SUPPORT

Science

Supporting research that drives progress, builds trust in knowledge, and improves quality of life.

Science is at the heart of human progress and a lever for transforming health and society.

Our Purpose Supported Projects Latest News

Science is at the heart of human progress and a lever for transforming health and society.

Our Purpose Supported Projects Latest News

Harnessing Science To Protect What Matters

The AXA Foundation for Human Progress mobilizes independent, transdisciplinary science to turn cutting‑edge research on major risks affecting Human Health, the Planet, and Society into actionable solutions for a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.

Supporting researchers, providing them with the resources and independence they need, is essential for the progress of our societies.
Clément Rouxel General Delegate of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress

Keeping Science as a Compass for Action

Science has never been more essential - and yet, never so challenged.
Today, research faces a double crisis: on one side, the risks to human health, planetary balance, and societal stability are becoming more complex, interconnected, and rapidly evolving. On the other side, science itself is weakened: private and public investments remain insufficient and misinformation is on the rise, undermining scientific consensus.

Science Is Not an Opinion

It is our most powerful tool for a more resilient, more inclusive, more sustainable world. The AXA Foundation for Human Progress stands for it - with rigour, with openness, and with the deep conviction that knowledge remains our common future.

Transdisciplinary Approach to Address Today’s Challenges

Science progresses when it is collectively supported, conceived over the long term, and connected to the realities on the ground. This is why the AXA Foundation for Human Progress is connecting science to society from the outset of the projects' design and connecting disciplines, bringing together humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, technology to match the complexity of contemporary challenges.

Bold Science in the Name of Human Progress

Through this strategy, we are empowering bold, open, and excellent science that contributes sustainably to human progress. In a world where Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the information landscape, ensuring that public decisions stand on evidence, not on fabricated narratives, is a fight we choose to lead.

A forward-looking vision is built around structuring programs

The AXA Chairs aim to support senior researchers capable of rallying multiple disciplines around ambitious and cross-cutting projects and foster the link between science and society.

The NEW GEN Program is supporting young researchers from various fields to explore major risks globally and co-create the solutions of tomorrow.

Without robust, independent and sustained support, science risks losing its ability to guide action. Our ambition is to foster a transdisciplinary, committed and open science, at the service of human progress.

An Integrated Model, Grounded In Independence And Excellence

The AXA Foundation for Human Progress brings together two complementary legacies within a single, integrated strategy that puts science and health at the core of its mission, alongside nature, solidarity and culture:

The AXA Research Fund, an initiative created in 2008 by AXA Group, aimed at supporting independent academic research globally in key areas related to risks, and informing science-based decision-making on the most pressing issues facing our planet. It has supported more than 800 projects in 39 countries, for a total amount of €300 million. More than 43% of projects have been led by women, and more than 65 researchers have reached a milestone in their careers thanks to this support.
The Health Philanthropy Program of the Mutuelles d’assurances AXA launched in 2022 who has funded more than 60 projects focused on health, concentrating on the most vulnerable populations: youth and the elderly.
Three founding principles guide its action: absolute scientific independence, strategic long-term funding, and translating into action.

Discover some of the projects we support

Adolescents' Susceptibility to Digital Misinformation - Jiemiao CHEN

Pain Pediatric & Elderly AXA Research Lab (PEARL) - Celine GRECO

CLIMABRAIN: Impacts of Extreme Weather on Alzheimer's Vulnerable - Tarik BENMARHNIA

The AXA Chair in Water Quality and Global Changes - Ann Van GRIENSVEN

AXA Chair for Resilient Crops - Federico ARIEL

AGENOMICS: Decoding Centenarians for Healthy Aging - Jean-François DELEUZE

Mother AI: Early Detection of Infant Motor Disorders - François JOUEN

BIOMINRISK : Biomarkers for Infant Sudden Death Risk (SUDI) - Fleur LORTON

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Adolescents' Susceptibility to Digital Misinformation - Jiemiao CHEN

This research explores how adolescents perceive and judge social media content. Using innovative real-life–inspired eye-tracking to identify the visual and social drivers of their susceptibility to misinformation, its goal is to design educational programmes and evidence-based communication strategies that strengthen their resilience online.

Pain Pediatric & Elderly AXA Research Lab (PEARL) - Celine GRECO

This project focuses on children and elderly living with severe, often overlooked chronic pain, especially painful skin diseases that are extremely hard to treat. It aims to better understand how pain develops and to bring safer, more effective treatments to vulnerable patients with very few options.

CLIMABRAIN: Impacts of Extreme Weather on Alzheimer's Vulnerable - Tarik BENMARHNIA

Understanding how climate change may exacterbate neurogenerative related disease health outcomes, who are particularly vulnerable due to comorbidities, medication effects, cognitive impairments, reduced mobility and social isolation – in order to guide public policies and prevention for this population.

The AXA Chair in Water Quality and Global Changes - Ann Van GRIENSVEN

Water contamination is a pressing concern that arises from the intricate interplay of climate change, large urbanization, industrialization, and shifting land use patterns. The AXA Chair in Water Quality and Global Changes bridges the gap between scientists and policymakers, creating accessible reports and equipping decision-makers with robust evidence.

AXA Chair for Resilient Crops - Federico ARIEL

Heat waves threaten global food production. This Chair explores how RNA-based, a non-GMO approach, can increase plants’ resilience those environmental shocks. These approaches have the potential to drive transformative tech and more sustainable agricultural practices in the future.

AGENOMICS: Decoding Centenarians for Healthy Aging - Jean-François DELEUZE

This project aims to understand the biological mechanisms of aging by identifying genetic and epigenetic markers of vulnerability or resilience to age-related diseases. By supporting this research, we are helping to create new screening tools to detect age-related frailties and to develop active agents that promote healthy longevity.

Mother AI: Early Detection of Infant Motor Disorders - François JOUEN

The AXA Foundation for Human Progress supports this project using computer vision to analyze the spontaneous motor activity of children under the age of two. By determining whether movements are normal, abnormal, or indicative of a specific disease, Mother AI provides caregivers with an early diagnostic aid to guide clinical decisions and better anticipate the risks of severe neuromotor impairment.

BIOMINRISK : Biomarkers for Infant Sudden Death Risk (SUDI) - Fleur LORTON

In France, SUDI is the leading cause of post-neonatal infant mortality and one of the highest incidences in Europe. The research aims to develop a risk stratification algorithm using data and samples from infants who died from SUDI and matched controls. This algorithm will enable personalized prevention strategies and ultimately help reduce the number of preventable SUDI-related deaths.