This phase constitutes the final stage of the selection process for Research Programs to be appointed for the period 2027–2031, as part of the faculty’s strategic investment in research excellence and innovation.
Applicants are invited to submit comprehensive Program Proposals that present a clear scientific vision, strong multidisciplinary integration, and a compelling potential for translational impact and clinical relevance.
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 and Clinical Instructors. 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 Clinical Researcher development (when appropriate) and Clinical instructor/University Lecturer 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 Program Director must also be employed by the faculty. The faculty will provide financial support for the selected Research Programs, with the level of funding exceeding the current research program funding and continuing annually in accordance with the Faculty’s financial situation. In addition, the programs will receive coordinator and legal support.
In the call, one or two of the selected Programs will have a HUS (University Hospital)-oriented, specific theme “Translational Breakthrough Therapies” (for example, 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 “Translational Breakthrough Therapy” 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.
Evaluation Criteria
Program proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Vision, goals, and innovativeness of the Program
- Scientific quality and previous accomplishments of the participating research groups
- Synergy and integration of the participating groups, including clinical collaboration and its implementation
- Potential for innovation, commercial applications, and implementation of discoveries in clinical care
- National and international networking and strategic partnerships
- Career support and training for junior scientists
- Teaching and training plan, including undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers
The application must include:
- A Program Proposal (maximum 10 pages)
from the Program Director and all Principal Investigators as a one pdf file. Length of the biosketches is 4 pages for the Program Director and 2 pages for the Principal Investigators.
*A biosketch is a concise, structured description of a researcher’s background, expertise, and key scientific contributions. Biosketch emphasizes relevance, scientific impact, and the applicant’s role in advancing research themes relevant to the proposed Program.