Published: 18 July 2012

€820 million EU funding for health research

The European Commission has announced the final and biggest set of calls for research proposals under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). A total of €8.1 billion is available, with €820 million allocated for health research.

The call is now open and priority areas include cancer, brain research, investigator-led clinical trials, health promotion, health systems research, cardiovascular disease and anti-microbial drug resistance. The closing dates for health-related calls are 25 September 2012 (INNOVATION 2) and 2 October 2012 (INNOVATION 1).

Announcing the new call in Dublin, Commissioner for research, innovation and science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, met with some researchers who have already secured funding through FP7 programmes. Since FP7 started in 2007, there have been 24 Irish led health proposals with almost €62 million awarded to Irish health researchers.

Professor Brian Lawlor, Consultant old-age Psychiatrist at St James's Hospital and Trinity College, recently secured €6 million in FP7 funding. He will lead an international team conducting research into treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

'This funding will enable us to carry out clinical trials across Europe to determine whether the medication, NILVADIPINE, which is already licensed to control blood pressure in some EU countries, is also effective at slowing the rate of deterioration in Alzheimer's disease,' explains Prof Lawlor.

Professor Lawlor secured advice and direction to support his application from the Health Resarch Board's National Contact Points (NCPs) for FP7, Dr Caitriona Creely and Ms Kay Duggan-Walls. 

According to Ms Duggan-Walls,

'We are committed to supporting Irish applicants to develop strong research proposals in order to secure FP7 funding.'

More information is available at the following links.