Purpose
The purpose of the Global Science Summit Programme is to catalyse novel, interdisciplinary, and collaborative science-based solutions, enabled by digital technologies and health data, to current global challenges within cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). The global burden of CMDs is rising rapidly, yet substantial gaps persist in timely and relevant diagnosis, consistent follow-up, and sustained adherence to treatment and risk-factor modification. These gaps are amplified by fragmented health systems, limited integration across primary and specialty care, and siloed chronic disease platforms. Furthermore, CMDs frequently present as multi-morbid conditions, that often intersect with reproductive health and infectious diseases, yet models of care rarely address these interactions holistically to ensure continuity of care. A growing pipeline of new and innovative technologies is rapidly emerging, offering significant potential to transform CMD detection and care if appropriately developed, adapted, and evaluated.
Areas of support
We invite collaborative research proposals that contribute to advancing scalable, context-sensitive solutions to improve early detection and sustained adherence to CMD care, while leveraging innovations within novel technologies such as AI and digital tools. Importantly, the proposed innovations should be at an intermediate stage of development, meaning that they have moved beyond early-stage conceptualisation but are not yet fully mature or deployed. Projects should build on existing evidence on contextual barriers to detection and adherence and test innovations that address one or more of the following challenges:
- How to detect CMDs earlier in high-risk individuals across the life course
- How to integrate screening and follow-up within existing service platforms
- How to design patient-centred adherence strategies that account for behavioural, socioeconomic, and gender-related barriers
- How to establish or improve health system structures that improve treatment adherence for multiple CMDs and their comorbidities
Eligibility
The programme supports collaborations between 2-3 research groups (the main applicant plus 1-2 co-applicants). Proposals must demonstrate interdisciplinarity, contextual understanding, and international engagement by including co-applicants from different disciplines and potentially from different nations. Disciplines do not refer to the education or formal position of the applicants, but rather their ongoing work expertise.
Funding
A total of up to DKK 50 million (approximately USD 7.2 million) is expected to be allocated to proposals submitted to this call. The number of proposals supported will depend on the quality and expected budget.
Each project should not exceed a budget of DKK 7 million (approximately USD 1 million) and is expected to have a duration between 1 and 3 years.
Application process
The application must be completed in English and submitted using the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s online application and grant management system, NORMA, which can be accessed by clicking the ‘Apply’ button.
