[Cheiron-GIFTS 2026 Call for Applications Begins] NPO Cheiron Initiative Launches 7th Grant Program for Families/Partners Accompanying Researchers Abroad

Press Contact: Takeshi Adachi, Asako Hasegawa editor@cheiron.jp

NPO Cheiron Initiative, with the vision of "Connecting the aspirations of researchers and their families to the future of the world," engages in various activities aimed at supporting the creation of an environment where researchers can focus on their research with peace of mind or choose to study abroad. *1 As part of these efforts, we have launched the 7th call for applications for "Cheiron-GIFTS (Cheiron Grant Initiative for Families enabling Tomorrow’s Science) 2026," a grant program for researchers' families and partners. *2

Cheiron-GIFTS 2026 will set a new challenge this year, in addition to its founding theme of "issues regarding the career paths of researchers' families and partners abroad," by addressing "unmet needs of researchers and their families/partners at their study abroad destinations that cannot be resolved by existing systems."

Furthermore, the concept of "family" has diversified with the times. For example, new family forms such as LGBTQ+ couples, common-law marriages, and single mothers/fathers have emerged, which do not fit traditional notions. Meanwhile, Japan's social infrastructure is built on conventional forms and lags significantly behind other countries. Our six years of grant activities have also highlighted the existence of issues that cannot be supported by existing systems. Therefore, Cheiron-GIFTS, from the perspective of aiming for a society that embraces diverse forms of "family," has newly set a challenge since last year to address the unmet needs of researchers and their families/partners at their study abroad destinations.

Last year, for the 6th Cheiron-GIFTS 2025, we received 83 applications, comparable to the previous year's record high of 89, for the themes of "family career paths" and "diverse forms of researchers' families/partners at their study abroad destinations." A total of 9 projects were selected, including 4 special awards. The proposals from the selected applicants are as follows:

◆Challenge 1: To support the construction of an online platform, workshops, and web surveys for children requiring special support, including specialized developmental therapy by speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists, when accompanying a spouse on a postdoctoral study abroad, thereby contributing to securing high-quality education and developmental therapy opportunities. (https://www.cheiron.jp/post/cheiron-gifts-2025-1)

◆Challenge 2: To support an applicant accompanying a pediatric urology researcher on their study abroad, utilizing Cheiron-GIFTS to balance childcare and career continuation through obtaining a doctoral degree. (https://www.cheiron.jp/post/cheiron-gifts-2025-2)

◆Challenge 3: To support a spouse accompanying a pediatric liver disease researcher on their overseas study, utilizing their experience as a former banker and in real estate, along with this grant, to pursue a USCPA (US Certified Public Accountant) qualification for career continuation. (https://www.cheiron.jp/post/cheiron-gifts-2025-3)

◆Challenge 4: To support a spouse accompanying a researcher working on the development of intestinal regenerative medicine using intestinal organoids and elucidating the pathology of intractable gastrointestinal diseases on their overseas study, utilizing this grant to aim for SHRM-CP certification. (https://www.cheiron.jp/post/cheiron-gifts-2025-4)

◆Challenge 5: To support a researcher pursuing the impact of human representation in the medical field during their overseas study in Estonia, utilizing this grant for travel expenses and childcare support to promote research as a family/partner. (https://www.cheiron.jp/post/cheiron-gifts-2025-5)

◆Special Award 1: To support a spouse accompanying an electrochemistry researcher who is starting research in the UK through an exchange program with three children, utilizing this grant for internships and international conference participation fees, aiming to balance career continuation and overseas family life. (https://www.cheiron.jp/post/cheiron-gifts-2025-s1)

◆Special Award 2: To support a spouse accompanying a researcher aiming to contribute to medical education, who will also study statistics and pursue career continuation while raising awareness about women's rights and leadership. (https://www.cheiron.jp/post/cheiron-gifts-2025-s2)

◆Special Award 3: To support a spouse accompanying a researcher aiming to establish family-centered care for pediatric epilepsy patients based on Bowen's family systems theory during their study abroad in Germany, by launching a childcare account in Germany and operating a blog/online community. (https://www.cheiron.jp/post/cheiron-gifts-2025-s3)

