The Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation have a shared interest in supporting research that deepens our understanding of the interactions between the brain and periphery in health and disease.
Background
Significant associations between cardiometabolic diseases (1) (CMDs) and nervous system disorders (2) (NSDs) have been documented, but the underlying mechanisms involved are largely unknown. Therefore, the purpose of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s and Lundbeck Foundation’s “Body-Brain Interdisciplinary Projects” initiative is to enhance the mechanistic understanding of body-brain interactions in health and disease (CMDs and NSDs) by fostering European collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects with a significant focus on scientific excellence. By addressing critical knowledge gaps, this programme is expected to lead to novel discoveries ultimately improving diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and understanding of these interconnected health issues.
We believe that understanding and addressing the complex interactions between the body and brain requires a collaborative effort that spans neuroscientific and cardiometabolic research fields (3) while integrating multiple research disciplines (4). Therefore, we encourage you to submit a project proposal with aims that can only be achieved through integrated, interdisciplinary, and collaborative efforts.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation believe that diversity strengthens science and for this reason, diversity, including gender and ethnic origin, is encouraged. We also encourage applications from all independent career stages (5).
Research themes and scope
The interdisciplinary research could be related to, but is not limited to, the following research themes:
Physiological modulators, Bi-directional signalling pathways, Nervous system (neuro)circuits, Biological barriers, Health and disease mechanisms.
Strong projects will be of a collaborative nature, bridging different research disciplines (e.g. neuroscience, metabolism, endocrinology, physiology, neurology, psychiatry, medicine, epidemiology, immunology, nutrition), with a unifying aim of improving mechanistic understanding of body-brain interactions in health and/or disease while addressing specific knowledge gaps.
Who can apply?
We invite researchers from different fields, i.e. neuroscientific and cardiometabolic research, to take equal responsibility and contribute significantly to the scientific advancement of the project.
Researcher’s expertise can represent any part of the value chain, e.g. basic to clinical research, provided that the associated research question(s), if answered, will improve the mechanistic understanding of body-brain interactions.
Proposals may be between 2-3 applicants. At least one of the applicants must be anchored at a Danish host institution and at least one of the applicants must be anchored at a European (non-Danish) host institution. It is not acceptable to be an applicant on more than one application. Inclusion of collaborators is strongly encouraged, but it is only acceptable to be involved as a collaborator (6) on up to 2 applications.
To ensure that the research adds significant value to existing research environments, the applicants must be at the level of an independent researcher.
Which proposals are eligible?
Proposed projects can span frontline basic, translational, and clinical research within the area of body-brain interactions, i.e. integrative physiology. The application should be hypothesis driven and propose cutting edge research to answer questions that can only be addressed by combining different disciplines. Therefore, proposals from applicants solely within the same field, i.e. only neuroscientific research or only cardiometabolic research, will not be considered eligible.
The research must be anchored at a non-commercial Danish research institution (at least one applicant) and a non-commercial European research institution (at least one applicant).
We do not accept funding of commercial activities, including drug trials conducted, either wholly or partially, in collaboration with commercial enterprises. Consequently, this call can only fund investigator-initiated trials conducted independently of industry. Nor do we fund research projects aimed at directly supporting commercial entities (drugs or enterprises) or have commercial implications for specific commercial enterprises.
Grant and projects involving use of products where Novo Group companies have a commercial interest (i.e. anti-obesity medications) must be in accordance with the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Policy on Engaged Ownership of Novo Group Companies Policy-on-Engaged-Ownership-of-Novo-Group-companies.pdf, as well as internal NNF policies.
We do not accept funding for overhead/indirect costs (such as rent, electricity, water and maintenance). Nor do we accept double funding of projects. If the applicant has received funding for the proposed project from other sources, in part or in full, this must be accounted for in the budget and if an identical or overlapping project proposal has been submitted to other funding institutions, this must be declared in the application. Should the applicant receive funding for the project, or parts of the project, from other sources following submission of the application, this must be communicated immediately.
How much?
You can apply for DKK 15-20 million for a period of five years. We expect to award 5-6 grants in total. The budget may include all staff and non-staff costs related to the project, including project-specific research equipment and infrastructure. You cannot apply for salary for the applicants.
