Purpose and Scope
The purpose of the “Infectious Diseases – Catalyst Grants” programme is to provide catalytic funding for exploratory, use-inspired, and innovative research projects that have exceptional potential for future direct impact on global challenges within human infectious diseases. In 2026, projects submitted to this call for applications must be within one of the two scientific themes, namely Novel AMR tools or Pandemic Influenza.
Eligibility
- The main applicant must be anchored and have their primary employment and research group at a university, hospital, or other non-profit research institution in a Nordic country.
- The main applicant must be employed at the institution they are applying from and must be guaranteed their own salary for the entire project period.
- The main applicant must be at assistant professor, associate professor, or professor (or similar levels). Applications from postdocs or Ph.D. students are not accepted. Early career-stage group-leaders as well as women and other groups that have been historically under-represented in scientific research are strongly encouraged to apply and to be included as co-applicants.
- A main applicant (or a co-applicant) can only submit/be part of one application to the 2026 “Infectious Diseases – Catalyst Grants Call” and cannot be an applicant on a different application. Researchers who hold an active “Infectious Diseases Catalyst Grant” cannot apply until they are in the final year of their existing Catalyst grant, and the grant period for a new project cannot overlap with that of the active grant.
- The project must be in scope of at least one of the two 2026 research themes and it must be use-inspired i.e., the research project must enhance fundamental knowledge and include considerations of potential application/translation of the knowledge gained towards generating better and needed tools. The scientific rationale, concept, and research direction should be driven by the potential use and/or translation of that knowledge. The application should have clear aims/goals, and articulate the expected outcomes catalysed by this project, and the potential future impact of these outcomes beyond this project.
Thematic Research Areas
Theme 1: Novel AMR tools
The current clinical pipeline for tools to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is inadequate and urgently requires new and innovative solutions. Projects supported under this theme should investigate rationally designed and novel approaches to prevent, diagnose or treat antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections. Pathogens listed on the WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogen List, 2024 will be prioritised.
Theme 2: Pandemic Influenza
Pandemic influenza remains a substantial threat to public health. There is an urgent need for a deeper understanding of the factors that influence viral infectivity, transmission, and disease severity in humans. Projects supported under this theme should address major research gaps in our understanding of pandemic influenza and interactions with the human host and aid the development of tools to prevent or combat infections effectively.
Out of scope: Projects which are mainly focused on surveillance, establishment/maintaining infrastructure (incl. databases and algorithms), clinical trial(s), microbiome research, phage therapy, as well as projects not directly related to human health. For-profit product development projects are ineligible.
Funding
A total of DKK 60 million is available for proposals in this call in 2026.
The individual grants awarded can have one of two different granting frameworks:
- For each grant where there is only one applicant who is based in the Nordics, up to DKK 4 million can be awarded, with a grant period of up to 3 years.
- For each grant where there is a Nordic main applicant and a co-applicant based in a different country, up to DKK 7 million can be awarded, with a grant period of up to 3 years. The budget does not have to be split evenly between the main and co-applicant institutions, but if one institution will receive significantly more funding, a clear justification must be provided.
Application Process
The application must be completed and submitted using NNF’s online application and grant management system, NORMA, which can be accessed from: https://norma.novonordiskfonden.dk.
Applications will be assessed by the Committee for Infectious Diseases (CID)
When all applications have been assessed, applicants will be notified if they have/ or have not been awarded a grant. The notification e-mail will be sent from norma.novonordiskfonden.dk to the e-mail address entered on initial registration.
For questions addressed in previous years regarding the call, please refer to the FAQ.
