Understanding of sex and/or gender-specific mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases: determinants, risk factors and pathways

The grant opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, specifically titled "HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11," focuses on understanding sex and/or gender-specific mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases. This initiative aims to explore determinants, risk factors, and pathways associated with cardiovascular diseases, highlighting the role of biological sex and gender in health outcomes. The total budget allocated for this project is €39.3 million, with expectations to fund around six projects, each receiving between €6 million and €7 million.

Eligible applicants for this grant include a diverse mix of entities such as research institutions, universities, public and private research organizations, healthcare providers, startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and other non-profit organizations engaged in health-related research. The opportunity encourages the participation of SMEs and emphasizes a consortium requirement, necessitating collaboration between multiple legal entities, as single applications from individual entities will not be accepted.

The geographic scope for beneficiaries primarily covers EU member states and EEA countries, with specific provisions for entities from the United States eligible to apply. The project aims to target sectors within healthcare and biomedical research, particularly focusing on cardiovascular disease (CVD) research, precision medicine, and gender-specific health strategies.

The application process is structured as a single-stage submission, opening on February 10, 2026, and closing on April 16, 2026. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal, comprising a complete proposal without preliminary screening. An eligibility check will occur before expert evaluations based on criteria such as excellence, impact, and implementation.

The nature of support offered encompasses lump-sum grants with simplified cost reimbursement, simplifying financial management for beneficiaries. The projects are encouraged to integrate social sciences and humanities alongside biomedical research, addressing the complex interplay of various factors like genetics, socio-economic conditions, and cultural influences that contribute to CVD disparities.

Furthermore, significant co-funding is mandated, with a requirement for beneficiaries to secure approximately €63.2 million in contributions from industry partners and other third parties, underscoring a public-private partnership model. The success rates for project funding are estimated to range between 10% to 39%, depending on the competitive application pool.

In summary, this grant opportunity emphasizes tackling health equity gaps in cardiovascular disease research through gender-specific approaches. It promotes innovative research that resonates with real-world healthcare applications, ultimately aiming to improve prevention, diagnostics, and treatment strategies, thereby reducing the overall burden of cardiovascular diseases across European healthcare systems. The integration of cutting-edge technologies and the fostering of collaboration among research entities form the backbone of this initiative.

This is a Horizon Europe (HORIZON) call under Cluster 1 Health (Single stage 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01). The topic is Understanding of sex and/or gender-specific mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases: determinants, risk factors and pathways, with topic ID HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11. It is a forthcoming call for HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The deadline model is single-stage. The planned opening date is 10 February 2026, and the deadline date is 16 April 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of this topic are:
Researchers, developers of medical interventions, and healthcare professionals have a better understanding of biological sex and/or gender-specific health determinants, risk factors and pathways for cardiovascular diseases.
Researchers, developers of medical interventions, and healthcare professionals have access and use sex and/or gender-specific or tailored risk models for better prevention, detection and diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Healthcare systems benefit from novel sex and/or gender-specific strategies for prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment options, resulting in reduced burden of cardiovascular diseases.

The scope of this topic is as follows:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of premature deaths in the EU and account for 32% of all deaths in 2021 (over 1.7 million deaths).
Biological sex and gender play a specific role both in the incidence and the prevalence of certain diseases, including CVDs. Sex and gender disparities in CVDs are influenced by biological, behavioural, and sociocultural factors, affecting symptoms, prevalence, treatment, and outcomes. Hormonal influences, genetic predispositions, and/or physiological differences contribute to variations in how CVD presents and progresses in men and women. Risk factors such as diabetes, cholesterol, smoking, and age have different impacts across genders, highlighting the need for customised treatment strategies. Unique gender-specific conditions in women, such as menopause, pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and certain autoimmune diseases, also increase the risk for CVDs.
Mainstreaming a gender perspective into the research, prevention and control of CVDs is thus crucial to understanding and addressing the health risks and needs of women and men of all ages.
Although the significant progress has been done in investigating sex and/or gender-specific pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases, more research is needed to translate basic discoveries into the development of innovative prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Proposals should address most of the following aspects:
Contribute to further the understanding on the structural, hormonal, and/or biological distinctions between sexes/genders to improve diagnostics and therapeutics for CVDs.
Develop sex and/or gender-specific tailored risk models in a view of better prevention, detection and diagnostic, and treatment strategies.
Identify and/or validate novel or existing sex and/or gender-specific health determinants, risk factors and pathways for cardiovascular disease(s) through the generation, integration and validation of data derived from relevant disciplines (e.g. molecular biology, behavioural science, nutrition, clinical, social and environmental epidemiology; exposure sciences; genetics and epigenetics, etc.).
Make use of existing health data, including registries or cohorts, and/or assess the necessity to establish new ones, as well as, where relevant, exploit the knowledge gained from population-based biobanks. In case of the generation of new data, it should be managed in line with the FAIR principles, when relevant.
Proposals are encouraged to consider, where relevant, the data, expertise and services offered by European research infrastructures in the health domain.
The use and/or development of new technologies, including digital ones (e.g. (generative) Artificial Intelligence) that support research under this topic is encouraged.
Disease progression and overall health status at different life stages, as well as hormonal influences, genetic factors, etc. and psychosocial, socioeconomic, cultural and behavioural factors should be considered in the proposed research. Other intersecting factors such as racial or ethnic origin, often amplify existing inequalities in health access and outcomes. Proposals should, where relevant, consider these to design effective and inclusive interventions.
In the context of gender-specific research, this topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.
The participation of start-ups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is encouraged with the aim of strengthening their scientific and technological foundations, enhancing their innovation potential, and exploring possibilities for commercial exploitation.
All projects funded under this topic are encouraged to participate in networking and joint activities, as appropriate. Proposals should include a budget for the attendance to regular joint meetings and may consider covering the costs of any other potential joint activities without the prerequisite to detail concrete joint activities at this stage. The details of these joint activities will be defined during the grant agreement preparation phase.
All projects funded under this topic are also encouraged to explore complementarities and exploit potential synergies with the projects funded under topic HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-10: “Sustainable and healthy diets based on health status and socio-economic risk factors of ageing population”, once information on the funded projects is available.
All projects funded under this topic are encouraged to explore potential synergies with projects to be funded under the EU4Health Work Programme 2026 related to the gender and CVDs.
Applicants envisaging to include clinical studies should provide details of their clinical studies in the dedicated annex using the template provided in the submission system.