For applicants hosted by a Danish university, see details regarding project supplement rates here Guidelines on project supplements. For applicants hosted by other Danish research institutions and hospitals that are not a part of the project supplement agreement, up to 5% of the budget can be reserved for project-related, indirect costs.
PhD tuition fees, at Danish research institutions, are fixed at DKK 80,000 (wet) or 50,000 (dry) per full time equivalent (FTE).
Bench fee (not applicable to Danish universities)
Bench fee can be included in the budget for support of individual researchers to cover expenses needed to conduct the proposed research.
Bench fee is calculated per academic employee actively working on the project (eligible to apply for salary). It may only be used for expenses related to the research project which cannot be included within another individual budget category. Bench fee may account for a maximum of DKK 8,000 per month per FTE. The budget must specify the expenses covered by the bench fee, which may include:
- Common or shared laboratory expenses and consumables
- Laboratory utilities (electricity, gas, water)
- Maintenance of essential equipment
- Service contracts
- Technical and IT support
PLEASE NOTE: that bench fee cannot cover rent, administrative support, representation, social contributions etc. A valid bench fee policy in line with the Foundation’s requirements must be available at the time of application, and this official documentation from the administrating/co-applicant’s institution must be provided upon request.
How to apply?
You must submit the expression of interest, written in English, via the Lundbeck Foundation’s application system LANAS
Your expression of interest must include the following:
- Outline of the research plan
- Description of collaborative and interdisciplinary synergies
- Governance structure
- CV of applicants
- Publication list
- Tentative budget
Further guidance is provided in the guidelines to applicants and the application form.
You are welcome to contact Senior Scientific Manager Susanne Edeling Hede (Novo Nordisk Foundation, [email protected]) or Scientific Programme Manager, Jo Beldring Henningsen (Lundbeck Foundation, [email protected]) if you have any questions regarding the application process.
Download call text “Body-Brain Interdisciplinary Projects”.
Evaluation process
The evaluation will be based on scientific excellence characterised by the criteria below:
- Collaborative research project (interdisciplinarity, synergy, mechanistic insight, ground-breaking nature, scientific approach, feasibility)
- Applicants (scientific achievements, creativity, commitment, leadership skills/capacity development, collaboration and network)
- Research environment of applicants’ host institutions (scientific excellence, facilities, commitment)
- Expected impact and implications for human health
Step 1. Expression of Interest
Expression of interests are evaluated by an external peer review panel appointed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation. The panel selects the applications that will be invited to submit a full application (step 2).
Step 2. Full application (On invitation only)
The full applications are reviewed by the external peer review panel members. The panel will make their final recommendation for funding to the two foundations.
Important dates:
- Call opens January 2026
- Deadline for Expression of Interest: April 16, 2026
- Decision on step 1 and invitation to step 2: June 2026
- Deadline for full application: August 13, 2026
- Final decision: December 2026
What are the grant conditions?
If your proposal is successful, a contract will be drafted. As part of this process, you and your host institution will be required to accept the general grant conditions. You can read the general grant conditions for Lundbeck Foundation grants here: Terms and Conditions for Research Grants | The Lundbeck Foundation and for Novo Nordisk Foundation grants here: Conditions for Grants – Novo Nordisk Fonden.
- Cardiometabolic diseases: Refer to a spectrum of interrelated conditions that include cardiovascular diseases (such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke) and metabolic disorders (such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidaemia).
- Nervous system disorders: Are a broad group of medical conditions that affect any part of the nervous system. They can include neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, severe mental illness as well as psychotic disorders, trauma, anxiety, depression and stress-related disorders.
- Research fields: In this call, ‘research fields’ refers to neuroscientific research or cardiometabolic research.
- Research disciplines: Are specialities associated with the respective research areas e.g. neuroscience, metabolism, endocrinology, physiology, neurology, psychiatry, medicine, epidemiology, immunology, nutrition.
- Independent career stage: The applicant has established their own line of research.
- Collaborator: Can be international (i.e. from an institution anywhere in the world) and makes a clear contribution to the project’s aim(s) but receives limited funding.
