On July 1, 2026, the European Partnership for Rare Diseases (ERDERA) announced a new call for proposals, the Clinical Trial Call 2026, focused on transnational early-phase interventional clinical trials for rare diseases. The call supports Phase I, I/II, and II studies conducted in accordance with the principles of good clinical practice. Applicants must submit a letter of intent no later than September 10, 2026.
Up to 30 million euros have been allocated for project funding under this call, with the estimated amount of support per project ranging from 1– 5 million euros. Unlike standard ERDERA Joint Transnational Calls, this call is centrally funded through the Fondazione Telethon, in a uniform manner across the entire ERDERA consortium. Czech institutions are eligible to participate regardless of the involvement of a national funding agency, provided they meet the international conditions of the call.
The aim of the call is to address key challenges in clinical trials in the field of rare diseases, where patient groups are often small and geographically dispersed, and international collaboration is essential.& nbsp;The purpose is to generate reliable clinical evidence and, where applicable, data relevant to regulatory authorities to support future interactions with regulatory authorities and subsequent clinical development.
Applications concerning all eligible rare diseases are welcome. In particular, the call supports proposals focused on:
- Rare diseases in children
- Rapidly progressive rare diseases
- Rare diseases for which there are no approved treatment options or for which, despite existing treatments, there is a significant unmet medical need
(These areas are not eligibility requirements but serve as supplementary criteria when proposal quality is comparable.)
Each project proposal must include at least three independent institutions eligible for funding from three different ERDERA member countries. The consortium must also designate a clinical trial sponsor and a coordinating investigator and ensure access to a qualified multinational contract research organization (CRO). Another mandatory component of the project is the involvement of a patient organization or other organized patient group, in the form of active participation in the design, management, and dissemination of the study results (not merely in an advisory capacity).
Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, hospitals and clinical centers, nonprofit research organizations, patient organizations, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Private companies that do not meet the definition of an SME are not eligible to receive funding.
Call Timeline
- Stage 0 – Expression of Interest: July 1 – September 10, 2026
- Stage 1 – Abbreviated Project Proposal: September 15 – October 29, 2026
- Stage 2 – Support Phase: January – July 2027
- Stage 3 – Full project proposal: July – September 2027
- Expected funding decision: February 2028
Submission of a letter of intent is mandatory for applicants and must be submitted no later than September 10, 2026.
Useful links
- Call text and details on individual priority areas – information on the call’s focus, eligibility criteria, funding method, evaluation process, and the individual stages of project proposal submission
Those interested in assistance with submitting a grant application may contact staff at the Project Service of Palacký University in Olomouc. We look forward to working with you!