The Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge Programme is designed to support leading researchers in forming collaborative research consortia around major scientific challenges of strategic importance.

This particular Challenge focuses on understanding the interaction between extreme heat and hypertension, with the aim of improving clinical management and reducing complications and mortality associated with heat exposure in people with hypertension.

The programme calls for human-centric, mechanistic research spanning cellular, animal-model and human studies, with an interdisciplinary approach and clear translational potential.

The overall programme is intended to develop innovative solutions to major scientific challenges while strengthening collaboration and scientific depth across the participating research groups.

CHALLENGE FOCUS

Heat and Hypertension

The Challenge addresses the relationship between hypertension and poor health outcomes during extreme heat events.

The research should seek to understand the mechanisms behind heat-associated physiological responses in people with hypertension and translate that knowledge into improved approaches to clinical management.

Supported Research Areas

Research may include, but is not limited to:

• Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying heat exposure and cardiovascular-disease-associated mortality.
• The role of organ and system crosstalk during thermoregulation in hypertension.
• How antihypertensive medications may disrupt thermoregulation and contribute to morbidity or mortality during extreme heat.
• Risk profiling based on biomarkers, clinical risk factors and demographic circumstances.
• How management of patients with hypertension during extreme heat can be tailored and improved. 

RESEARCH APPROACH

A central requirement is that the research should be:

• Human-centric
• Mechanistic
• Interdisciplinary
• Translational in its potential. 

The programme specifically envisages research spanning:

Cells → Animal Models → Human Studies

This means the call is intended for integrated research programmes rather than a narrowly focused single-method study.

OUT OF SCOPE

The following are specifically excluded:

• Projects limited to a single discipline.
• Projects limited to a single research approach.
• Projects that are exclusively in-vitro.
• Purely observational studies. 

Applicants therefore need to demonstrate a sufficiently integrated and interdisciplinary research programme rather than presenting a single-method project.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Consortium Requirement

The Challenge Programme requires collaboration between leading scientific experts to form a consortium of:

2–4 research groups

consisting of:

• 1 Main Applicant
• 1–3 Co-applicants. 

Main Applicant Eligibility

The Main Applicant must be:

• An independent tenured or tenure-track researcher
• With their own research group
• Employed at a European university, hospital or non-profit research organisation.

For this call, “European” includes:

European Union + Schengen Area + United Kingdom.

The host institution will administer the grant and be responsible for the grant.

The Main Applicant must also:

• Be employed at the host institution with at least 75% commitment.
• Have their salary guaranteed for the entire project period. 

Danish Research Requirement

At least one applicant — either the Main Applicant or a Co-applicant — must be employed at least 75% and have their research group at a Danish university, hospital or non-profit research organisation at the time of submission.

This is one of the most important eligibility conditions in the call.

Co-applicants

Co-applicant institutions may be located anywhere in the world.

This means international research collaboration is permitted, but the consortium must still satisfy the required Danish research-group connection.

Industry Participation

Industry collaboration is allowed.

However:

Industrial partners cannot receive funding from the grant.

GEOGRAPHIC ELIGIBILITY

Main Applicant

The Main Applicant must be employed at an eligible institution in:

• Denmark
• Finland
• Iceland
• Norway
• Sweden
• Other European Union countries
• Schengen Area countries
• United Kingdom. 

Danish Requirement

At least one participating applicant must have their research group at a Danish university, hospital or non-profit research organisation and be employed there at least 75% at the time of submission.

International Co-applicants

Co-applicant institutions may be located anywhere globally.

International research collaboration opportunity with a mandatory Danish research-group connection.

FUNDING AND PROJECT DURATION

The programme has:

Total available funding: DKK 150 million

Individual grant size: DKK 30–75 million

Approximate EUR equivalent: EUR 4–10 million

Project duration: 6 years. 

The earliest project start date is 1 August 2027, while the latest project start date is 31 July 2028.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application consists of two stages.

Stage 1 – Expression of Interest

Applicants submit:

• An Expression of Interest
• Maximum 10,000 characters
• A preliminary budget. 

Stage 1 applications are initially evaluated, after which selected applicants are invited to Stage 2.

Stage 2 – Full Proposal

Shortlisted applicants submit:

• A comprehensive research proposal.
• Detailed project information.
• Detailed budget.
• Maximum 30,000 characters for the detailed project proposal. 

As part of Stage 2, applicants will be invited to present and discuss their research project with the review panel in an online meeting.

All applications must be submitted through the Novo Nordisk Foundation's NORMA system.

APPLICATION LANGUAGE

The application and all additional materials must be submitted in English.

ASSESSMENT AND SELECTION

Applications are evaluated by an independent international panel of scientific experts.

The primary assessment criteria are:

1. Scientific Quality and Impact

The scientific strength and potential impact of the proposed programme.

2. Scientific Approach

The quality and suitability of the proposed scientific approach.

3. Scientific Environment and Collaboration

The strength of the research environment and the proposed collaboration between the participating groups.

4. Investigators' Track Record

The capabilities and scientific track record of the researchers involved.

The applicants' financial situation and prior obligations may also be considered where these could affect their ability to dedicate themselves to the proposed work or compromise its quality.