◆Special Award 4: To support an applicant specializing in child and family welfare in France, who has been conducting research in France for 10 years to gain insights into solving social issues in the child and family sector in Japan and disseminating information to Japan, by utilizing the grant for children's summer camps/activities, participation in international conferences, and holding lectures in Japan. (https://www.cheiron.jp/post/cheiron-gifts-2025-s4)

Mr. and Mrs. Takada, recipients of the inaugural Cheiron-GIFTS 2020, stated the following in their activity report: "With the support of Cheiron-GIFTS 2020, I obtained a Nurse Practitioner qualification in the United States. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to take a significant step towards achieving our goal, and we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone at NPO Cheiron Initiative who provided support. Currently, I am working as a staff member at Northwestern Hospital, ranked among the top 10 best hospitals in the US, and I am delighted to have been selected as a 'Role model' by the manager. We hope that this system will continue to be vital support for researchers' families challenging study abroad and their future."

Takeshi Adachi, Chairman of the Board of our organization, stated: "The Cheiron-GIFTS grant program has entered its seventh year. This activity is supported by many individuals who endorse the objectives of NPO Cheiron Initiative. In 2021, our organization undertook its first crowdfunding campaign, receiving generous support from over 100 individuals. Furthermore, since the year before last, with the cooperation of Epos Card Co., Ltd., a business company of Marui Group Co., Ltd., we launched the 'Cheiron Epos Card' initiative, a new option to connect the aspirations of researchers and their families to the future of the world, and have continuously received support from many people. *3 With your warm words in our hearts, Cheiron Initiative will support researchers and their families/partners with all our might, and we will continue our activities to ensure their smiles foster future innovation."

*1 About NPO Cheiron Initiative

Established in June 2019 with the aim of changing and expanding the scope of stakeholders involved in science, as a new science promotion initiative that complements conventional systems. It promotes activities in collaboration with domestic and international administrations, academia/corporate researchers, research funding agencies, academic publishers, medical/legal/accounting/business professionals, next-generation community promoters, and researchers' families themselves, who share a new vision for science promotion that overlays stakeholders surrounding research with social trends surrounding families. Key activities include visualizing challenges faced by researchers' families/partners, providing an information platform for researchers' families, and building a support system through grant programs. The initiative aims to support science, which has been advanced by industry, government, and academia, from the new perspective of researchers' families, and to promote it through the convergence of industry, government, academia, and the public, expanding its scope even further.

https://www.cheiron.jp/

https://twitter.com/cheironjp

https://www.facebook.com/cheironjp/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cheironjp

*2 About Cheiron Grant Initiative for Families enabling Tomorrow’s Science (Cheiron-GIFTS)

Established in 2020 by NPO Cheiron Initiative, Cheiron-GIFTS (Cheiron Grant Initiative for Families enabling Tomorrow’s Science) is a grant program for families and partners accompanying researchers who are affiliated with or planning to be affiliated with universities and research institutions outside Japan. It supports researchers aiming to be active globally in a wide range of fields such as basic science, advanced science, philosophy, and art, along with their families and partners.

Attachment 1: Cheiron-GIFTS 2026 Overview

d57512-35-67bd00cf2493987e7300f620f4e80afd.pdfAttachment 2: Cheiron-GIFTS 2026 Application Guidelines

d57512-35-043351c763164c384f8f46f4be71e499.pdfWebsite: https://www.cheiron.jp/grant

*3 About Cheiron Epos Card

The "Cheiron Epos Card," a co-creation initiative between Cheiron Initiative and Epos Card, provides an option to continuously support researchers aiming to be active globally and lead Japan in fields such as basic science, advanced technology, philosophy, and art, along with their families and partners, by using the card in daily life.

In this initiative, which aims for a new form of social contribution, 0.1% of the credit card usage amount is collected from customers as points and automatically donated to Cheiron Initiative monthly. Additionally, for each new card application, 1,000 yen is returned from Epos Card to Cheiron Initiative. The donations will be used for the organization's activities, such as the "Cheiron-GIFTS" grant program. Please refer to the website below for details.

Website: https://www.eposcard.co.jp/designcard/cheiron

Mediproduce Co., Ltd. cooperates with NPO Cheiron Initiative's Cheiron-GIFTS activities. We hope that Cheiron-GIFTS will lead to life support for researchers' families and partners that cannot be covered by overseas research fellowships and grants.