working in basic research on HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs, tuberculosis and emerging infectious diseases and funded by the agency. Find out more about the network’s activities.
2. The network of young social science researchers on HIV/AIDS, founded in 2008 and financially supported by the agency. Its aim is to pool information and expertise, break scientific isolation and support responses to calls for projects, as well as promoting scientific exchanges on issues relating to HIV/AIDS and, more recently, other diseases included within the scope of the agency. It has been, and continues to be, a forum for collective reflection on the political, ethical and operational implications of research work. Find out more about the network’s activities.

Training members of the young researchers network

• Dedicated workshops and training

As part of the Start programme, training activities are offered to network members to reinforce certain cross-disciplinary skills that are essential for launching their careers.

In the form of workshops and dedicated events, the activities on offer can cover a range of topics relating to calls for projects (writing a project proposal, writing a narrative CV, etc.), or cross-disciplinary scientific skills (communicating about your project, writing a scientific article, etc.).

The training courses on offer are designed to meet the needs expressed by network members and will continue to evolve.

• Thesis prizes

The coordinated actions (CA) of the ANRS MIE also support young researchers working on their themes.

For example, the Société française de virologie (SFV) and the ANRS MIE have joined forces to award thesis prizes to young scientists whose research has left its mark on the field through its high quality, originality and innovative nature.

These prizes cover different areas of virology:

1. The ‘Dominique Dormont’ prizes reward fundamental and translational research on HIV. The winners are selected by CA 41 of the ANRS MIE.
2. Prizes for basic research on viral hepatitis, the winners of which are selected by CA 42.
3. Prizes for basic research on emerging and re-emerging viruses, selected jointly by the SFV and the ANRS MIE.

The existing scheme is likely to evolve and other actions may be considered.