ERA-NET-Cofund TRANSCAN-3 Joint Transnational Call (2023) “Translational research on cancer epigenetics”

In the context of translational research, this topic will comprise two general aims, each with several aims, which concur to the possible clinical applications. The general aims are listed below. Proposals should cover one or several of the specific aims which are further detailed in the guidance notes, and should be built from a sound hypothesis.

Aim 1) The role of epigenetics in cancer initiation and progression. These studies may aim to validate novel epigenetics-based biomarkers to improve detection, diagnosis, prognosis of cancers or response to therapies (using recently developed innovative approaches, multiomic approaches, single-cell analysis, patient-derived organoids, patient-derived xenografts, tumour samples collected from retrospective and/or prospective cohorts of patients or clinical trials).

Aim 2) Validation of new epigenetics-based therapeutic strategies to limit cancer progression, prevent relapse/recurrence or increase the efficiency or reduce toxicity of existing anti-cancer therapies. (NB: Irish partners are not eligible for HRB funding for Aim 2.3, involving phase I and II clinical trials.)

The following types of research projects are excluded from the call:

• Analysis of preclinical models limited to cell lines and animal models;
• Phase III and IV clinical trials;
• Studies not compliant with the COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 800/2008 (http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:214:0003:0047:en:PDF), with specific reference to the articles 30, 31, 32, and 33. For full reference, please see also the COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS dated 20.12.2011 http://ec.europa.eu/services_general_interest/docs/comm_quality_framework_en.pdf
• Studies not compliant with the Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L:2014:187:FULL&from=EN.

The following types of research projects are excluded for partners funded by the Health Research Board:

• Proposals seeking to evaluate a pilot or feasibility study.
• Proposals seeking to evaluate a definitive intervention.
• Proposals involving basic biomedical research.
• Research intended to create human embryos solely for the purposes of research or for the purposes of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer.

This is a joint transnational call: applicants must apply as part of a transnational consortium.

Researchers from Ireland can apply as coordinators or partners. If successful, researchers from Ireland will be funded by the Health Research Board up to the maximum amount for the call. Applicants applying for funding from Ireland must be based at an eligible HRB Host Institution.

Individual country partners/coordinators should confirm eligibility with their national funding organisation contact point.

Main Eligibility Criteria

• The partners must be from at least three different countries participating in the call.
• Each research consortium must involve a minimum of three and a maximum of six partners (comprising the project coordinator) eligible for funding.
• In addition, a consortium must not involve more than two research groups from the same country (in such cases the minimum number of groups must be four, coming from three different countries).
• No more than one partner with its own funding is allowed in consortia with at least three partners eligible for funding.
• Maximum number of partners can be increased up to seven if they include one partner from the following participating countries: Hungary, Latvia, Slovakia and Turkey.
• Each consortium must involve at least one basic or pre-clinical research team and one clinical team. It is also recommended to include an expert team in methodology, biostatistics or bioinformatics, depending on the type of work planned.

Please review HRB’s guidance and FAQs on this page alongside the published text for full details of the aim, objectives and scope of the call available on the JTC 2023 webpage.

To assist potential applicants in finding suitable partners, ERA-NET TRANSCAN has established a new tool to increase networking. The partnering tool can be found at Part Finder(ncbr.gov.pl).

TRANSCAN-3 JTC 2023 will be implemented through a two-stage submission procedure: pre-proposals and full proposals. Both pre- and full proposals must be written in English and submitted to the JCS by the coordinator through the PT-Outline Electronic Submission System exclusively. Online submission for pre-proposals will only be possible from 29 May 2023.

(See link for further details).

General Queries: Joint Call Secretariat (JCS 2023) at:

French National Cancer Institute

Email: transcan-jtc2023(at)institutcancer.fr

Applicants from Ireland should read the information on the in the HRB Guidance notes and HRB FAQ on this webage.

If you have further questions, you can contact

Dr Chiara Mizzoni at HRB

email: eujointprogrammes(at)hrb.ie  

The HRB will provide funding for projects up to a maximum of €370,000 (inclusive of overheads) to the ERA-TRANSCAN-3 awards. An additional €130,000 is available for coordination activities (excludes equipment and consumables), bringing the total maximum funding to €500,000 for consortium coordinators.