Funding for “RESEARCH 4 COVID-19” opens applications for 2nd edition

FCT, in collaboration with the Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (AICIB), has opened the proposal submission period for the 2nd edition of the exceptional financing line RESEARCH 4 COVID-19 to respond to the current pandemic. Proposals can be submitted until 5:00 p.m. (Lisbon time) on May 15, 2020.

This RESEARCH 4 COVID-19 support seeks to finance R&D projects and initiatives that respond to the needs of the National Health Service (SUS) in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, in a short period of time. In this 2nd edition, the aim is for projects and initiatives to focus on the future evolution of the pandemic and its impact on health services and society, as well as optimizing the appropriate response to the pandemic at different levels.

This 2nd edition has a budget allocation of 2 million euros, coming from national funds from the FCT budget. The support will mainly be used to complement ongoing initiatives and to reorient existing teams, taking advantage of the scientific and technological capacity existing in Portugal with the ultimate goal of achieving results conducive to combating COVID-19. Each project can be financed up to a maximum of R$40 thousand.

To be considered for funding, candidate R&D projects and initiatives will have to focus on one or more areas: prevention; preparedness for different phases of the pandemic; studies on health and social vulnerabilities associated with confinement and lifting of confinement; epidemiological and assessment of infection transmission; vaccine development; early diagnosis methods; early infection detection algorithms; immune response, immunopathology and immunogenetic factors; new therapies and therapeutic approaches; clinical studies and monitoring of infected individuals and risk groups; medical devices and equipment.

It is worth remembering that the results of the first application period for RESEARCH 4 COVID-19 support were already announced on April 20 (see news ), and 66 projects were proposed by the Evaluation Committee for funding. Total support for the 1st phase was R$1.8 million and the list of approved projects can be found here .

More information about the 2nd edition in RESEARCH 4 COVID-19 .