[Novo Nordisk](https://www.novonordisk.com)

January 28, 2026 (Full application submission deadline)

Up to DKK 11,000,000 per grant (5 years); up to 4 grants awarded; total pool DKK 44 million.

Supports mid-career clinical research leaders in Denmark with funding for impactful 5-year projects in clinical and translational medicine.

Applicants must remain 50% clinically active and cannot apply for their own salary.

--- ## Description This program aims to promote and strengthen Danish clinical and translational research at a high international level by supporting the consolidation of accomplished, clinically active doctors. The grant targets mid-career clinical research leaders (associate professor level or equivalent) who are employed full-time in clinical positions at Danish hospitals. Funding is intended for ambitious, patient-relevant 5-year research projects, enabling awardees to dedicate half their time to research while maintaining significant clinical engagement. The grant supports a wide spectrum of research areas, including disease mechanisms, treatment methods, epidemiology, diagnostics, public health, family medicine, intervention studies, register-based research, pilot projects, and clinical trials. --- ## Due Dates - January 28, 2026: Full application submission deadline (call closes) — 28 January 2026 at 14:00 Copenhagen time (CET) --- ## Funding Amount - Up to DKK 11,000,000 per grant for a 5-year project. - Total funding pool: DKK 44 million; up to 4 grants will be awarded. - Funding covers: - Substitute salary to release the PI from clinical duties (50% time) for research. - Direct project expenses (up to DKK 1.6 million per year). - Salary for research and technical assistance, operating expenses, equipment (max 20% of budget), travel, publication costs, and (for Danish universities) project supplements. - The applicant’s own salary must be covered by their department and cannot be funded by the grant. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must: - Be medical doctors with a PhD or dr. med. degree. - Be qualified specialist physicians employed full-time in a clinical position at a Danish hospital. - Be at associate professor level or have equivalent qualifications. - Remain 50% clinically active throughout the 5-year grant period. - Have institutional support from both the clinical department and the host research department (letters required). - Anchor the project at a Danish university, hospital, or non-profit research institution. - Professors (including clinical professors) are not eligible; they may apply for the ‘Clinical Distinguished Investigator’ grant instead. - Only individual applications are permitted (no co-applicants). - Only one application to the NNF ‘Research Leader Programme 2025’ per applicant is allowed. - Applications from Master students, PhD students, and postdocs will not be considered. --- ## Application Process - Applications must be submitted via the [NORMA online system](https://norma.novonordiskfonden.dk/s_Login.jsp). - Required documents: - Support letter from the clinical department head (confirming release for research and continued clinical engagement). - Hosting letter from the research department head (confirming project acceptance and infrastructure). - All application materials must be in English. - Only the main applicant may submit, and only one application per applicant is allowed in this cycle. - Detailed guidelines are available in the [official application guide (PDF)](https://novonordiskfonden.dk//app/uploads/Guidelines-for-applicants-Borregaard-Clinical-Ascending-Investigator-2026-1-1.pdf). --- ## Additional Information - The grant is highly competitive; up to four awards are made per cycle. - The applicant’s own salary cannot be included in the budget—departmental salary coverage is mandatory. - Notification of results is expected in early June 2026. - Projects must start between July 1, 2026, and February 1, 2027. - The grant is administered by the Committee on Clinical and Translational Medicine. --- ## External Links - [Program page (call details & guidelines)](https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant/borregaard-clinical-ascending-investigator/) - [Application guidelines (PDF)](https://novonordiskfonden.dk//app/uploads/Guidelines-for-applicants-Borregaard-Clinical-Ascending-Investigator-2026-1-1.pdf) - [NORMA application portal](https://norma.novonordiskfonden.dk/s_Login.jsp) - [Committee on Clinical and Translational Medicine](https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/committees/committee-on-clinical-and-translational-medicine/) - [General grant rules & FAQ](https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/how-we-work/what-are-grants/) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role | Email | Phone | |------------------------------------- |---------------------------------- |---------------------------------------|------------------------| | Ursula Bach | Senior Grant Manager | [urba@novo.dk](mailto:urba@novo.dk) | +45 35 27 66 00 | | Jens Peter Holst Lauritsen | Scientific Manager | [jlrt@novo.dk](mailto:jlrt@novo.dk) | +45 35 27 66 00 | | Novo Nordisk Foundation (main line) | | [info@novonordiskfonden.dk](mailto:info@novonordiskfonden.dk) | +45 35 27 66 00 | ---

Borregaard Clinical Ascending Investigator

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