Note: Additional institution-specific eligibility criteria may apply. Please contact your internal contact person if you're a member of a partner institution.
Individual Eligibility Criteria
You are eligible to apply if you meet the following criteria:
- You are an early-career researcher.
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- PhD student: from 2nd year onwards
- Postdoc: up to 6 years after PhD (Note: Extensions may be considered in cases of career interruptions, including parental leave, caregiving responsibilities, long-term illness, or comparable personal circumstances)
- Clinician scientists enrolled in a PhD program or who have already obtained a PhD degree.
- Clinician scientists not enrolled in a PhD program and with no PhD degree, with at least one year of research experience, preferably before completion of specialty training
- You have not yet achieved significant scientific independence
- You can provide proof of funding of your researcher position until at least November 2027 (employment contract or fellowship confirmation), or can provide proof of contract extension.
- You are able and willing to actively participate in all stages of the program (see section timeline), including the on-site event in Heidelberg. Clinician scientists must provide confirmation from their clinic that they can attend the on-site event, if selected.
Team Eligibility Criteria
To proceed to the team application stage, your team must meet the following requirements:
- Your team consists of 2–3 researchers in total
- Your team includes members from institutions in at least two different countries
- Your team includes at least one researcher affiliated with one of the challenge’s partner institutions.
- Your team brings together complementary expertise (e.g. basic, translational, clinical research)
- Your project:
- demonstrates a clear added value based on the collaborative component
