Target group
The funding program is aimed at researchers working in the field of rare diseases at universities, non-academic research institutions, and research departments in related sectors.
Funding goals
ERDERA has the ambition to improve the health and well-being of the 30 million individuals living with rare diseases in Europe, both by making Europe a world leader in RD research and innovation and by delivering concrete health benefits to rare disease patients through better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Funding period and funding amount
The maximum funding period is 36 months.
Requirements
The requirements and specifications for the FWF programs Principal Investigator Projects or Clinical Research apply.
Information on the current call “Resolving unsolved cases in rare genetic and non-genetic diseases through variant validation and new technological approaches”
The focus of this call is on undiagnosed complex and multifactorial diseases for which no molecular diagnoses based on genetic or genomic tests are available. The aim is to achieve diagnostic clarity for diseases of unknown or mixed pathogenesis. This includes the following issues, among others:
- Functional validation and classification of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) using in silico, in vitro, or animal models
- Use of multi-omics and integrative methods for unclear or complex variants
- Use of new, not yet validated methods in a clinical environment (incl. biostatistics, bioinformatics, mathematical approaches, and AI)
- Systems biology and modeling of disease mechanisms
- Integration of clinical, environmental, lifestyle, and sensor data
- Development of knowledge graphs or disease maps to link phenotypic and mechanistic findings
- Use of advanced AI and modeling tools
This call excludes topics from the previous first call (development of preclinical therapies) and interventional clinical studies to test the efficacy of active substances, treatments, and surgical interventions. Also excluded are applications for rare neurodegenerative diseases such as rare forms of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s-related diseases, prion and motor neuron diseases, Huntington’s disease, spinal muscular atrophy, and dominant spinocerebellar ataxia. Rare types of cancer, infectious diseases, or rare adverse drug events are also excluded from this call. However, childhood dementia and neurodegenerative diseases in children are eligible.
Each proposal must involve a minimum of four and a maximum of six partners from at least four different participating partner countries. A joint proposal must be submitted by the project coordinator to the central Call Secretariat. The number of partners can be increased to eight if junior researchers or partners from underrepresented countries are involved. In addition, it is recommended that a patient organization be represented in each consortium.
The researchers are funded by their respective national/regional funding organizations.
Funding organizations from over 30 countries, including France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Spain, are planning to take part in the call. The current list of participating countries can be found on the ERDERA website.
Approval
Decided by the Scientific Board based on a recommendation of the Call Secretariat.
Application information
Pre-proposals must be submitted by February 12, 2026, using the Call Secretariat's online application system. Please see the ERDERA website for the link to the application system.
Application and review are carried out in a two-stage procedure.
- Submission of pre-proposals: December 10, 2025 to February 12, 2026 (2:00 pm CET)
- Full proposals: currently scheduled deadline July 8, 2026 (2:00 pm CET)
- Decision on full proposals: expected in December 2026
In addition to the application to the Call Secretariat, administrative and financial data as well as the academic abstracts for the subprojects being applied for at the FWF must be submitted on elane (in compliance with the FWF application guidelines for Principal Investigator Projects or Clinical Research). In the pre-proposal phase, applications must be submitted under the program category “PIK - International Projects (Pre-Proposals)” (deadline: February 13, 2026, 2:00 pm local time Vienna). For the full proposal phase, please select the program category “KIN – International – Multilateral Initiatives” (currently scheduled deadline July 9, 2026, 2:00 pm local time Vienna). Both steps are required.
Please note that applications must be approved for submission by the research institutions before the deadlines indicated above. Research institutions must be registered in the FWF's research institution portal.
Funding institution
Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Find out more
- The maximum amount that can be requested by FWF principal investigators is €450,000.
- Details can be found on the ERDERA website.
- For general questions about the call, please contact the Joint Call Secretariat (JCS) at ERDERAcall(at)agencerecherche.fr. For specific questions about the budget, criteria, and rules of the respective funding organizations, please contact the individual funding organization directly.