{"id":15905,"date":"2026-02-06T13:26:57","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T13:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/?p=15905"},"modified":"2026-02-06T13:29:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T13:29:06","slug":"researchfunding2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mecfs-research.org\/en\/researchfunding2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Apply now: ME\/CFS Research Foundation launches 2026 research funding programme"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starting today, scientists and clinicians based in Germany can apply for our research funding programme 2026. A total of \u20ac2 million are available for new research projects. \u20ac1.5m are set to be invested in clinical research and \u20ac0.5m in basic\/translational research. The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 April 2026.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Foundation's Research Funding Programme 2026 is designed to support biomedical research projects addressing unknown or insufficiently understood disease mechanisms, biomarkers, or treatment options for ME\/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis\/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). The aim is to enable and support projects that, with their results, will significantly contribute to improving the diagnosis and disease-modifying treatment in the coming years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A total of \u20ac2m are available for research investment under this call for proposals. This makes the ME\/CFS Research Foundation's 2026 research funding programme one of the largest privately funded ME\/CFS initiatives in Europe. We would like to thank our donors and sponsors for their tremendous support, which enables us to provide new impetus for diagnostic and therapeutic research.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers based at institutions located in Germany<\/strong> are able to apply for funding until 30 April<\/strong> (for new research projects or in the form of deficit funding). The new website for the funding programme<\/span><\/a> provides all details about the programme, submission and review procedures and the defined eligibility criteria<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Apply now: Research Funding Programme 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Focus of the funding programme<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The focus of funding are the following research areas<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. 1.\tElucidation of the disease mechanisms, which are underlying key ME\/CFS symptoms<\/strong>, such as post-exertional malaise (PEM), pain, muscle weakness, cognitive dysfunction, circulatory disorders, sleep disorders and dysautonomia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Development of reliable diagnostic, prognostic or predictive biomarkers for stratifying ME\/CFS patient groups<\/strong> (taking into account important variables such as sex\/gender, age, duration of illness and severity). The focus rests on projects investigating autoimmunity, immune dysregulation, metabolic disorders, inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and nervous system dysfunction as causal factors in the development and progression of ME\/CFS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Testing of innovative, disease mechanism-targeted drugs and treatment approaches <\/strong>for their suitability for effective and safe treatment of ME\/CFS. This includes drugs already approved for other diseases, such as CD19+ or CD20+ B cell depletion, CD38+ plasmablast\/cell depletion, B cell receptor signalling and granulocyte inhibition, selective B\/T cell depletion, inhibition of plasma cell maturation and GLP-1 receptor agonists, or other promising drug candidates targeting the above-mentioned disease mechanisms.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The evaluation and selection of eligible proposals under the new funding programme is based on criteria defined in close collaboration with our Scientific Advisory Board<\/span><\/a> and key partner organisations, such as the German Association for ME\/CFS. Submissions will be evaluated by a jury of international experts and the Foundation's science team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Allocation of funding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The allocation of funding is exclusively directed towards the following research types<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Applied basic research<\/strong>\n