Calls

Description :

ERDERA will launch its Clinical Trial Call 2026 (ECTC) on 1 July 2026, supporting multinational, GCP‑compliant early‑phase interventional clinical trials in rare diseases.

ERDERA will open its Clinical Trial Call 2026 (ECTC) on 1 July 2026 to support multinational, GCP‑compliant Phase I, Phase I/II and Phase II interventional clinical trials in rare diseases.

This call aims to generate robust clinical evidence and, where appropriate, data of regulatory relevance to support future regulatory interactions and subsequent clinical development. It is designed for rare disease trials where patient populations are often small and geographically dispersed, making multinational collaboration essential.

Priority areas (not eligibility criteria): paediatric rare diseases; rapidly progressive rare diseases; and rare diseases with no approved therapeutic options or with substantial residual unmet medical need despite existing treatments.

Description :

Aging and Cancer 2026

The Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer at the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, in partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS), Blood Cancer United, Blood Cancer UK, and  Mike & Sofia Segal Foundation, is pleased to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to enable collaborations that bring together complementary expertise to address the fundamental role of aging in cancer. Applications addressing solid tumors and/or blood cancers are encouraged. Proposals must justify the partnership through synergistic scientific aims. Please see the Aging and Cancer RFP before applying. 

Research supported by this program will advance our understanding of the rising incidence of cancer due to aging, with a special emphasis on the role of inflammaging and immunosenescence as common drivers of aging and cancer. Example topics include but are not limited to:  

Identifying actionable biomarkers (inflammatory molecules, immune cells, etc.) that link aging and cancer risk, including in younger individuals with early onset cancers and those with genetic predispositions, and underlying mechanisms.
Dissecting the effects of the aging tumor microenvironment (e.g., inflammation, immune system, senescent cells) on tumorigenesis, progression, and treatment response.
Investigating how progression of age-related clonal hematopoiesis, myeloid skewing, or emergency myelopoiesis promotes hematological malignancies (including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia) or solid tumors, and/or causes therapeutic resistance.
Establishing the effects of tumors and cancer therapies in organismal aging, including the identification of biomarkers and therapeutic strategies to minimize or prevent cancer-induced aging.
Providing pre-clinical and mechanistic validation for aging-specific, anticancer therapeutic approaches based on strategies targeting inflammation or senescence, or nominated from clinical trial data segregated by age.
Supporting exploratory clinical trials to treat or prevent cancer in older or high-risk individuals, including correlative analyses from clinical samples derived from relevant trials. We encourage collaborations with biopharma or other funding sources to accelerate the proposed work.

Institutional Eligibility

Open to non-profit academic/research institutions worldwide.

The “host institution” is the institution of the Principal Investigator (PI) on the application.
Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PI) must be from a different institution.
The term “institution” will be interpreted broadly – for example, a medical school and academic department at the same university will be considered the same institution. 
There is no requirement to include a US-based institution as part of the team.

Investigator Eligibility

There are no restrictions on citizenship or geography.

Applicants must have an independent faculty appointment (tenure-track or equivalent) at a non-profit academic/research institution.

Collaboration teams must consist of one principal investigator (PI) at the host institution and one co-principal investigator (co-PI) at a different institution. We encourage teams that bring together individuals with distinct expertise (e.g. a cancer investigator and computational expert, a cancer investigator and an aging expert who has not previously worked in the cancer field, or experts who study aging in oncology and immunology).

The PI and co-PI must both lead established laboratories currently supported by multi-year independent funding. For example, for US-based applicants, this should be at least one R01 or R01-equivalent grant. International applicants should similarly demonstrate independent support for their labs.

Investigators who currently hold “Aging and Cancer” awards from the Mark Foundation are not permitted to apply.

The PI and co-PI can only participate in one application, regardless of role.

Award Terms

The award will provide support of up to $500,000 to a team of two investigators for a term of three years, with $200,000 provided in Years 1 and 2 and $100,000 in Year 3. Ideally, the distribution should be even between the two investigators. The host institution will receive the grant funds.

Award recipients will be required to attend an annual scientific event sponsored by the Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer.

Budget limits are inclusive of both direct and indirect costs, with indirect costs allowed up to 10% of the direct costs and included in the total grant amount.

