JPcofuND 2. Rapid-action call for expert Working Groups addressing the impact of COVID-19 on Neurodegenerative Diseases research

The ANR launches in collaboration with the ERA-NET JPcofuND 2 a rapid action call for leading scientists in the field to establish community-led Working Groups dedicated to discuss research strategies that concern the impact of COVID-19 on the development and progression of neurodegenerative disease as well as on the care of patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. These strategies can also consider the impact of COVID-19 on neurodegenerative disease research itself, how it is conducted and how it influenced technological innovations for neurodegenerative diseases.

The present call is supported by 12 member countries: Bulgaria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and UK

This call will not fund direct research activities. Instead, Working Groups will be funded for up to 9 months with 50.000€ each to cover their expenses (e.g. meetings and travel costs). They must provide outputs of value to the broader research community, e.g. best-practice guidelines, methodological frameworks or foresight publications. International composition of the Working Groups should be envisaged. However, the coordinator of a Working Group must be from an institution being eligible for one of the funding organisations intending to support this call:

• Belgium, The Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) provisional
• Bulgaria, Medical University, Department of Neurology
• Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) provisional
• France, French National Research Agency (ANR)
• Germany, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
• Italy, Ministry of Health (IT-MOH)
• Luxembourg, National Research Fund (FNR)
• The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw)
• Portugal, Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) provisional
• Spain, National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII)
• Sweden, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (FORTE)
• Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation