ERDERA Joint Transnational Call 2026: "Resolving unsolved cases in rare genetic and non-genetic diseases”

The ERDERA Joint Transnational Call 2026 seeks to address the resolution of unsolved cases in rare genetic and non-genetic diseases. This funding opportunity falls under the Horizon Europe framework and has a total budget of approximately €31.2 million, out of a broader €380 million allocated for the European Partnership on Rare Diseases (ERDERA) over seven years.

Eligible applicants must form research consortia, which can include universities, research institutions, healthcare providers, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), industry partners, and patient advocacy organizations (PAOs). The involvement of PAOs is mandatory at all stages of the research process, reflecting a commitment to patient-centered research. Additionally, early-career researchers are encouraged to participate as full partners.

The opportunity provides grant funding through a co-funded structure, emphasizing collaboration among multiple parties, including EU Member States and associated countries. A consortium is required for application, and proposals must highlight transnational collaboration from different countries.

The call supports various stages of research, from concept to clinical application, with an emphasis on innovative methodologies and patient engagement. Projects must demonstrate feasibility and ethical compliance, particularly in terms of patient involvement and data management. Proposals are evaluated in a two-stage process: the pre-proposal stage requires submission of a brief scientific idea with preliminary results, followed by full proposals for those invited based on pre-proposal evaluations.

Key application deadlines include a pre-proposal submission by February 12, 2026, and a full proposal due by July 8, 2026. The review process is competitive, with a minimum threshold score required to advance from pre-proposal to the full proposal stage.

Funding decisions will be influenced by the availability of national and regional resources, and there's an emphasis on inclusivity for underrepresented countries and gender balance within consortia. Successful proposals will capitalize on both financial grants and non-monetary support services offered through ERDERA, which include mentoring, regulatory advice, and data management support.

Overall, this call presents a significant opportunity for collaborative research aimed at addressing critical gaps in the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, benefiting the involved patients and their families through innovative and scientifically impactful approaches.

The ERDERA Joint Transnational Call 2026 focuses on "Resolving unsolved cases in rare genetic and non-genetic diseases". The call is part of the European Rare Diseases Research Alliance. The topic is HORIZON-HLTH-2023-DISEASE-07-01 - European Partnership on Rare Diseases.

The opening date for submissions is December 11, 2025. There are multiple cut-off deadlines. The first deadline is February 12, 2026, at 14:00 (Brussels time) for pre-proposals. The second deadline is July 8, 2026, at 14:00 (Brussels time) for full proposals.

The total funding available is 31,186,922.00 EUR. The project acronym is ERDERA. The grant agreement number is 101156595.

The submission process involves a two-stage procedure: a pre-proposal and a full proposal stage. A joint proposal document in English must be prepared by the partners of a joint transnational proposal. The coordinator must submit the proposal to the JCS via the electronic submission system, which can be accessed at https://funding.erdera.org. Proposals must adhere to the templates provided in the electronic system; non-conforming proposals will be rejected. Only applicants explicitly invited by the JCS may submit full proposals.

The call timeline is as follows:
December 10, 2025: Launch of the call
December 16, 2025: Information webinar for potential applicants
February 12, 2026: Pre-proposal submission deadline
March 4, 2026: Pre-proposal eligibility check
Early May 2026: Invitation to full proposal
May 5, 2026: Information webinar for applicants invited to submit a full proposal
July 8, 2026: Full proposal submission deadline
July 23, 2026: Full proposal eligibility check
December 2026: Notification of funding decision

Fundamental changes between the pre-proposal and full proposal stages regarding the composition of consortia, project objectives, or requested budget will be considered by the CSC only with a detailed rationale provided to the JCS. Justifications may include advice on project feasibility indicating the need for additional expertise or resources, or the addition of partners through the widening scheme. National/regional regulations on eligible partners and budget caps will still apply, and budget changes need pre-approval from relevant national/regional funding organizations.

Further information, including "Guidelines for Applicants" and submission templates, is available on the ERDERA website.

At the pre-proposal stage, applicants should focus on presenting the scientific idea/hypothesis and supporting preliminary results, studies, or data, describing the project from an unmet need to the expected endpoint.

At the full proposal stage, applicants must provide a full description of the patient engagement plan, data management, statistical methods, and ethical and legal issues in compliance with EC requirements. Applicants should consult relevant experts to verify project feasibility and ensure completion within defined timelines and budget, considering budget limits in the "Guidelines for Applicants."

Evaluation scores will be awarded using a common evaluation form, according to specific criteria aligned with Horizon Europe rules.

The scoring system is as follows:
0: Failure: The proposal fails to address the criterion or cannot be judged due to missing information.
1: Poor: The proposal shows serious weaknesses.
2: Fair: The proposal generally addresses the criterion but has significant weaknesses needing correction.
3: Good: The proposal addresses the criterion well, but specific improvements are necessary.
4: Very good: The proposal addresses the criterion very well, but minor improvements are possible.
5: Excellent: The proposal successfully addresses all aspects of the criterion.

