National Natural Science Foundation of China

Stories

China picks first researchers for 15-year mega grants

Administering the 15-year grant program

China's main science funder has picked its first 44 researchers for grants that can run 15 years. The National Natural Science Foundation of China chose scientists under 35, women under 38, and nine of the 44 work outside China.

Updated Oct 21

Ancient tooth proteins suggest link between Homo erectus and modern humans

New Capabilities

As of September 2026: Funded the research under grant number L2424324

Six 400,000-year-old Homo erectus teeth from China have yielded the oldest hominin proteins ever recovered in East Asia. The proteins carry two mutations that tie these ancient humans to a single evolutionary lineage, and one of them also appears in Denisovans, an archaic human group that interbred with modern humans.

Updated Sep 11