# Infectious Diseases – Catalyst Grants Call 2026

**Funder:** Novo Nordisk Foundation
**Budget:** Up to DKK 4M (single Nordic applicant) or up to DKK 7M (Nordic main + international co-applicant); DKK 60M total pool
**Duration:** Up to 3 years
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** Single stage — submitted via NORMA online system; assessed by Committee for Infectious Diseases (CID)
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** DK
**Official call:** https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant/infectious-diseases-catalyst-grants/
**Last verified:** 24 June 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Main applicant must hold assistant professor level or above at a Nordic institution; postdocs/PhD students ineligible. Co-applicant (optional) may be based anywhere globally but must be in a different country. Scope: AMR novel tools (Theme 1) or pandemic influenza (Theme 2); must be use-inspired. Clinical trials, phage therapy, microbiome, surveillance, and for-profit product development are out of scope.

## Summary

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Infectious Diseases, Catalyst Grants Call 2026 funds use-inspired research on antimicrobial resistance tools or pandemic influenza preparedness, with up to DKK 4 million for single Nordic-based applicants or up to DKK 7 million when partnered with an international co-applicant. The call targets assistant professors and senior researchers at Nordic institutions working on Theme 1 (novel AMR tools) or Theme 2 (pandemic influenza). Clinical trials, microbiome research, and phage therapy are excluded; projects run up to three years.

## Who should apply

- Assistant professors, associate professors, or professors at Nordic research institutions
- Researchers with use-inspired, translatable research agendas on antimicrobial resistance or pandemic influenza
- Single applicants (Nordic-based) or consortia pairing a Nordic lead with a co-applicant from a different country
- Projects outside clinical trials, microbiome single-discipline work, and for-profit product development

## Key dates

- 2026 call; specific deadline to be confirmed on the Novo Nordisk Foundation website
- Single-stage application via NORMA online system
- Up to three-year project duration

## Tips for applicants

- The call rewards 'use-inspired' research, frame your AMR or pandemic flu project with a clear translational endpoint or policy/clinical relevance.
- International partnerships boost funding: DKK 4M for Nordic solo, DKK 7M with a named co-applicant from outside the Nordic region.
- Phage therapy and microbiome-only studies are explicitly out of scope; review Theme 1 and Theme 2 definitions carefully to confirm your angle fits.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the budget for the Novo Nordisk Foundation Infectious Diseases Catalyst Grant?

Up to DKK 4 million for a single Nordic applicant, or up to DKK 7 million if the main applicant partners with a co-applicant from a different country.

### Who is eligible to apply for this Novo Nordisk call?

The main applicant must be employed at assistant professor level or above at a Nordic institution; postdocs and PhD students are ineligible. A co-applicant may be based anywhere globally but must be in a different country.

### What research topics are covered by the Infectious Diseases Catalyst Grant?

The call funds research on Theme 1 (novel antimicrobial resistance tools) or Theme 2 (pandemic influenza preparedness). Clinical trials, microbiome research, and phage therapy are excluded.

### Can I apply as a single researcher or must I have a consortium?

Single applicants are eligible; international consortia with a Nordic lead and an international co-applicant are also welcome but not required.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/novo-nordisk-foundation-infectious-diseases-catalyst-grants-call-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.