The evaluation criteria are:
Excellence (0-5):
Clarity and pertinence of the objectives
Credibility of the proposed approach and methodology
Soundness of the concept
Innovative potential: development and application of new technologies or new uses/combination of existing technologies, groundbreaking new insights into diagnosing RD
Competence of participating research partners in the field(s) of the proposal (e.g., previous work in the field, specific expertise)
Active and meaningful participation of PAOs and patient partners in the project (including identifying and prioritising the research question, planning, design, conduct, analysis, oversight and governance, and dissemination) as well as clarity of the patient partner involvement plan

Impact (0-5):
Potential of the expected results for exploitation and for future clinical, public health and/or other socio-economic health-relevant applications, including patients’ needs
Benefit to patients, their families, and carers
Added value of transnational collaboration: gathering a critical mass of patients/material, sharing of expertise and resources, harmonisation of data, sharing of specific know-how and/or innovative solutions
Inclusion of Early Career Researchers as full partners (PI/research team leaders)
Involvement of industry (for a socio-economic impact and/or an acceleration of research development, access to innovation and application for patients)
Effectiveness of the proposed measures to exploit and disseminate the project results (including management of intellectual property rights (IPR)), to communicate the project, and to manage research data

Quality and efficiency of the implementation (0-5):
Feasibility of the project (coherence and effectiveness of the work plan, including appropriateness of the allocation of tasks, resources and timeframe, access to data and material)
Complementarity of the participants within the consortium, including the integration of patient partners
Appropriateness of the management structures and procedures, including risk management, contingency plans and innovation management
Plan for the sustainability of infrastructures or resources initiated by the project
Use of relevant tools and standards complementary to published ERDERA diagnostic workstream documentation

Sub-criteria 1f, 2f, and 3c-e will only be assessed during the full proposal evaluation.

The JCS will check all pre-proposals for formal criteria (completeness of information, general eligibility). The CSC members will check for compliance with country/regional eligibility rules. Proposals not meeting these criteria will be declined.

Each eligible pre-proposal will be reviewed by two SEC members with biomedical expertise, based on the evaluation criteria. The SEC will meet online to rank the pre-proposals. The CSC will decide which pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal. The JCS will inform the coordinators and send a consensus report to all applicants, along with SEC recommendations to successful applicants.

Each criterion will be scored out of five (5), with a maximum overall score of 15 points. To be approved for the full proposal stage, the application must receive a minimum threshold score of 12 points per expert vote.

Research teams from underrepresented or undersubscribed countries may join successful pre-proposals after approval by relevant funding organizations. Additional PAOs may be added if patient involvement is deemed too low. They can request funding from the Central Funding Mechanism if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Applicants invited to submit a full proposal are encouraged to use ERDERA support services for FAIR data, translational mentoring, and regulatory advice, as well as the Diagnostic Workstream (DRW) support services for data submission, analysis, and interpretation in collaboration with ERDERA’s Data Services Hub.

The JCS will check full proposals for formal criteria with the help of the CSC. The JCS will send full proposals to the SEC members, who will meet to discuss the proposals, assign final scores, and create a ranking list of proposals recommended for funding. The SEC members will prepare the final consensus report for each consortium, which the JCS will send to the respective applicants.

Each proposal will be evaluated by three biomedical reviewers (including methodological reviewers) and one patient reviewer. All reviewers will be present at the SEC meeting to discuss proposals and provide their feedback. Biomedical SEC members will score each criterion out of five, with a maximum score of 15 points and a threshold of 12 points. Patient SEC members will assess the full proposal according to the patient-relevant evaluation criteria, with a maximum score of 15 points and a threshold of 12 points.

Full proposals recommended for funding by the SEC will be remotely evaluated by independent experts in ethics. These experts will report on the feasibility of complying with ethical requirements and list tasks and documents needed for approval. Only proposals approved by both scientific and ethical evaluations (complying with Horizon Europe and regional/national ethical requirements) will be funded.

The CSC decides on the list of projects recommended for funding based on the SEC ranking, ethical approval, and available funding. Each CSC member organization makes the final decision on its funding contribution according to its regulations, calendar, and legal frameworks.

In cases of identical scores/ranking, the CSC will prioritize funding based on:
Availability of national/regional funding
Maximizing the use of national/regional funds
Patient centricity of the project
Proposals that address diseases not otherwise covered by a more highly ranked one
Proposals with participation of underrepresented or undersubscribed countries
Gender balance within consortia

The JCS will notify all project coordinators of the final funding decision and disseminate the SEC consensus report. The list of funded projects will be published on the ERDERA dashboard.

Applicants can appeal against the evaluation or eligibility outcome if they suspect a breach in the evaluation and selection procedures. This redress procedure applies solely to the procedural aspects of the call and does not challenge the scientific or technical assessments.

Appeals must be submitted to the JCS within seven (7) calendar days following the eligibility or evaluation outcome notification. The proposal outcome email will include information on the appeals procedure.

