[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

September 16, 2025

€8–10 million per project | Approx. 5 grants to be awarded

Supports research to engineer safer, more effective allogeneic human cell therapies using advanced genomic and synthetic biology techniques for targeted therapeutic applications.

Single-stage call; proposals must address only one therapeutic area and include pre-clinical demonstration of safety and efficacy.

--- ## Description This European Commission Horizon Europe call funds research projects aimed at overcoming current limitations in cell-based therapies by leveraging genome and epigenome editing, as well as synthetic biology approaches. The goal is to design and engineer allogeneic human cells with precise, programmable therapeutic features for a specific disease area (such as cancer, cardiovascular, immune, or other systems). Projects are expected to use advanced gene editing and synthetic genetic circuits to enable control over cell function, fate, and phenotype, improving aspects like delivery efficiency, safety, persistence in vivo, immune tolerance, and manufacturing. Successful proposals should demonstrate the safety and therapeutic effect of the engineered cells in relevant pre-clinical models, use state-of-the-art digital design tools, and consider sex differences in both cell sources and disease models. Collaboration with European research infrastructures, regulatory authorities, and SMEs is encouraged, as is engagement with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) for regulatory science and validation. --- ## Due Dates - September 16, 2025: Full application deadline (single-stage call, 17:00 Brussels time) --- ## Funding Amount - Total available budget for this topic: €50 million - Expected contribution per project: €8–10 million - Indicative number of grants: 5 - Funding rate: 100% of eligible costs (Research and Innovation Action) - Project duration: typically 3–5 years --- ## Eligibility - **Consortium requirement:** Minimum three independent legal entities from three different eligible countries (at least one from an EU Member State, two from different Member States or Associated Countries). - **Eligible applicants:** Any legal entity (universities, research organizations, companies, including SMEs, public bodies) from EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, and certain third countries (see [Horizon Europe eligibility rules](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2025/wp-14-general-annexes_horizon-2025_en.pdf)). - **Special eligibility:** Legal entities from the United States are eligible for funding under this call. - **Therapeutic focus:** Proposals must target and clearly state one specific therapeutic area from the provided list (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular, immune, etc.). Only one area per proposal is allowed. - **Exclusions:** Projects aiming at exogenous drug loading (using cells as drug carriers), human cloning for reproductive purposes, heritable genetic modifications, or the creation/destruction of human embryos solely for research are not eligible. - **Other restrictions:** Entities assessed as “high-risk suppliers” for European communication networks are not eligible. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Proposals must be submitted electronically via the [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-TOOL-01?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=5&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) before the deadline. - **Format:** Use the provided [application form](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) (Part A and B), following the guidelines and page limits (max 45 pages for full application). - **Clinical studies:** If the proposal includes clinical studies, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the [clinical study annex template](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/information-on-clinical-studies_he_en.docx). - **Evaluation:** Proposals are evaluated on Excellence, Impact, and Quality & Efficiency of Implementation (scored 0–5 per criterion; threshold 3 per criterion, 10/15 overall). - **Supporting documents:** See the [HE Programme Guide](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf) and [General Annexes](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2025/wp-14-general-annexes_horizon-2025_en.pdf) for full details. --- ## Additional Information - **Regulatory engagement:** Projects must interact with regulatory authorities during the project for qualification of the developed therapy and potential clinical study planning. - **Sex/gender analysis:** Proposals must address sex differences in both the engineered cells and the therapeutic application. - **SME participation:** Strongly encouraged. - **JRC collaboration:** May be established post-award for regulatory science and validation. - **Open science:** Adherence to open science practices, including data management and dissemination, is required. - **Ethics:** Strict compliance with EU and national ethical regulations is mandatory; complete the ethics self-assessment in the application. --- ## External Links - [Call topic and application portal (EU Funding & Tenders)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-TOOL-01?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=5&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [Horizon Europe Programme Guide](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf) - [General Annexes (eligibility, rules, etc.)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2025/wp-14-general-annexes_horizon-2025_en.pdf) - [Application form template (HE RIA, IA)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) - [Clinical study annex template](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/information-on-clinical-studies_he_en.docx) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |---|---| | General EC Contact | +32 2 299 11 11 | | EC Contact Page | [Contact the European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) | | Research Enquiry Service | [Research Enquiry Service](https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/contact-us/research-enquiry-service_en) | | National Contact Points (NCPs) | [Find your NCP](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp) | | IT Helpdesk (Portal) | [Portal IT Helpdesk](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/helpdesks/contact-form) | ---

Enhancing cell therapies with genomic techniques

Sign in to see full grant listing