FET Flagship Human Brain Project

This Call for Expression of Interest (CEoI) has been launched to support COVID-19 research using the strengths of EBRAINS. The call particularly seeks to support projects in the field of COVID-19-related brain-disorders and mental health issues.

The call will provide support for academic and medical research, including hospitals, or industry and pharma (SMEs and larger companies) active in COVID-19 research. Potential research topics include:

• COVID-19 research activities that are linked to and supplement HBP/EBRAINS and other activities at European or national level in this research field, eg funded by Horizon Europe, to create synergy and increase impact through including the EBRAINS Research Infrastructure.
• Longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses of patients suffering from neurological and/or psychiatric symptoms after infection with COVID-19, eg based on existing large cohorts.
• Exploration of changes in brain structure and function in patients that have undergone COVID-19, eg targeting brain mechanisms underlying olfaction, memory, fatigue, depression.
• Disease mechanisms and genotype-phenotype relationships as far as they concern the brain.
• Short- and medium-term effects of COVID-19 and related changes on mental health and brain health, eg related to age and demographic factors.
• Development of mathematical brain models of patients and subjects affected by COVID-19.
• Modelling and simulation of COVID-19 disease scenarios using EBRAINS.
• Identification, modelling and simulation of drug candidates using EBRAINS.
• Research on middle and long-term effects of COVID-19 vaccines on the brain and mental health.
• Developing and testing strategies for prophylaxis, based on EBRAINS.

It is highly recommended that a consortium or group of partners applies for the CEoI. At least 80% of the proposal budget must be assigned to non-HBP partners, and the HBP partners should not account for more than 20%. The successful applicants will contribute to the HBP project mission in collaboration with HBP Partners. They will also complement expertise already present in the HBP, and use a portfolio of tools and services provided by EBRAINS to conduct the proposed work.

Two proposals will be funded. Each project can request a maximum of €225,000 in direct costs, which includes a voucher of €22,500 to fund technical support for integration of project results in EBRAINS. An additional 25% (overhead rate) is also available for indirect costs. Co-funding of approximately €50,000 is requested; proposals with lower contributions must be fully justified.

Projects can last for a maximum of 16 months (1 December 2021–31 March 2023).

In the first instance, prospective applicants should email HBP researchers to discuss their proposal, its feasibility and relevance.