For an appeal to be admissible:
The appeal must be submitted by the coordinator of the proposal.
Only one appeal per proposal will be considered.
The appeal must be submitted via email to the JCS within the seven (7) calendar days’ deadline.
The appeal must contain the name of the call, the proposal acronym, the title of the proposal, and a description of the alleged shortcomings of the evaluation procedure.
The appeal must demonstrate a procedural irregularity or a factual error.

Appeals that do not meet these conditions or express mere disagreement with the result will be judged as not suitable for redress.

Upon receipt of an appeal, the JCS will send an acknowledgement within seven (7) calendar days, reporting the redress process and the anticipated decision date. All appeals received by the deadline will be processed together, and the CSC's decision will be communicated to the appellant by the JCS within seven (7) calendar days after the decision has been made.

The contact details for the Joint Call Secretariat are:
French National Agency for Research (ANR)
Dr Florence Guillot (PhD)
Dr Charlotte Lehericy (PhD)
E-Mail: ERDERAcall@agencerecherche.fr

In summary, this funding opportunity, the ERDERA Joint Transnational Call 2026, aims to support research consortia in resolving unsolved cases in rare genetic and non-genetic diseases. It follows a two-stage submission process, starting with a pre-proposal and leading to a full proposal for selected applicants. The evaluation process is rigorous, involving both scientific and ethical reviews, with a strong emphasis on patient involvement and transnational collaboration. The call provides significant funding, and successful projects will contribute to advancing the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, ultimately benefiting patients and their families. The application process requires careful attention to detail, adherence to guidelines, and a well-structured proposal that demonstrates excellence, impact, and quality of implementation.

Eligible Applicant Types: Research consortia are eligible to apply. The text also mentions the inclusion of Early Career Researchers as full partners and the involvement of industry. Patient Advocacy Organizations (PAOs) and patient partners are also expected to actively participate. Research teams from underrepresented or undersubscribed countries may join successful pre-proposals.

Funding Type: Grant. The opportunity is a Joint Transnational Call, implying grant funding for selected research projects.

Consortium Requirement: Consortium. The opportunity explicitly requires research consortia to submit transnational project proposals. A single coordinator must submit the joint proposal on behalf of the consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call encourages participation from underrepresented or undersubscribed countries, suggesting a broad geographic eligibility, likely including EU member states and associated countries. The mention of national/regional regulations implies that eligibility is also determined at the national or regional level.

Target Sector: Health, specifically rare diseases. The call focuses on "Resolving unsolved cases in rare genetic and non-genetic diseases" and falls under the "European Partnership on Rare Diseases." The call also mentions diagnostics, FAIR data, translational mentoring, and regulatory advice, indicating a focus on translational research.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the call is transnational and involves national/regional funding organizations, implying participation from various European countries and potentially associated countries.

Project Stage: The call supports projects from the research stage through to demonstration and validation. The pre-proposal stage focuses on presenting the scientific idea/hypothesis and supporting preliminary results, while the full proposal stage requires a comprehensive plan including patient engagement, data management, statistical methods, and ethical considerations, suggesting projects are expected to be relatively mature.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 31,186,922.00 €. The funding amount per project is variable and depends on the national/regional regulations and budget caps of the participating funding organizations.

Application Type: Open call with a two-stage submission procedure: pre-proposal and full proposal. Only applicants invited after the pre-proposal stage can submit a full proposal.

Nature of Support: Money. Beneficiaries will receive grant funding to support their research projects. The call also mentions ERDERA support services for FAIR data, translational mentoring, regulatory advice, and diagnostic research workstream support, indicating non-monetary services are also available.

Application Stages: 2. There is a two-stage submission procedure: a pre-proposal stage and a full proposal stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is implied. Each CSC member organization makes the final decision on its funding contribution according to its respective regulations, calendar, and legal frameworks. The availability of national/regional funding is a prioritization criterion.

Summary:

The ERDERA Joint Transnational Call 2026, titled "Resolving unsolved cases in rare genetic and non-genetic diseases," is a funding opportunity for research consortia focused on rare diseases. With a total budget of over 31 million euros, this call aims to support transnational research projects that can provide groundbreaking new insights into diagnosing rare diseases. The call follows a two-stage application process, starting with a pre-proposal submission, followed by an invitation-only full proposal submission.

The call is open to research consortia, encouraging the participation of early career researchers, industry partners, and patient advocacy organizations. The evaluation process is rigorous, involving both scientific and ethical reviews, and aligned with Horizon Europe rules. Key evaluation criteria include excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation.

The funding is intended to support projects from the research stage through to demonstration and validation, with a strong emphasis on patient engagement, data management, and ethical considerations. Applicants are encouraged to utilize ERDERA support services for FAIR data, translational mentoring, regulatory advice, and diagnostic research.

The call prioritizes projects that demonstrate patient centricity, address diseases not otherwise covered, involve underrepresented countries, and promote gender balance within consortia. The final funding decisions are made by the CSC, with each member organization determining its funding contribution based on national/regional regulations.

This call represents a significant opportunity for researchers in the field of rare diseases to collaborate on transnational projects and advance the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. The two-stage application process, while rigorous, ensures that only the most promising projects receive funding, maximizing the impact of the investment.