BE READY Partnership: Call for research project proposals to be announced soon 

The European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness (BE READY), whose goal is to create a European research and innovation ecosystem prepared for future health crises caused by infectious diseases, will launch a joint transnational call entitled "Advancing knowledge of host and pathogen dynamics to better combat emerging diseases" in early January 2026 .

The aim of the call is to deepen scientific knowledge and evidence-based understanding of newly emerging or re-emerging pathogens with pandemic potential and of host responses to infection, with a view to improving the ability to predict, prevent, and respond to infectious health threats through a transnational, collaborative, and interdisciplinary approach linking research and development. This call will support innovative, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and transnational research projects aimed at better understanding the pandemic potential of newly emerging pathogens, elucidating their pathophysiology, and developing innovative medical countermeasures.

Projects should aim to achieve at least one of the following outcomes:

• Identification of new molecular targets specific to pathogens and areas susceptible to mutations;
• A better understanding of how hosts and pathogens interact in zoonoses and the "One Health" approach;
• Using the "Pathogen X" approach to create transferable knowledge that can then be applied to other dangerous viruses in the same group;
• Development and optimization of new substances with high therapeutic efficacy and low toxicity, especially for vulnerable population groups;
• Identification and verification of therapeutic targets, including data integration and modeling, and search for antigenic structures suitable for vaccine development (i.e., proof-of-concept studies);
• Improving data handling and modeling for predicting pathogen behavior and their sensitivity to treatment;
• Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions in humans, including genetic risk factors;
• Development and refinement of advanced immunological tests, experimental models, and preclinical studies that link host genetics to disease progression.

Projects dealing with antimicrobial-resistant pathogens and clinical studies will not be supported under this call.

The Ministry of Health / Agency for Health Research ČR will participate in this call!

Currently, national rules and conditions for Czech applicants are being prepared, which will be based on the Programme for the Support of Applied Health Research for 2024-2030: Subprogramme 3: European Partnerships in Health, and will be published on the website of AZV HealthAZV ofČR CzechČR AZV azvcr.cz) by the date of the call announcement.

The MoHCR will support Czech applicants through the national budget allocation. The total amount for the call will be EUR 500 000. 

Only transnational projects will be funded. The call will be a two-round call. 

Provisional timetable of the call:

More information about the objectives of the call, topics, countries that have expressed interest in participating in the call, national contact points, and other specific conditions is available on the official EP BE READY website and in the supporting document for the call, which can be viewed here.