The European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA) is excited to announce the upcoming launch of its Joint Transnational Call (JTC) for Proposals 2025. Set to officially open on December 10, 2024, this call will invite research teams from across Europe and beyond to submit collaborative projects focused on “Pre-clinical therapy studies for rare diseases using small molecules and biologicals – development and validation”.
This JTC will build upon the significant progress made by previous European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP RD) calls, with the aim of fostering international partnerships to develop innovative therapies for rare diseases. National and regional funding bodies from over 30 countries, including France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and all Baltic states, have expressed interest in participating.
Aim of the Call
The primary objective is to support interdisciplinary, transnational collaborations that leverage complementary expertise to develop new therapies for rare diseases. Research projects should focus on pre-clinical studies involving small molecules or biologicals. This could include the development of novel therapies, biomarkers for therapy efficiency, or replication of pre-clinical studies to validate findings.
Please note that this is a draft announcement and the list of funders is not final.
Topics of Interest
Eligible proposals may include research on:
- Development of pre-clinical therapies using cell, organoid, or animal models.
- Biomarker identification that correlates with therapeutic efficacy.
- Pre-clinical proof-of-concept studies showing pharmacological activity and safety data.
Notably, gene therapies, rare neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, and rare cancers are excluded from this call. Projects should have a special focus on therapies that can translate into clinical applications.
Application Timeline
The JTC 2025 will follow a two-stage submission process:
- December 10, 2024: Call opens.
- February 13, 2025: Pre-proposal submission deadline.
- July 9, 2025: Full proposal submission deadline. Funding decisions are expected by December 2025.
Get Involved
Interested applicants can join an informational webinar on December 17, 2024, for guidance on preparing submissions. Additionally, partnerships with patient advocacy organizations (PAOs) and the inclusion of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) are highly encouraged to foster a collaborative and inclusive research environment.
For further details, please contact the Joint Call Secretariat at SelteneErkrankungen@dlr.de or the relevant national contact point.
Stay tuned for more information on this exciting opportunity to drive forward research in rare disease therapies!