Submission Process

Letters of Intent must be submitted through the online application system no later than 5 PM Eastern Time on June 15, 2026. Registration and email address verification are required. Notifications will be sent from the application system so please be sure these emails are not caught in spam filters.

Letters of Intent are limited to 1 page and should be formatted with 0.5-inch border and 10 font size. They must include:

• Proposal title
• Background
• Key preliminary data
• Premise and rigor of underlying research
• Hypothesis
• Specific aims
• Novelty
• Potential translational impact for aging and cancer
• Applicants will also be requested to provide a biosketch (NIH format or similar) that includes a list of current grants and other funding supporting the lab.

All application materials, including Letter of Intent and biosketch, must be submitted in English.

Invitations for full applications and funding decisions will be based on peer review by a committee of members of the Waxman Institute Scientific Advisory Board, Mark Foundation representatives, and the Scientific Review Committee.

Key Dates:

• Application portal opens: May 4, 2026
• Letters of intent due: June 15, 2026
• Notification of invitation to submit a full application: August 2026
• Full applications due: September 15, 2026
• Notification of award: October 2026
• Projects and funding start: January 1, 2027

Submit all inquiries to grants@themarkfoundation.org.

Description :

IHI call 13

The following topics are under consideration for inclusion in IHI call 13, which IHI plans to launch in summer 2026. 

• IHI European healthcare incubator network
• An AI foundation toxicology model and framework to support waiving a second species in drug safety studies
• Decode the immuno-science of age-related mediated diseases

The topics are currently under consultation with our States’ Representatives Group (SRG) and Science and Innovation Panel (SIP). They may therefore change considerably between the versions published here and the call launch, and applicants should check the final, approved topic texts once they are published.

Nevertheless, we strongly encourage anyone interested in these topics to start preparing a proposal and get networking with potential partners.

IHI will hold info sessions the call around the time of the call launch; these will cover the topics as well as our rules and procedures.

Information on eligibility for funding

Legal entities based in all countries associated to Horizon Europe, including Canada, Switzerland, the UK, and South Korea, will be eligible to receive funding under this call, in line with the normal rules.

Join us for the IHI Call Days 

Information on the individual topics as well as rules and procedures for two-stage calls will be presented during four webinars from 24-30 June 2026. Find out more and register.

Description :

Anticancer Fund, in collaboration with the Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research, launched Ingenious, a joint Call for Research Projects (CfRP). Ingenious aims to support academic-led clinical research evaluating whether treatment strategies that integrate predictive information can improve patient survival.

By leveraging insights from tumour characteristics, imaging, biomarkers, and treatment response, this call aims to optimise the use of existing therapies through more refined and effective strategies. 

The Ingenious Call for Research Projects (CfRP) aims to stimulate academic-led clinical research investigating whether treatment strategies that incorporate predictive information can improve patient survival. 

This is a 2-step Call for Research Projects 
 

• Step 1: Letter of Intent (LOI) 

All applicants must complete and send the LOI application form to apply@anticancerfund.org before the 15th of July 2026.

Applicants will be notified whether their proposals have been selected for step 2 by Mid Aug 2026.

• Step 2: Full Application 

Step 2 starts with an online meeting with the applicant. The goal of this meeting is to explain the process, go through the feedback on the LOI, perform a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility for running the trial, and assess whether any circumstances have changed since receipt of the LOI.  

After the meeting, the applicants will be asked to submit a full application containing: 

• Full application form: This form contains the rebuttal on the feedback of the LOI and a 
  feasibility questionnaire to be completed by the applicant. 
• Protocol: The applicants are asked to submit a protocol ready (or almost ready) to be 
  submitted to the competent authorities and to the IRB/EC. 
• Budget: The applicants are asked to submit a detailed breakdown of the requested 
  budget. 

Deadline for full application is Monday 5 October 2026, 23:59 CET.

The final selection is expected to be communicated by End Dec 2026. 

Applicants are encouraged to contact apply@anticancerfund.org with any questions about the call or to confirm the eligibility of their proposal if in doubt.

Description :

Boosting mental health of young cancer survivors through the European Cancer Patient Digital Centre (ECPDC) - Supporting the implementation of the Cancer Mission (HORIZON-MISS-2026-02-CANCER-05).

