FOREUM Special Call for Research Proposals on COVID-19 in RMDs

FOREUM Special Call for Research Proposals on COVID-19 in RMDs

FOREUM Foundation for Research in Rheumatology, based in Switzerland, is an independent research organisation working in the field of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. FOREUM is supported by EULAR, the European League Against Rheumatism.

It is recognised that patients with Rheumatic Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) may be at particular risk of contracting COVID-19 as they show an intrinsically higher risk of contracting infections generally. In addition, many of the treatments used for RMDs (such as glucocorticoids or disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) have the potential to increase infection risk.

A better mechanistic understanding and clinical knowledge on the impact of COVID-19 in RMD patients is urgently needed. FOREUM has therefore launched the Special Call for Research Proposals on COVID-19 in RMDs. Support is available in the following areas:

Investigations that provide insights into the clinical course of COVID-19 in patients with RMD compared to non-RMD patients (international registers, cohorts, clinical studies).

Projects that address diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of SARS-CoV-2 infection in RMD patients.

Research on pathogenic mechanisms (eg cytokine release syndrome) in the context of COVID-19.

The call is flexible in order to attract the most promising research concepts that will help to rapidly improve the situation of RMD patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shorter projects as well as longer projects will be funded, and they may be monocentric or collaborative. FOREUM is particularly aiming to fund projects that provide insight in the short-term.

Application is open to participants from EULAR membership countries, and the Principal Investigator should be based in a EULAR membership country.

Institutions from non-EULAR membership countries can participate as partners in exceptional cases (eg because of specific scientific expertise), but are not eligible to receive research funding. The participation of patient research partners is strongly recommended for clinical research projects and should be considered for all other research projects.

Available funding is as follows:

Individual (monocentric) proposal: up to €100,000

Collaborative proposal: up to €300,000

The maximum duration of a project is three years. Projects with a duration beyond one year will be subject to periodic progress evaluations.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 7 June 2020.

More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.