The aim of the funding opportunity is to enable scientists in different countries to build an effective collaboration on a common interdisciplinary research project based on complementarities and sharing of expertise, with expected impact to use the results in the future for benefit of patients

Topic: Natural History Studies addressing unmet needs in Rare Diseases

Don’t miss the information webinar will be held on December 15th for potential applicants.

Timetable, contact, and more information here: https://www.ejprarediseases.org/joint-transnational-call-2023/

This event, which is targeted towards small and medium-sized enterprises, patient organisations, regulatory authorities, academic teams, industry, hospitals and other organisations with an interest in IHI projects, will take place in Brussels, Belgium and online on June 14th from 09.00 to 17.00 CET.

• Info session: The first part of the morning is a classic info session. It will cover the topics of the first calls, the call conditions and rules for participation, and opportunities for SMEs. The session includes time for questions.
• Networking: To submit a proposal for an IHI call, you need to be part of a consortium. The second half of the morning and the afternoon are dedicated to networking via one-on-one brokerage meetings and pitching sessions.

Participation in the event is free but registration is mandatory.

For more information and registration: https://ihi-calls-2022.b2match.io/

The Networking Expo is a two-day ideation and matchmaking workshop specifically designed as an opportunity for researchers and patient-advocates/organizations who are looking to develop a new collaboration to connect around potential projects for the Patient-Partnered Collaborations (PPC) for Rare Neurodegenerative Disease RFA.

The virtual event will take place over two days on April 20th – 21st.

Space is limited for these sessions and participants will be selected through a brief application process. Registration for the Networking Expo is open until April 8th.

For more information: https://apply.hub.ki/czi-patient-partnered-collaborations/ 

The ERN Research Training Workshops funding opportunity is now open for applications until April 25th. The goal of the workshops is to train researchers and clinicians affiliated to ERN- Full  Members or – Affiliated Partners in relevant topics on research in rare diseases. Training themes may include innovative research methodologies, diagnostic research topics, interdisciplinary treatment approaches, such as gene therapy and transplantation, etc. Moreover, the workshops will be aiming to provide a cross-ERN added value.  

The workshops will be delivered as two-day events. The costs for the workshop organization will be covered up to a limit of €25,000 (venue, administrative, audio-visual and IT facilities essential for the workshop, catering, travel and accommodation expenses of workshops participants and invited speakers, if envisaged). 

The workshops selected for funding will be attended only by individuals affiliated to ERN institutions. Participants will be selected by the coordinator of the ERN managing institution and the workshop organizer based on pre-defined criteria. 

Organizer’s profile: 

The applicant submitting workshop topics must fulfil one of the following conditions: 

• Affiliated to any EJP RD beneficiary institution
• Affiliated to an ERN Full Member
• Affiliated to an ERN Affiliated Partner institution at the time when the application is submitted, as well as during the period of the execution of the workshop. 

Application and more information here.

The EIC Transition 2022 (HORIZON-EIC-2022-TRANSITION-01) call, which has a planned opening date of March 1st, is intended to meet the following specific objectives:

1. Advance, beyond the state-of-the-art, RNA delivery methods, including robust mRNA formulations, that would enable effective and safe delivery of mRNA into the cells;
2. Design, develop and preclinical validate of novel miRNAs (miRNA lncRNA, tRNA or siRNA-based) therapies for complex or rare genetic diseases;
3. Develop and validate novel RNA-based diagnostics and RNA-based predictive biomarkers that would allow for early and more accurate diagnosis and for favourable or non- post-treatment prognosis, respectively.

The starting point in the project should be a preliminary technology or protocol of an RNA-based therapy for complex or rare genetic diseases with unmet medical needs that demonstrates, in a lab or preclinical context, the essential features that underpin the disruptive nature of the innovation. The endpoint in the project should be a completely functional version of the technology suitable for clinical validation, supported by a sound and implementable commercialisation/exploitation strategy.

The funding call has the following deadlines: May 4^th and September 28^th.

For more information: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-eic-2022-transitionchallenges-03

The website also collates information about research funders, and users are allowed to submit new grant and funding opportunity information for eventual inclusion in the list.

For more information and to consult the list: https://www.scientifyresearch.org/all-rare-disease-funding-opportunities/

• The Patient-Partnered Collaborations for Single-Cell Analysis of Rare Inflammatory Pediatric Disease RFA aims to support the application of single-cell biology methods to rare inflammatory pediatric diseases in order to clarify cellular mechanisms of disease, improve understanding of disease heterogeneity, identify biomarkers, and improve diagnosis. Patient organizations are expected to be active collaborators on this research opportunity and full partners in the development of the grant application.

• The Patient-Partnered Collaborations for Rare Neurodegenerative Disease RFA aims to advance the understanding of the pathophysiology and mechanistic underpinnings of rare neurodegenerative and neurological disorders.

For more information about these RFAs, an informational webinar is being organised on February 16th from 18.00 – 19.00 CET.

To register for the webinar: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/c3778f11ace64be3a2e0cec66b11ea4f

The deadline for submitting applications is May 24th.

For more information and to complete the RFAs: https://apply.chanzuckerberg.com/

The first call for proposals will be launched in the first half of 2022. The following draft themes could be included in the future calls:

Single stage calls

• Innovative patient-facing care pathways for patients with neurodegenerative diseases and comorbidities
• Next generation imaging and image-guided diagnosis and therapy for cancer
• Precision oncology: Innovative patient-centric, multi-modal therapies against cancer
• Access and integration of heterogeneous health data for improved health care in diseases areas of high unmet public health need.

Two stage calls

• New tools for prediction, prevention and monitoring of cardio-metabolic diseases including secondary manifestations to enable timely intervention
• Strengthening EU clinical development excellence and innovation attractiveness: Harmonised methodology to promote the uptake of early feasibility studies (EFS)

Please check the IHI website and social media for regular updates related to the upcoming calls.

For more information (including summaries of the draft themes): https://www.ihi.europa.eu/apply-funding/future-opportunities

Apply here: Efficient and Innovative Natural History Studies Addressing Unmet Needs in Rare Diseases (R01)

• Receipt Date: February 15, 2022 and February 13, 2024
• FOA Number: RFA-FD-22-001

Purpose: To support efficient and innovative natural history studies that advance medical product development in rare diseases/conditions with unmet needs. 

Focus: Natural history studies with high quality and interpretable data elements

Contact: Katherine Needleman, Director, Orphan Products Grants Program

More information here

The aim of the funding opportunity is to enable scientists in different countries to build an effective collaboration on a common interdisciplinary research project based on complementarities and sharing of expertise, with expected impact to use the results in the future for benefit of patients.

Topic: Development of new analytic tools and pathways to accelerate diagnosis and facilitate diagnostic monitoring of rare diseases

The EJP RD Joint Transnational Call 2022 Information Webinar will provide you general information on the call (scientific goals, administrative aspects) and will answer your question on this call. The webinar will take place online on December 16th 2021, from 14.00 – 15.30 CET. Registration is mandatory for the webinar: https://forms.office.com/r/P7cYnbLLYG.

JTC2022 timetable, contact, and more information here: https://www.ejprarediseases.org/jtc2022/