Expected Outcome:
Proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed and tailored towards and contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Through the European Cancer Patient Digital Centre (ECPDC), adolescent and young cancer patients and survivors as well as their caregivers have access to innovative tools and approaches to strengthen their mental health.
• Healthcare professionals have access to innovative tools to monitor and support the mental health of cancer patients and survivors as well as their caregivers.
• Researchers and healthcare professionals have access and use reliable patient reported data to better understand the mental health needs of cancer patients and survivors and provide effective care.

Description :

Pragmatic clinical trials to optimise immunotherapeutic interventions for patients with refractory cancers - Supporting the implementation of the Cancer Mission (HORIZON-MISS-2026-02-CANCER-03).

Expected Outcome:
Proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed and tailored towards and contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Patients with refractory cancers and their caregivers/families will have access to optimised, tailored and affordable immunotherapeutic interventions that increase their quality of life, across European regions, EU Member States and Associated Countries;
• Healthcare professionals and academia will have access to clinical evidence, on effectiveness of immunotherapeutic interventions, to deploy evidence-based treatment interventions with improved patient selection that improve outcomes in real life, i.e. in routine healthcare, for patients with refractory cancers who often present with co-morbidities;
• National healthcare providers, policymakers and authorities in European regions, EU Member States and Associated Countries will have the evidence to implement and reimburse optimised and affordable immunotherapeutic interventions in their healthcare systems, including in everyday medical practice.

Description :

Virtual Human Twin (VHT) Models for Cancer Research - Supporting the implementation of the Cancer Mission (HORIZON-MISS-2026-02-CANCER-01).

Expected Outcome:
Proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed and tailored towards and contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Researchers of different disciplines use advanced multiscale Virtual Human Twins (VHTs) to expand the knowledge and understanding of cancer onset and progression
• Healthcare professionals and researchers have access to advanced VHT-based solutions that model cancer onset and progression over time, contributing to improve personalised treatments
• Researchers, healthcare professionals, innovators and citizens have access to cancer VHTs through the UNCAN.eu and the advanced Virtual Human Twin platforms

Description :

Supporting the implementation of the Cancer Mission (HORIZON-MISS-2026-02-CANCER-07)

Expected Outcome:
Proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed and tailored towards and contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Improved understanding of care needs of older patients with cancer and approaches to address them.
  Older cancer patients gain access to innovative age-specific approaches and tools better tailored to their care needs.
• National healthcare providers, policymakers and authorities in European regions, EU Member States and Associated
• Countries have the evidence to implement tailored care for older cancer patients that have the potential to be implemented in routine treatment and follow-up care in their healthcare systems.

Description :

Towards a better understanding and anticipation of the impacts of climate change on health - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-01).

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Living and working in a health-promoting environment”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to most of the following expected outcomes:

• Citizens, patients, public authorities, social care services, healthcare practitioners and policymakers have a better understanding of the climatic health risks and determinants of disease and are better equipped to address health outcomes through enhanced and inclusive prevention, resilience, adaptation, preparedness and response, including better diagnosis and treatment.
• Governments, public health authorities, researchers and civil society organisations are supported to tackle societal challenges linked to the health impacts of climatic factors.
• Public authorities, organisations and the research community can rely on data collection and sharing according to FAIR[1] principles and leveraging of data availability and quality.
• Policymakers and public authorities develop evidence-based climate change and health policies and interventions that are nature positive, inclusive and responsive to diverse population needs.

Description :

Identifying and addressing low-value care in health and care systems - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-CARE-03).

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Ensuring equal access to innovative, sustainable, and high-quality healthcare”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:

• Healthcare providers and policymakers make use of evidence-based indicators and methodologies to identify low-value care[1] practices, as well as opportunities for improvement and tools to monitor such improvements.
• Healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge and tools to implement guidelines for reducing or discontinuing low-value care activities and maintaining effective and patient-centred practices that ensure quality of care.
• Patients and citizens benefit from more effective healthcare, by understanding and endorsing measures that reduce low-value care, recognising the potential to achieve higher-quality healthcare and better health outcomes overall.
• Health and care systems benefit from a reduction of low-value care practices, which enables enhanced patient safety and quality of care, while contributing to their efficiency as well as fiscal and environmental sustainability.
• Healthcare organisations can, by identifying low-value care practices, reallocate valuable healthcare resources to other areas of need.

