Basic Science & Research Grants

DEBRA Research gGmbH offers a new funding opportunity to support excellent quality, original research projects on inherited Epidermolysis bullosa (EB). Applicants are expected to demonstrate a clear understanding of how their project might contribute to a significant improvement in the quality of life for people affected by EB. The ultimate goal of this funding scheme is to support projects that have a good chance of reaching the patient, either in a commercial or non-commercial business model.

Eligible applications for funding must seek to:

• advance the understanding of EB’s pathomechanism(s), thus paving the way for new therapeutic concepts 

• contribute to disease-modifying or curative therapies, including those addressing systemic aspects of the disease

• prevent or treat severe consequences of EB

• improve clinical care and relevant symptom relief for people affected by EB

• address current infrastructure and technological challenges, as well as data gaps to accelerate new, effective treatments and facilitate therapy access for patients.

We appreciate preliminary evidence amassed in EB and possibly validated in relevant disease models. We especially encourage creative, “outside the box” approaches that bring new technologies to the field of EB. All approaches are welcome, including but not limited to medical devices, small drugs, biologics, cell/gene therapies and data-driven (in silico) approaches. To clarify the eligibility of your project, please contact us.

Research groups affiliated with academic institutions, non-profit organisations, hospitals, or mixed international consortia are eligible to apply for funding. Collaboration among research groups is strongly encouraged to ensure that applicants have all the required expertise to carry out the project. Fundable projects may pool expertise across various disciplines, including biomedical, physical, computer, and social sciences. Funding will be commensurate with the scope of research projects.

Requirements & eligibility 

We fund individual research projects on inherited EB (research on EB acquisita is not eligible) without geographical restrictions. The project leader must have a contract of employment with the host institution/organisation for the entire duration of the project. Project leaders’ salary and reasonable overheads/admin costs are also eligible. Grants are subject to our Terms and Conditions. A solid IP position and downstream exploitation plan is welcome but if not available, it should be developed in the course of the project. However, applicants must ensure they have sufficient IP and access rights to the technologies they plan to use so that potential future development can proceed unencumbered (freedom to operate). We encourage applicants to seek advice from tech-transfer officers or similar representatives at their institutions early on and to discuss this with us during the application process.

The online application process and subsequent peer review are subject to strict confidentiality conditions. Following final funding approval and the signing of contracts, limited details of funded projects may be published on the DEBRA Research gGmbH website; unsuccessful applications remain confidential. Feedback will be provided to all applicants.

In the first round, an application must be submitted as an expression of interest (EOI), please use the template on our website (please see application template). In the second-round, shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a full proposal via our online professional grant-management tool (Grant Tracker). In their own interest, applicants should provide the information required in the application form fully and clearly, completing each section. Forms completed incorrectly will not be considered. We invite applicants who have doubts about their projects' eligibility to contact us directly, early on.

Application process:

• First stage: Interested applicants are invited to submit an initial Expression of Interest (EOI) (please see application template). EOIs will be reviewed from multiple angles to assess their scientific, clinical and commercial potential. Feedback will be shared within a month after the submission deadline. 

• Second stage: successful applicants will be invited to submit a detailed proposal. The outcomes of a final scrutiny round will be communicated to applicants 12 weeks after the deadline for full proposal submission. Applicants will have two weeks to prepare a rebuttal to review comments. Afterwards, shortlisted candidates will be invited to give a pitch presentation of their projects. Projects under contract are expected to start within 90 days after the award date. 

Contact

For funding and grant-related inquiries, please contact us at grants@debra-research.org