# Female Heart Clinical Mechanistic Research Grants **Funder:** Novo Nordisk Foundation **Budget:** DKK 10M–15M per grant (total pool up to DKK 75M) **Duration:** 3–5 years **Consortium:** Required — main applicant at Nordic institution; at least one co-applicant outside main applicant's country, anchored at EEA, UK, or Swiss non-profit institution **Application:** 2-stage: Phase 1 concept note (internal evaluation) → Phase 2 full application (external peer review) **Eligible countries:** DK, SE, NO, FI, IS **Official call:** https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant/female-heart-clinical-mechanistic-research-grants/ **Last verified:** 20 June 2026 ## Eligibility & scope Main applicant must be an established researcher at a university, hospital, or non-profit in a Nordic country (DK, SE, NO, FI, IS) with guaranteed salary for the full project period. At least one co-applicant must be based outside the main applicant's country, at an EEA/UK/Swiss non-profit. Co-applicants must receive a significant share of the budget. Grants of DKK 10M–15M for 3–5 year projects. ## Summary The Novo Nordisk Foundation's Female Heart Clinical Mechanistic Research Grants provide DKK 10-15 million per project over 3-5 years to support mechanistic research into female-specific cardiac disease. The call requires a Nordic-based principal investigator (from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, or Iceland) with at least one co-applicant from outside their home country at an institution in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland. This is a strategic investment in closing the knowledge gap around sex-specific cardiac mechanisms. ## Who should apply - Established researchers (with guaranteed salary) at Nordic universities, hospitals, or research institutions - Clinician-scientists or mechanistic researchers focused on female cardiac health and disease - Applicants able to assemble a multi-country consortium with at least one partner outside their home country - Teams prepared to ensure co-applicants receive a significant, clearly justified budget share ## Key dates - Phase 1 concept note deadline: exact date not yet published; applicants notified in April for Phase 2 invitation - Two-stage evaluation: Phase 1 internal screening, Phase 2 external peer review - Project duration: 3-5 years ## Tips for applicants - The consortium is mandatory and gating, ensure your co-applicants have institutional backing and a defined role; budget splits that look token will weaken the application. - Emphasise the sex- or female-specific mechanism you are investigating; generic cardiac mechanistic proposals do not align with the call's strategic focus. - The main applicant's guaranteed salary for the full project period is a hard eligibility check, confirm this early with your institution's grant office. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much can I request for a Female Heart Clinical Mechanistic Research Grant? Each grant is DKK 10-15 million; the total funding pool is up to DKK 75 million across all awards in this round. ### Where must the main applicant be based? The main applicant must hold an established position at a Nordic university, hospital, or non-profit research institution (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, or Iceland) with a guaranteed salary commitment for the full project duration. ### Do I need co-applicants for this grant? Yes, you must have at least one co-applicant based outside your home country at an institution in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, and they must receive a significant share of the budget. ### What is the project duration? Projects run for 3-5 years, and you must specify your intended duration in the application. ### When is the Phase 1 concept note deadline? The exact deadline is not yet published; applicants are notified in April of their eligibility to proceed to Phase 2 full application. --- Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/novo-nordisk-foundation-female-heart-clinical-mechanistic-research-grants-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.