Fondation Leenaards | Leenaards Prize for Translational Medical Research: Call for Proposals 2026

The amount at disposal is 1.4 million CHF to be distributed between 2-3 innovative projects. Supported research team(s) will be free to plan the use of the funds over the duration of the projects.

The project must:

• Investigate a clinical or health problem from an original angle including pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention or therapy.
• Associate clinical and basic research.
• Include a human research component.
• Stand on its own, but it can be embedded in the context of an existing project.

• At least one group at a university hospital (CHUV or HUG) and one group at an academic institution (e.g. EPFL, UNIL, UNIGE) of the Lake Geneva Region; the third applicant can be based outside of this region. Preference is given to new collaborations.
• The PI must be a clinical scientist (MD, MD-PhD, or PhD, below the age of 45), with an established research track, who has demonstrated her or his capacity as an independent investigator to lead original clinical research
• The project’s co-applicants (max. 2), preferably also at a relatively early stage in their careers, will have shown their skills in their respective fields. Their contributions in the project must be clearly specified.
• All applicants must hold a “stable position” for the entire duration of the project.
• Applicants who have been granted the «Leenaards Prize for Translational Medical Research» during the last 3 years (2022–2024) are not eligible, and the project cannot be an extension of a previous Leenaards project.

1. Deadline for Letter of Intent, a budget and a short CV: 3 March 2025.
2. Pre-selection communicated to applicants : 2 April 2024.
3. Internal deadline for Institutional Support Letter: 21 May 2025 (contact [email protected])
4. Deadline for Full Proposals: 28 May 2025
5. Final Decision: end of September 2025.
6. Beginning of the Project: early January 2026.