The proposed programme focuses on catalysing solutions to current challenges in the regenerative medicine (RM) field, thereby advancing the field, strengthening the Nordic RM ecosystem, promoting international collaboration, and lowering time and cost-barriers to RM therapies.

Thematic Areas of Research

• Research projects suitable for funding within the call must:
  • Be in scope of at least one of the four thematic research areas outlined below
  • Have a translational and applied focus, aiming to progress discovery phase regenerative medicine projects towards clinical development
  • Lead to the development of new protocols or methods that can advance the (broader) regenerative medicine field
  • Have clearly articulated aims or goals with respect to the outcomes that are expected to be catalysed by this project and the potential long-term impact of these outcomes (beyond the project itself)
• Challenges in autologous and allogeneic cell therapy: Autologous and allogeneic therapies represent the two main cell therapy paradigms. Autologous cell therapy involves extraction, manipulation, and re-introduction of a patient’s own cells, while allogeneic cell therapy involves using cells from a donor. Areas of research could be (but are not limited to):
  • Autologous cell therapy:
    • Solutions for optimised culturing processes to ensure consistent quality of product and reduce batch variation
  • Allogeneic cell therapy:
    • Addressing challenges related to immunogenicity and patient immune rejection of donor cell-based therapies, including the development of immuno-evasive/hypo immune cells
  • Common to both autologous and allogeneic cell therapy:
    • Development of robust and cost-effective processes for cell manipulation and manufacturing
• Applications of stem cell-based disease modelling: Within this theme, funding will be allocated to projects that focus on using already developed stem cell-based disease models as tools in translational research or that progress from disease model development towards preclinical testing. Areas of research could be (but are not limited to):
  • Utilising human stem cell-based disease models as tools to test new therapeutics, especially within functionality, potency, and efficacy
  • Advancing from disease model development into preclinical testing of cell therapies in vivo
• Engineering biomaterials for regenerative medicine therapy: Within this theme, funding will be allocated to projects that seek to engineer such innovative scaffolds, biomaterials, and devices. Areas of research could be (but are not limited to):
  • Engineering of scaffolds and biomaterials to support:
    • cell culture and disease modelling
    • delivery of cell therapies
  • Advancing technologies such as bioprinting to allow generation of complex organoids and tissues
  • Development of novel devices for cell transplantation or delivery
• Transition of cell therapies from academia to clinical development: Transitioning a cell therapy research candidate into clinical trials is currently associated with significant challenges from a manufacturability point-of-view, which is reflected in the highly exploratory nature of the cell therapy field. Areas of research could be (but are not limited to):
  • Development of scalable closed culture systems as an enabler of cell therapy protocol development
  • Optimising culture systems for increased target yield and purity
  • Establishment of robust processes for (cryo)preservation of cell therapies and intermediates.

Funding Information

• The total grant budget is DKK 100 million, which can be awarded over up to three years (2026-2028).
• The individual grants awarded can have one of two different granting frameworks:
  • Standard projects:
    • One main applicant based in a Nordic country (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland)
    • Co-applicants (optional) from the same Nordic country as the main applicant
    • Up to DKK 5 million can be awarded, with a grant period of up to three years
  • Collaborative projects:
    • One main applicant based in a Nordic country (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland)
    • At least one international co-applicant based in a country different from that of the main applicant (including another Nordic country)
    • Up to DKK 10 million can be awarded, with a grant period of up to three years
    • The budget does not have to be split evenly between the main and co-applicant institutions but if one institution will receive significantly more funding, a clear justification must be provided.

Eligibility Criteria

• The main applicant must be anchored and have their primary employment and research group at a university, hospital, or other non-profit research institution in a Nordic country (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland).
• The main applicant must be an established investigator with their own line of research.
• It is possible to apply for a ‘collaborative project’ which includes at least one international co-applicant who is anchored and has their primary employment and research group at a university, hospital, or other non-profit research organization outside of the country of the main applicant.
• Projects that only involve international co-applicants from within the same research centre as the main applicant are not eligible as collaborative projects.
• The main applicant and, if included, the co-applicant must be employed at the institution they are applying from and must be guaranteed their own salaries for the entire project period.
• Collaboration with for-profit research partners (biotech, industry etc.) is possible, but funding cannot be awarded to for-profit research partner(s), unless they act as subcontractors (e.g., consultants, service providers, vendors, etc.).

For more information, visit Novo Nordisk Foundation.