The admissibility conditions are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. The proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. In recognition of the opening of the US National Institutes of Health’s programmes to European researchers, any legal entity established in the United States of America is eligible to receive Union funding. If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used). Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks. Other eligibility conditions are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. The thresholds for each criterion will be 4 (Excellence), 4 (Impact) and 4 (Implementation). The cumulative threshold will be 12. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). Legal and financial set-up of the grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation form templates include the standard application form (HE RIA, IA) and the standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA). Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreement (MGA), Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, Information on clinical studies (HE), Detailed budget table (HE LS), and Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?". Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 4. Health, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview for the year 2026 includes several topics, with the following details for HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11: a budget of 39,300,000 EUR, a single-stage application process, an opening date of 2026-02-10, a deadline of 2026-04-16, contributions ranging from 6,000,000 to 7,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 6 grants.

There are 4 partner search announcements available. The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header. There are 0 item(s) found in the Topic Q&As. General FAQ and support information are provided, including links to the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk, The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment, and Partner Search.

In summary, this Horizon Europe grant opportunity aims to improve the understanding, prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases by addressing sex and gender disparities. It encourages research that considers biological, behavioural, and sociocultural factors, as well as the use of new technologies and the involvement of social sciences and humanities. The call is structured as a single-stage application process with a deadline in April 2026, offering a lump sum grant with specific eligibility and evaluation criteria. The initiative promotes collaboration, networking, and the participation of SMEs, with a focus on translating research findings into tangible benefits for healthcare systems and patients.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity encourages the participation of start-ups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The opportunity also targets researchers, developers of medical interventions, and healthcare professionals. Any legal entity established in the United States of America is also eligible to receive Union funding.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and HORIZON Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (HORIZON-PPI). The grants will be provided as a lump sum.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to require a consortium, as it encourages networking and joint activities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility appears to be EU member states and associated countries, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries. In recognition of the opening of the US National Institutes of Health’s programmes to European researchers, any legal entity established in the United States of America is eligible to receive Union funding.

Target Sector: The target sector is health, specifically cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), medical interventions, social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines, and the use and/or development of new technologies, including digital ones (e.g. (generative) Artificial Intelligence). It also touches on nutrition, clinical, social and environmental epidemiology; exposure sciences; genetics and epigenetics.

Mentioned Countries: United States of America, European Union

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be focused on research, development, and validation, with an emphasis on translating basic discoveries into innovative prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment options. Clinical studies are also within the scope.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific action type:
HORIZON-PPI: €3,000,000 to €8,000,000
HORIZON-RIA: around €8,000,000, €6,000,000 to €8,000,000, €9,000,000 to €11,000,000, €3,000,000 to €4,000,000, €6,000,000 to €7,000,000, €7,000,000 to €8,000,000, €4,000,000 to €6,000,000, €9,000,000 to €10,000,000, €5,000,000 to €8,000,000
HORIZON-CSA: around €1,900,000, around €3,000,000, €1,500,000 to €1,900,000, around €2,900,000, around €3,900,000

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants is provided for each topic.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary: This Horizon Europe funding opportunity, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11, aims to support research and innovation actions that contribute to tackling diseases and reducing the disease burden, specifically focusing on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The core objective is to enhance the understanding of sex and/or gender-specific mechanisms in CVDs to improve prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. The opportunity encourages proposals that further the understanding of structural, hormonal, and biological distinctions between sexes/genders, develop tailored risk models, and identify/validate novel risk factors. The use of existing health data, new technologies like AI, and the involvement of social sciences and humanities are highly encouraged. Start-ups, SMEs, and clinical studies are also welcomed. Eligible applicants include entities from EU member states, associated countries, and the United States. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with a single-stage application process. The indicative budget for this specific topic is €39,300,000, with an expected contribution of €6,000,000 to €7,000,000 per project and an indicative number of 6 grants. The call opens on February 10, 2026, and closes on April 16, 2026. This opportunity is designed to foster collaborative research and innovation to address the disparities in cardiovascular health outcomes between men and women, ultimately reducing the burden of CVDs on healthcare systems.