Purpose
The Challenge Programme aims to contribute substantially to the development of Danish and European research ecosystems within research areas of strategic priority to the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The goal is to develop innovative solutions to major scientific challenges, supporting leading researchers to form a consortium united by a clear vision and mission.
The Programme provides funding to enable scientific depth and focus and facilitate synergy between the research partners. The grants awarded within the Challenge Programme will broadly fit within the Novo Nordisk Foundation Strategy.
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Research Theme 2027
Hypertension is associated with poor health outcomes during extreme heat events. As the frequency of heatwaves rises and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease grows, understanding the mechanisms of this interaction becomes critical. The challenge is to elucidate heat-associated physiological responses in the setting of hypertension with the aim of improving clinical management and reducing complications and mortality. It calls for human-centric mechanistic research—spanning cells, animal models and human studies—that is interdisciplinary and with clear translational potential.
Supported research may include but is not limited to:
- Elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying heat exposure and CVD associated mortality.
- Investigating the role of organ- and system-crosstalk during thermoregulation in hypertension.
- Understanding how antihypertensive medications disrupt thermoregulation and may contribute to morbidity or mortality in extreme heat.
- Risk-profiling based on biomarkers, clinical risk factors, and demographic circumstances in the setting of hypertension and heat exposure.
- Investigating how management of patients with hypertension during exposure to extreme heat can be tailored and improved.
Out of scope
Projects limited to a single discipline or single approach, such as exclusively in-vitro research or purely observational studies, are out of scope.
Eligibility
The Challenge Programme supports collaboration between leading scientific experts to form a consortium of 2-4 research groups (main applicant plus 1-3 co-applicants).
- The main applicant must be an independent tenured/tenure-track researcher with their own research group, employed at a European (European Union, Schengen Area plus United Kingdom) university, hospital, or non-profit research organisation, which will be the host institution and will be responsible for administration of the grant.
- The main applicant must be employed at the host institution with at least a 75% commitment and must be guaranteed their own salary for the entire project period.
- Co-applicant institutions may be located anywhere globally.
- At least one applicant (either main- or co-applicant) must be at least 75% employed and have their research group at a Danish university, hospital, or non-profit research organisation at the time of submission.
Industry collaboration is allowed, but industrial partners cannot receive funding
General rules for applications:
Applicants are only permitted to submit one proposal as main applicant across all four Challenge Programme 2027 calls. If a proposal is submitted as main applicant, the applicant cannot at the same time be a co-applicant on a different proposal.
Funding
A total budget of up to DKK 150 million (ca. EUR 20 million) is available for grants up to DKK 30 – 75 million (ca. EUR 4 – 10 million) for projects of 6 years duration.
Application process
There are 2 stages to the application process. Stage 1 consists of an expression of interest. After the initial evaluation, shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a proposal in Stage 2, consisting of a comprehensive application with a detailed project proposal along with a detailed budget.
As part of the Stage 2 evaluation, the applicants will be invited to present and discuss their proposed research projects with the review panel in an online meeting.
Please read ”Information and Guidelines for Applicants” carefully before initiating the application process. Additional and essential information is found in these guidelines.
Click here to read more about the Challenge Programme and to see a list of previous Grant recipients.
Access FAQ through link: here
Contact e-mail: [email protected]. Please include the name of the call “Heat and hypertension – understanding the mechanisms of interaction” in the subject line.
