The aim of the call is to promote high-quality and multidisciplinary research that advances the future of healthcare. Programs are expected to integrate basic (or discovery-based) and clinical research, foster innovation, and support both doctoral training and the career development of junior scientists, while enhancing the faculty’s competitiveness for EU funding. For increasing clinical collaborations and advancing the integration of research with education, the Programs are encouraged to include Associated Clinical Researchers, Clinical Instructors and University Lecturers. The Programs are expected to enhance collaboration among researchers within the faculty to build strong and competitive research entities, thereby promoting renewal, excellence, and the continuous development of high-level research, while ensuring the efficient use of existing infrastructures and bringing together relevant actors as key aspects of Program design. Clear links to international mobility and networks, teaching and training – including Clinician Researcher development (when appropriate) and Clinical instructor and University Lecture roles – will be regarded as an advantage.
In this call, 5–7 Research Programs will be selected. The call is open to Principal Investigators of the Faculty of Medicine, Associated Clinical Researchers, University Lecturers and Clinical Instructors. In addition, research group leaders from other Faculties and Institutes may be included. Program Directors are expected to assemble teams of approximately 5 to 10 Principal Investigators, with at least 50% being Principal Investigators from the Faculty of Medicine, i.e., employed by the faculty - whether on a fixed-term, permanent, or part-time contract. These numbers are indicative, but the multidisciplinary nature of all programs is essential, integrating both basic and clinical research. The Research Programs will be selected through an external evaluation by an international Scientific Advisory Board. The faculty will provide financial support for the selected Research Programs, with the level of funding exceeding the current one and continuing annually in accordance with the faculty’s financial situation. Program funding cannot be transferred to other faculties or institutes. In addition, the programs will receive coordinator and legal support.
In the call, one or two of the selected Programs will have a HUS-oriented, specific theme “Translational Breakthrough Therapies” (for example, diagnostics, precision medicine, novel therapeutics, clinically scalable solutions, and early-phase clinical drug trials) to strengthen internationally significant, high impact applied research; strengthen UH–HUS collaboration; support academic visibility and career paths; and expand international scientific networks. These programs will particularly emphasize translational approaches and clinical relevance. Applicants are invited to propose Program concepts that bring together multidisciplinary, multi-professional consortia and demonstrate a clear pathway from discovery to patient benefit. UH
administers the call as the sole organizing body; HUS participates as a strategic clinical partner. The Program Director, who assembles and leads the consortium, must hold concurrent employment at both UH and HUS at the time of application. Consortia are expected to include investigators from both UH and HUS, with additional partners as relevant.
The call will have the following steps
Principal Investigators/Associated Clinical Researchers/Associated Clinical Instructors and University Lecturers are invited to express their interest in joining a Research Program and to propose themes for the new Programs starting in 2027. The call will be open from November 17 to December 5, 2025. Researchers are requested to fill in an electronic “Expression of interest” E-form. The form includes basic information of the current position and research themes.
Each Research Program will have a Program Director, who is responsible for the scientific direction of the program and for creating a productive research environment together with the other Principal Investigators of the Program. Those Principal Investigators who are interested in becoming Program Directors are requested to indicate so in the E-form and describe their high-level vision for a new Research Program.
The Program Directors should form Programs with typically 5 to 10 Principal Investigators (at least 50% from the Faculty of Medicine). These numbers are not binding, but the multidisciplinary nature of all programs is essential.
After the call period, the data collected through the first stage of the call will be distributed to those who have expressed an interest in joining the Research Programs. The potential Program Directors then start forming consortia with the researchers sharing the Program’s vision and scientific goals. To facilitate the organization of the Programs, the Faculty of Medicine will organize a “Research Program Day” in January 2026.
Once the final structure of the Research Program has been agreed upon, the Program Director and its Principal Investigators prepare the Research Program Proposal including the scientific goals, vision, tentative budget, infrastructure and group descriptions. Also, support for the career development of junior scientists and a plan for participation in both basic and doctoral training should be described. The deadline for the Research Program proposal is the end of March 2026. The details of guidelines, including evaluation criteria, will be published later.
Applications will be evaluated by an international Scientific Advisory Board, and a site visit will be conducted in September-October 2026.
The results will be announced in October-November 2026 and new Programs will start 1.1.2027.
Faculty and HUS continue to provide space and facilities for the programs according to the faculty’s sustainable space program, and this resource is allocated dynamically.
Summary and timeline
2025
November 17 to December 5: “Expression of interest” by the Principal Investigators/Clinical Researchers/Associated Clinical Instructors, University Lecturers and Clinical Researchers to join a Research Program.
2026
January 15 2–5 p.m. Research Program Day
March 31: The deadline for the Research Program proposal
September-October: SAB site visit
October–November: The selected programs will be announced
2027
January: Start of new Research Programs