CHALLENGE PROGRAMME 2027 – Advancing Next Generation AMR Diagnostics for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Funds interdisciplinary research to develop rapid, affordable, and minimally invasive diagnostics for antibiotic-resistant lower respiratory tract infections, aiming for global and low-resource deployment.
Funder: Novo Nordisk Foundation
Due Dates: October 7, 2026 (Stage 1: Expression of Interest) | February 10, 2027 (Stage 2: Full Application)
Funding Amounts: DKK 30–75 million (approx. EUR 4–10 million) per grant; project duration up to 6 years
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary consortia to develop rapid, minimally invasive, and affordable diagnostics for antibiotic-resistant lower respiratory tract infections.
Key Information: Requires at least one Danish partner; main applicant must be a tenured/tenure-track researcher at a European institution.
Description
This program aims to catalyze breakthrough research in diagnostics for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), with a particular focus on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Novo Nordisk Foundation seeks to fund ambitious, interdisciplinary consortia that will develop rapid, minimally invasive, and affordable diagnostic technologies capable of direct-from-specimen pathogen detection and antimicrobial susceptibility testing at the point of care. The ultimate goal is to enable globally deployable solutions, especially for use in low-resource settings, and to foster transformative advances in the field.
Projects should focus on early-stage, proof-of-concept research, leveraging new technologies, biomarker discovery, and computational approaches. Proposals must demonstrate clinical utility, impact on affected populations, and a commitment to diversity within the research team.
