The Kawano Foundation for Pediatric Medical Research (Location: Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, Chairman: Yukio Kawano / Chairman of the Board, Blue Zone Holdings Inc. and Yaoko Co., Ltd.), which supports the advancement of pediatric medicine, medical care, and health through research grants for pediatric medical researchers and scholarships for medical students aspiring to specialize in pediatrics, has decided to award a total of 130.8 million yen to 55 pediatric medical researchers for their 2026 research grants. Please see the list for details on the 2026 recipients. The foundation's research grant program will mark its 37th year in 2026. To date, over 850 researchers have received grants, with a total awarded amount reaching 1.3 billion yen. We will continue to support the advancement of pediatric medical care. ■ Voices from Recipients (from surveys of 2025 and 2026 grant recipients) - "Research grants for pediatric medical research are relatively scarce, so I was extremely grateful to receive this support." - "We hope for continued support for basic research." - "Securing research funding is always a challenge. I am grateful for the foundation's research support." - "It is very difficult to obtain grants during the startup phase of research. Receiving this grant was practically very helpful and gave me confidence in this research topic." ■ About the Research Grant Program Since 1990, the foundation has provided grants to pediatric medical researchers to support advancements in research related to the causes, treatment, and prevention of pediatric diseases. In 2007, a special category for young researchers under 40 was established to support their activities. Grant amounts increased for the first time since the program's inception in 1990, considering the impact of rising prices. In recent years, competition for research funding has intensified, and the soaring cost of research materials due to recent price increases has become a serious issue. In response to