Health Research Call 2026 - "la Caixa" Foundation | Deadline: 19 Nov. 2025
The “la Caixa” Foundation is announcing the ninth edition of its Health Research Call, aimed at biomedical and health research projects.
This call aims to identify and support promising initiatives of scientific excellence with potential value and social impact, across basic, clinical or translational research. Its fundamental goal is to foster groundbreaking and relevant research projects that advance knowledge and offer solutions to some of the most significant health problems of our century.
Proposals may be submitted in the following thematic areas:
- Neuroscience;
- Oncology;
- Cardiovascular and associated metabolic diseases;
- Infectious diseases;
- Enabling technologies: projects focused on the creation and development of innovative health-facilitating, assistive and rehabilitation technologies in the following fields: micro- and nano-electronics; computational science, big data and Artificial Intelligence; photonics; nanotechnology and biotechnology; advanced materials or advanced manufacturing.
Proposals on enabling technologies should be focused on addressing topics related to any of the other four thematic areas.
Projects may have a duration of up to three years and can be submitted as:
- Individual Projects: submitted by a single Research Performing Organisation (RPO), i.e. the Host Organisation, which may apply for funding of up €500,000.
- Research Consortium Projects: submitted by a Research Consortium of 2 to 5 RPOs (including the Host Organisation), which may apply for funding of up to €1,000,000.
Eligible proposals must be led by: (i) non-profit Research Organisations based in Portugal or Spain; or (ii) non-profit foreign RPOs whose research activities are carried out through a permanent establishment or representation based in Portugal or Spain.
In addition, both Individual and Research Consortium Projects may involve Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), i.e. not-for-profit, non-research performing civil society organisations that carry out activities of the project. A maximum of three CSOs per proposal is permitted.
All projects must designate a Project Leader (PL). For Consortium Projects, each participating RPO must also appoint a Principal Investigator (PI). The PL must have at least seven years of postdoctoral research experience, meaning the doctoral degree (PhD) must have been obtained no later than seven years prior the call’s closing date.
The deadline for applications is 19 November 2025 (13:00h, Lisbon time).
Further information is available on the Call webpage and in the Rules of Participation.
An online information session will be held on 8 October 2025, at 10:00h (Lisbon time). Registration is required.