Description :

Pilot actions for follow-on funding: Leveraging EU-funded collaborative research in regenerative medicine - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-05).

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Developing and using new tools, technologies and digital solutions for a healthy society”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:

• The overall competitiveness of the EU biotechnology sector is strengthened through the further development of closer-to-deployment health innovations.
• The EU benefits from greater impact of the EU’s Research and Innovation (R&I) Framework Programmes through successful leveraging of previous EU funding in the field of regenerative medicine.
• EU innovators secure further funding to finalise the last stages of development.
• Patients benefit faster from solutions that improve their health and wellbeing.

Description :

Regulatory science to support translational development of patient-centred health technologies - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-IND-03).

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Maintaining an innovative, sustainable, and competitive EU health industry”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to several of the following expected outcomes:

• Policymakers and regulators will get accelerated access to improved evidence driven methodologies to evaluate the impact and efficiency of novel health technologies, facilitating decision-making for their use in humans and uptake in clinical practice.
• Patients and the health systems will benefit from the more targeted and efficient uptake of safe and effective health innovations in clinical practice, supporting more personalised approaches and improved care and public health.

Description :

Advancing research on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of post-infection long-term conditions - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-03).

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:

• All players along the healthcare value chain have access to evidence-based treatment and management strategies for post-infection conditions and improve patient recovery and quality of life across diverse populations.
• Public health authorities and healthcare practitioners have access to effective prevention, diagnostic and treatment tools, ensuring better allocation of healthcare resources.
• Healthcare systems improve their efficiency and reduce long-term economic burdens by streamlining post-infectious disease care and addressing disparities in healthcare access.
• Public health authorities have access to evidence-based information to integrate research findings into policy for improved public health preparedness and resilience, including training of healthcare staff and enhanced long-term disease management guidelines.

Description :

Innovative interventions to prevent the harmful effects of using digital technologies on the mental health of children and young adults - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-02).

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:

• Researchers and healthcare professionals have an improved understanding of the neuro-biological and cognitive/behavioural evidence base on the correlation and impact of digital technologies on mental health, including brain development.
• Policymakers and digital technology and content developers are provided with a robust evidence base on the impact (positive or negative) of digital technologies on mental health in children and young adults[1].
• Policymakers, digital technology developers, and educational institutions amongst others make use (e.g. developing guidelines) of the evidence base and widely implement the newly developed interventions aimed at promoting children and young adults’ mental health while mitigating any negative impacts of digital technology use.
• Children, young adults, families, guardians, educators, and carers have access to the newly developed interventions designed to prevent harm and promote the positive use of digital technologies.
• Children and young adults are empowered and develop resilience, including digital literacy, enabling them to engage in a healthy and positive way with digital technologies.
   

Description :

Towards climate resilient, prepared and carbon neutral populations and healthcare systems - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-04).

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Living and working in a health-promoting environment”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to most of the following expected outcomes:

• The healthcare sector is supported with new technological developments and frameworks for greening, decarbonising and adapting to climate change, thus also contributing to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• Governments, public health authorities, healthcare providers and practitioners, social care services and civil society have access to the best available evidence on the health costs and benefits (including co-benefits) of climate adaptation and mitigation actions and interventions.
• Policymakers and public authorities develop environment, climate change and health policies and interventions based on robust frameworks and incorporating innovative, inclusive and accessible solutions and technologies.
• Governments and public health authorities are supported in their adoption of robust frameworks and interventions to tackle societal challenges linked to the health impacts of climatic and environmental factors.
• Populations are empowered and equipped with knowledge, tools and resources to adopt health-protective behaviours and adapt to health-related climate risks.

Description :

Integrating New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to advance biomedical research and regulatory testing - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-03).

