The prize money of €50,000 serves as start-up funding for innovative projects in the field of basic or clinical research on rare diseases. Sustainable, cross-disease and research networking projects are particularly eligible for the award.

This could be particularly interesting for developers of animal-free methods: animal models often do not replicate the reactions to drugs observed in the human body due to species differences. For developers of organ-on-a-chip or human-on-a-chip models, the simulation of rare diseases is an opportunity. This is because the technology has the potential to discover patient-specific treatment options. There are many examples: in vitro models for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myasthenia gravis with organ-on-a-chips or tuberous sclerosis (Bourneville-Pringle syndrome), or even Duchenne muscular dystrophy have been already developed.

Applications from research groups in Germany and abroad are eligible, as long as they are submitted from university or non-university institutes or clinics with a non-profit orientation.

Deadline is September 17, 2023.

More information and application materials:
https://www.elhks.de/en/aktuell-fp24/