European Commission
Virtual Human Twin (VHT) Models for Cancer Research (HORIZON-MISS-2026-02-CANCER-01)
17:00 Brussels time
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Horizon Europe RIA Virtual Human Twin (VHT) Models for Cancer Research offers €8-9 million per grant to develop multiscale AI-integrated digital twins for cancer onset, progression, and personalised treatment. Proposals must assemble interdisciplinary consortia (minimum 3 entities across 3 EU member states) including clinicians, patient representatives, AI specialists, and SMEs, with mandatory open science and data sharing via UNCAN.eu and the Advanced VHT Platform. This is a one-off call under the EU Cancer Mission, emphasising translational research bridging computational modelling and clinical application.
Details
| Funder | European Commission |
| Budget | €8M–€9M per grant (total budget €35M) |
| Deadline | 15 September 2026 |
| Consortium | Required — minimum 3 entities from 3 EU member states |
| Application | Single-stage |
| Frequency | One-off |
Eligibility & scope
Horizon Europe RIA under the Cancer Mission. Requires development of multiscale AI-integrated Virtual Human Twins for cancer onset, progression and personalised treatment. Proposals must include clinical study annex if clinical studies are envisaged. Interdisciplinary consortia including healthcare professionals, patient representatives, AI experts and SMEs expected. Open science principles mandatory; data must be shared via UNCAN.eu and Advanced VHT Platform.
Who Should Apply
- •Research and innovation consortia with minimum 3 legal entities spanning 3 EU member states
- •Lead applicants at research institutions or innovation actors with AI and computational cancer research capacity
- •Teams combining computational modellers, oncologists, clinicians, and patient advocates
- •Interdisciplinary groups including SMEs, willing to embed open science and FAIR data practices
- •Applicants with access to clinical data or patient cohorts for validation of digital twins
Key Dates
- •Deadline 15 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
- •Single-stage submission and evaluation
- •Project duration to be confirmed in call text (typical Horizon RIA: 4-5 years)
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Consortium composition is gating, the evaluators explicitly expect clinicians, patient representatives, AI experts and SMEs together; token inclusion will not score. Draft your partner letters early.
- ✓Data sharing and open science are mandatory, not optional: address UNCAN.eu and Advanced VHT Platform integration in your dissemination plan from the start.
- ✓If your project includes clinical studies, prepare a detailed clinical study annex; this is a common source of delays, so engage a clinical trial office early.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Virtual Human Twin Models for Cancer Research grant pay?
€8-9 million per approved grant over the project duration.
Do I need a consortium to apply for this Horizon Europe call?
Yes, a consortium of minimum 3 legal entities from 3 different EU member states is required.
What happens after I submit a Virtual Human Twin grant proposal?
Your proposal undergoes single-stage evaluation; there is no pre-proposal stage. Results are typically announced 4-6 months after the deadline.
Can I apply if my institution is outside the EU?
Non-EU entities may participate as partners, but the consortium lead and minimum 3 entities must be based in EU member states or associated countries.
Is data sharing mandatory in Virtual Human Twin proposals?
Yes, open science principles are mandatory, and data must be shared via UNCAN.eu and the Advanced VHT Platform.
Related on Grantsby
- European Commission writing tips & FAQ
Evaluation criteria, proposal structure, common mistakes.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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