This round closed on 8 September 2026. The details below are from that round.
ZonMw
Promising Medicines for ME/CFS — Call Drug Repurposing
Deadline for detailed grant application: 8 September 2026, 14:00 CEST. Earlier project idea deadline was 17 March 2026 (closed). Response to referees: 4 November 2026.
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The ZonMw Promising Medicines for ME/CFS, Call Drug Repurposing funds clinical research into drug repurposing for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients in the Netherlands, with €600,000-€1,000,000 per project over up to four years. The call targets Proof of Concept and Clinical Validation studies using existing, off-patent medicines and is open to Dutch public and private research organisations. This is a one-off call with a two-stage application process; the detailed application deadline is 8 September 2026.
Details
| Funder | ZonMw |
| Budget | €600k–€1M per project (total pool €3.5M) |
| Duration | Up to 4 years |
| Consortium | No |
| Application | 2-stage: project idea submission (closed 17 March 2026) → full grant application (8 September 2026) → referee response (4 November 2026) → decision February 2027 |
| Frequency | One-off |
| Eligible countries | NL |
Eligibility & scope
Funds clinical research (Proof of Concept or Clinical Validation studies) into drug repurposing of existing off-patent medicines for ME/CFS patients in the Netherlands. Applicants must be Dutch legal entities (public or private law). Non-research organisations must provide ≥50% co-financing. Proposals must be written in English.
Who Should Apply
- •Clinical researchers and trial coordinators in the Netherlands testing drug repurposing strategies
- •Dutch public or private research organisations (with non-research bodies needing ≥50% co-financing)
- •Proof of Concept or Clinical Validation study designs using off-patent existing medicines
- •Groups positioned to deliver within a four-year timeline with clear clinical endpoints
Key Dates
- •Detailed application deadline: 8 September 2026, 14:00 CEST (project ideas closed 17 March 2026)
- •Multi-stage timeline: referee comments due 14 October 2026, response deadline 4 November 2026, decision expected February 2027
- •Project duration: up to four years
Tips for Applicants
- ✓This is a one-off call with a closed project-idea stage; focus your detailed application on feasibility and clinical endpoints for the specific repurposed medicine.
- ✓If your organisation is not a research entity, budget for 50% co-financing to satisfy funder requirements; this shapes project scope upfront.
- ✓ME/CFS is rare and heterogeneous; use the detailed application to justify patient selection criteria and outcome measures that ZonMw panels will recognise as robust.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I request in the ZonMw ME/CFS drug repurposing call?
€600,000-€1,000,000 per project, with a total call pool of €3.5M.
What types of studies does the ZonMw ME/CFS call fund?
Proof of Concept and Clinical Validation studies testing the safety and efficacy of existing, off-patent medicines in ME/CFS patients.
Can non-Dutch organisations apply to the ZonMw ME/CFS call?
Only Dutch legal entities (public or private law) are eligible; non-research organisations must provide at least 50% co-financing.
What is the deadline for the ZonMw ME/CFS drug repurposing detailed application?
8 September 2026, 14:00 CEST; the project-idea submission deadline was 17 March 2026 and is now closed.
Is the ZonMw ME/CFS call going to run again?
This is a one-off call, not a recurring programme.
Related on Grantsby
- ZonMw 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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