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Developing and using new tools, technologies and digital solutions for a healthy society”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to several of the following expected outcomes:

• Researchers are in possession of improved human-relevant New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) platforms that capture the genetic, phenotypic, age-related, immune, microbiome, and environmental exposure variability of the human population.
• These innovations support more equitable healthcare solutions and personalised treatment strategies across diverse life stages.
• Industry gets access to platforms that allow a faster pace of innovation for the development of more cost-effective targeted therapeutic interventions and improvement of the safety assessment of chemicals, other medicinal products, and medical devices.
• Patients benefit from innovative platforms and strategies that improve prediction, prevention and treatment of diseases, in particular through enhanced understanding of disease pathways and mechanisms.
• The general population is better protected through a safer environment, as these platforms enhance the detection and mitigation of risks posed by chemicals and other potentially harmful substances.
• Regulatory bodies gain confidence and trust in NAMs, supporting their integration into product development, risk assessment, and approval processes.
• Fewer live animals are used in biomedical research and regulatory testing.

Description :

Development of novel vaccines for viral pathogens with epidemic potential - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-04). 

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:

• The scientific and clinical communities have a better understanding of and access to experimental vaccines for the prevention and treatment of emerging or re-emerging viral infections, as well as for further clinical investigation, including better understanding of biological sex and social determinants that influence immune response, vaccine efficacy, safety, and uptake.
• Candidate vaccines are available for emerging and re-emerging viral infections, increasing therapeutic options for clinical deployment in case of an epidemic or pandemic.

Description :

Understanding of sex and/or gender-specific mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases: determinants, risk factors and pathways - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11)

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:

• Researchers, developers of medical interventions, and healthcare professionals have a better understanding of biological sex and/or gender-specific health determinants, risk factors and pathways for cardiovascular diseases.
• Researchers, developers of medical interventions, and healthcare professionals have access and use sex and/or gender-specific or tailored risk models for better prevention, detection and diagnostic and treatment strategies.
• Healthcare systems benefit from novel sex and/or gender-specific strategies for prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment options, resulting in reduced burden of cardiovascular diseases.

Description :

Multisectoral approach to tackle chronic non-communicable diseases: implementation research maximising collaboration and coordination with sectors and in settings beyond the healthcare system (GACD) - Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-09).

Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to some of the following expected outcomes:

• Researchers, policymakers, healthcare- and non-healthcare-related stakeholders and authorities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)[1] and/or those in high-income countries (HICs) serving disadvantaged populations have access to improved insights and evidence on how to maximise collaboration and coordination with sectors and in settings beyond the healthcare system in the context of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
• Researchers, policymakers, healthcare- and non-healthcare-related stakeholders and authorities have an improved understanding how the proposed interventions draw on collaborative multisectoral engagement and utilise the different settings in which people are educated, work and live, to expand efforts to reduce risks, prevent, manage and control NCDs.
• Communities, relevant stakeholders from different sectors and authorities are fully engaged in implementing and taking up interventions that tackle the growing burden of NCDs through actions in sectors and settings outside the traditional health system and its facilities health-related outcomes, improve quality of life across the life course and extend healthy life expectancy.

Description :

Biological, social and environmental factors that impact the trajectory of brain health across the lifespan – in the field of neurological, mental and sensory disorders (EP BrainHealth Call 1).

Maintaining brain health and facing the burden caused by brain disorders, including neurological, neurodegenerative and mental diseases alike, are paramount for all societies in Europe and beyond.

Brain disorders are a leading cause of disability and mortality globally, placing a great burden on people living with brain disorders, their families, social relations, professional and informal carers, as well as healthcare systems and national economies as a whole. In 2021, an estimated 3.4 billion individuals had a condition affecting the nervous system, corresponding to around 43% of the world’s population. This also creates enormous financial pressure on healthcare systems and economies, as the total cost of neurological diseases is estimated at around 1.7 trillion and the economic burden of mental disorders to over 600 billion Euro in Europe per year.

Timeline

• 8th of December 2025    Pre-Announcement
• 8th of January 2026    Launch
• 10th of March 2026    Pre-proposal deadline 14:00 CET
• End of May 2026    Formal invitation to submit a full proposal
• 30th of June, 2026    Submission deadline of full proposals 14:00 CEST
• September, 2026    Peer Review Panel meeting to assess the full proposals
• November 2026    Final funding decision by the CSC and start of national administrative procedures
• Early – Mid 2027    Start of funding