# Challenge Programme 2027 — Heat and Hypertension: Understanding the Mechanisms of Interaction

**Funder:** Novo Nordisk Foundation
**Budget:** DKK 30–75M (ca. EUR 4–10M) per grant; total budget up to DKK 150M (ca. EUR 20M)
**Duration:** 6 years
**Consortium:** Required — 2–4 research groups (main applicant + 1–3 co-applicants); at least one applicant must be based at a Danish institution
**Application:** 2-stage: Stage 1 expression of interest → Stage 2 full proposal + online presentation to review panel
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** AT, BE, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, IS, LI, NO, CH, GB
**Official call:** https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant/challenge-programme-2027-heat-and-hypertension-understanding-the-mechanisms-of-interaction/
**Last verified:** 5 July 2026

> **Recently updated:** catalog cleanup 2026-07-04: duplicate row (canonical sibling kept)

## Eligibility & scope

Main applicant must be an independent tenured/tenure-track researcher employed (≥75% commitment) at a European (EU, Schengen Area, or UK) university, hospital, or non-profit research organisation. At least one applicant must be ≥75% employed at a Danish institution. Co-applicants may be global. Industry partners may collaborate but cannot receive funding. Interdisciplinary, human-centric mechanistic research on heat–hypertension interaction required; purely in-vitro or observational projects are out of scope.

## Summary

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Challenge Programme 2027 funds mechanistic research on heat, hypertension interactions with €4-10 million per grant over six years. The call targets tenured or tenure-track researchers at European institutions, with mandatory consortium structure (2-4 groups, at least one based in Denmark). This one-off programme prioritises interdisciplinary, human-centric studies bridging basic and translational science; purely in-vitro or observational projects are out of scope.

## Who should apply

- Tenured or tenure-track researchers at European universities, hospitals, or non-profit research organisations
- Willing to lead or co-lead a consortium of 2-4 research groups with interdisciplinary expertise
- At least one consortium member based at a Danish institution (≥75% employment)
- Research combining mechanistic understanding with human-centred translation, avoiding purely in-vitro or observational designs

## Key dates

- Two-stage process: Stage 1 expression of interest (deadline not specified in this segment) → Stage 2 full proposal with online presentation
- Six-year project duration

## Tips for applicants

- Consortium strength is gating, use Stage 1 to demonstrate complementary expertise and a clear leadership structure; weak or generic consortia do not progress.
- The call explicitly excludes purely in-vitro and observational work; frame your research as mechanistic but human-centric, bridging basic discovery and clinical relevance.
- Danish partner placement is mandatory; establish your collaborations early, as lack of a strong Danish institution co-applicant will disqualify at Stage 1.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does the Novo Nordisk Challenge Programme 2027 heat, hypertension grant pay?

EUR 4-10 million per consortium over six years; approximately EUR 20 million is available across the full call.

### Who can be the main applicant for this challenge programme?

A tenured or tenure-track researcher employed at ≥75% at a European (EU, Schengen Area, or UK) university, hospital, or non-profit research organisation.

### Is a Danish partner required?

Yes, at least one consortium member must be employed ≥75% at a Danish institution; co-applicants may be based globally.

### What type of research is not eligible?

Purely in-vitro or purely observational projects are out of scope; the call requires interdisciplinary, human-centric mechanistic research.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/novo-nordisk-foundation-challenge-programme-2027-heat-and-hypertension-und-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.