This round closed on 20 October 2026. The details below are from that round.
KWF
Validation of Biomarkers
12:00 noon; full proposal deadline 23 February 2027
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KWF's Validation of Biomarkers call funds the clinical translation of established oncology biomarkers (TRL 5-6) into daily practice, offering €800,000-€2 million over 2-5 years. Applicants must assemble a multidisciplinary consortium of at least four parties, including a biostatistician and health technology assessment (HTA) expert, with mandatory patient involvement; Dutch-based institutions lead the application. This is a competitive, two-stage call emphasising de-risked translational research with immediate clinical utility.
Details
| Funder | KWF |
| Budget | €0.8M–€2M |
| Duration | 2-5 years |
| Consortium | Required - multidisciplinary consortium with minimum 4 participating parties (may include private partners) |
| Application | 2-stage: pre-proposal (due 20 October 2026) → full proposal (due 23 February 2027, by invitation) |
| TRL | 5-6 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Eligible countries | NL |
Eligibility & scope
Funds clinical validation of already-known (combinations of) cancer biomarkers at TRL5/6 for near-term clinical use. Requires multidisciplinary consortium with biostatistician, HTA-expert, patient involvement, and mandatory HTA component; AI-containing projects must involve the AI4Health consortium.
Who Should Apply
- •Multidisciplinary consortia of at least 4 parties (academic, clinical, industry, or diagnostic partner mix)
- •Dutch-based lead institutions with biostatistician and HTA expertise on the team
- •Researchers with known oncology biomarkers at technology readiness level 5-6 ready for clinical validation
- •Projects with structured patient involvement and a clear pathway to routine clinical implementation
- •AI-focused projects must commit to engagement with the AI4HEALTH consortium
Key Dates
- •Pre-proposal deadline: 20 October 2026 at 12:00 noon; full proposal deadline: 23 February 2027 at 12:00 noon
- •Two-stage review followed by interviews in May 2027
- •2- to 5-year project duration
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Assemble your consortium early and ensure explicit letters of commitment from each party; KWF screens for genuine co-investment and clear role delineation.
- ✓The HTA component is non-negotiable, include a health economist or HTA specialist in your core team, not as an afterthought, to show you understand cost-effectiveness alongside clinical validity.
- ✓Patient involvement must be active and described in the pre-proposal; token representation will weaken your score. Specify how patients shape the research question and co-design validation endpoints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the budget range for the KWF Validation of Biomarkers call?
€800,000 to €2 million per project over a 2- to 5-year period.
Who must be part of the consortium?
A minimum of four participating parties, including a biostatistician and a health technology assessment expert; private partners are eligible. Patient representatives must be actively involved.
What is the technology readiness level (TRL) requirement?
Projects must target biomarkers at TRL 5-6, meaning the biomarker is known and ready for clinical validation, not discovery-stage research.
Are Dutch institutions required?
Yes, the eligible country is the Netherlands and Dutch-based institutions are expected to lead applications.
When are the application deadlines?
Pre-proposal deadline is 20 October 2026 at noon; full proposal deadline is 23 February 2027 at noon. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in May 2027.
Related on Grantsby
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Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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