# Nexa Lighthouse call: Protecting people with cardiometabolic diseases from the impacts of heat in South Asia

**Funder:** Novo Nordisk Foundation
**Deadline:** 17 November 2026 (14:00 Copenhagen time)
**Frequency:** One-off
**Eligible countries:** DK
**Official call:** https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant/nexa-lighthouse-call-protecting-people-with-cardiometabolic-diseases-from-the-impacts-of-heat-in-south-asia/
**Last updated:** 18 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Part of the Nexa Lighthouse climate and health innovation programme co-led by AVPN and Grand Challenges Canada; funds locally-led innovations protecting people with cardiometabolic diseases from extreme heat in South Asia. Applications are managed via the Nexa/Grand Challenges Canada portal, not directly by Novo Nordisk Foundation.

## Summary

The Nexa Lighthouse call funds locally-led innovations that protect people with cardiometabolic diseases from extreme heat in South Asia. It is part of the Nexa Lighthouse climate and health innovation programme, co-led by AVPN and Grand Challenges Canada and backed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Applications are submitted through the Nexa/Grand Challenges Canada portal rather than directly to the Foundation.

## Who should apply

- Innovators and organisations developing locally-led solutions in South Asia
- Projects focused on protecting people with cardiometabolic diseases from heat exposure
- Applicants working at the intersection of climate adaptation and chronic disease care
- Teams able to submit via the Nexa/Grand Challenges Canada portal rather than directly to Novo Nordisk Foundation

## Key dates

- Deadline: 17 November 2026, 14:00 Copenhagen time
- One-off call (not recurring)

## Tips for applicants

- Submit through the Nexa/Grand Challenges Canada portal, not the Novo Nordisk Foundation's own system, using the wrong channel will disqualify an application.
- Frame the innovation explicitly around heat protection for cardiometabolic disease patients, not general climate adaptation, since that is the specific scope of this Lighthouse call.
- Highlight local leadership and South Asia-based implementation, as this is a core criterion of the programme.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who manages applications for the Nexa Lighthouse call?

Applications are managed via the Nexa/Grand Challenges Canada portal, not directly by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

### What region does this Nexa Lighthouse call cover?

It funds locally-led innovations in South Asia that protect people with cardiometabolic diseases from extreme heat.

### When is the deadline for this call?

The deadline is 17 November 2026 at 14:00 Copenhagen time.

### Is this call part of a recurring programme?

No, it is listed as a one-off call within the Nexa Lighthouse climate and health innovation programme.

### Who runs the Nexa Lighthouse programme?

It is co-led by AVPN and Grand Challenges Canada, with funding support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/novo-nordisk-foundation-nexa-lighthouse-call-protecting-people-with-cardio-2026-11) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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