In the 2020 funding round which has just been announced, Irish health researchers have secured €8.2 million spread across 20 projects that involve Irish participants and will address areas such as:

  • Cancer
  • Heart failure
  • ADHD
  • The use of artificial intelligence for the care of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis patients
  • A pathway for the treatment of multi-morbid elderly patients
  • Remote rehabilitation service for isolated areas. 

One project led by an Irish researcher Dr John Dinsmore from Trinity College Dublin secured almost €4 million with more than half the budget (€2.2 million) coming to Ireland. This project will enable patients to proactively self-manage their chronic diseases by evaluating key factors to prepare organisations, localities and regions across the EU to scale, sustain and transfer the people-centred, digital integrated care platform (ProACT). 

The Health Research Board is also a successful partner in three ERA NET proposals which will allow Irish researchers to apply for co-funding for projects in cancer, neurological disorders and antimicrobial resistance in 2021.

According to Kay Duggan-Walls, National Contact Point for Horizon 2020 at the HRB,

‘The fact Ireland is exceeding the funding targets set is testament to the calibre and the quality of Irish participants. Success rates among Irish applicants for Horizon 2020 health show Irish health researchers are well positioned to compete for funding in the new Horizon Europe Programme which will run from 2021-2027. I would encourage any researcher who has an interest to engage with the HRB to help optimise their ability to compete effectively for funding.’

Horizon 2020 began in 2014 and will conclude in 2020. The next Framework Programme, Horizon Europe in 2021 will be launched in early 2021.

The table in the link to the right gives details of the recent successful projects in the 2020 funding round.