STAGE 1 PROPOSAL CONTENT

The Stage 1 Expression of Interest should cover:

• The proposed research and its relevance to the Challenge theme.
• Clearly formulated hypotheses.
• Originality and ambition.
• Expected outcomes.
• Scientific approach and methodologies.
• Research team structure.
• Roles and expertise.
• Access to required facilities and equipment.
• Leadership and collaboration plan.
• High-level timeline.
• Key deliverables and milestones. 

STAGE 2 PROPOSAL CONTENT

A successful Stage 1 applicant moving to Stage 2 will need a comprehensive proposal covering:

• Purpose and background.
• Significance of the project.
• Expected scientific and broader societal impact.
• Experimental design and feasibility.
• Methodology and work streams.
• Ethical permissions.
• Research groups, roles and expertise.
• Access to facilities and equipment.
• Leadership, governance and organisational structure.
• Plans for developing the next generation of researchers.
• Timeline, deliverables and milestones. 

CO-APPLICANT REQUIREMENT

There must be 1–3 co-applicants in the application.

Co-applicants are expected to:

• Actively participate in project activities.
• Have clearly defined roles.
• Receive an appropriate share of the grant.
• Have their allocation clearly reflected in the budget. 

Only the Main Applicant can submit the final application.

BUDGET

A detailed budget is not required at Stage 1.

However, applicants must indicate:

• Approximate total funding requested.
• Additional contributions.
• Total project cost. 

A detailed budget becomes mandatory at Stage 2 and must clearly show the co-applicants' respective shares.

ELIGIBLE COSTS

Funding can support directly project-related expenses including:

• Technicians, analysts and technical assistance.
• Postdoctoral researchers.
• PhD students.
• Project employees and consultants, including project management.
• Materials and consumables.
• Research-related animals and services.
• High-end computing required for the research.
• Essential equipment.
• Necessary infrastructure.
• Subcontractors.
• Bench fees.
• Collaboration activities.
• Workshops, meetings and exchanges.
• Travel directly related to the project.
• Publication costs.
• Communication and dissemination.
• PhD tuition fees up to DKK 80,000 / approximately EUR 10,713 per year.
• Direct administrative expenses of up to 5% of the overall budget. 

IMPORTANT FUNDING EXCLUSIONS

The Foundation will not fund:

• Salary for the Main Applicant or Co-applicants.
• Commercial activities.
• General overhead/indirect costs such as rent, electricity, water and maintenance.
• Double-funded project expenses. 

For infrastructure funded by the grant, it must remain at the host institution during and after the project and free/excess capacity must be made available to the wider research community. Infrastructure cannot represent most of the requested funding.

GENERAL APPLICATION RULES

Applicants should note:

• A person may submit only one proposal as Main Applicant across all four Challenge Programme 2027 calls.
• A Main Applicant cannot simultaneously be a Co-applicant on another proposal.
• A named Co-applicant can participate in a maximum of two applications across the four calls.
• Current and previous Novo Nordisk Foundation research-grant recipients may apply.
• Applicants must disclose other funding for the same project.
• Double funding is not allowed. 

KEY DATES

Call opens: 22 April 2026

Stage 1 Deadline

7 October 2026 at 14:00 CEST

Stage 1 Notification

December 2026

Stage 2 Deadline

10 February 2027 at 14:00 CET

Stage 2 Notification

June 2027

Earliest Project Start

1 August 2027

Latest Project Start

31 July 2028.

DIALOGUE MEETINGS AND SYMPOSIUM

Grant recipients will participate in dialogue meetings every second year to follow progress within the Challenge themes.

Recipients within the same theme are also encouraged to coordinate a thematic symposium during Year 3 or Year 4 to support network building and knowledge sharing.

LIMITATIONS / IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

Applicants should pay particular attention to these points:

• This is a large-scale, 6-year research programme, not a short project grant.
• The project must involve 2–4 research groups.
• There must be 1 Main Applicant and 1–3 Co-applicants.
• The Main Applicant must be an independent tenured/tenure-track researcher with their own research group.
• The Main Applicant must be employed by an eligible European university, hospital or non-profit research organisation.
• At least one applicant must have a Danish research group at the time of submission.
• Industrial partners may participate but cannot receive grant funding.
• Single-discipline, exclusively in-vitro and purely observational projects are out of scope.
• Main Applicant and Co-applicant salaries cannot be charged to the grant.
• Double funding is prohibited. 

COUNTRY / GEOGRAPHIC ELIGIBILITY

Main Applicant

European Union, Schengen Area and United Kingdom

Mandatory Danish Participation

At least one applicant must be employed at least 75% and have their research group at a:

Danish university, hospital or non-profit research organisation.

International Co-applicants

Worldwide, through eligible co-applicant institutions.

INDUSTRY / SECTORS

Health Sciences; Cardiovascular Research; Hypertension; Climate & Health; Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Physiology; Molecular Biology; Translational Medicine; Public Health

THEMATIC AREAS

Heat & Health; Hypertension; Cardiovascular Disease; Thermoregulation; Extreme Heat; Climate Change & Health; Risk Profiling; Biomarkers; Antihypertensive Medication; Clinical Management; Human Health

TARGET APPLICANTS

Universities; Hospitals; Non-profit Research Organisations; Independent Researchers; Research Groups; Interdisciplinary Scientific Consortia