Find below details on the call’s implementation:

Timeline

The timeline of the JTC2014 “Neuroinflammation” is shown below:

WhenWhat
Jan-10, 2014Launch of the call
March-10, 2014 Deadline for pre-proposal submission
May-16, 2014 Selection of a short list of 39 pre-proposals
Jun-24, 2014Deadline for full proposal submission
Sep-23/24, 2014Peer review panel meeting, ranking list
Oct, 2014Funding decision
First half 2015 Start of projects

Proposal submission, peer review process, funding decision

Proposal submission

Research consortia had to consist of 3 - 5 research groups from at least three NEURON partner countries participating in this call. The two-step process required at first the submission of short pre-proposals describing the research idea. From these a short list was selected and the respective consortia were invited to submit full proposals (see also below).

Both pre- and full proposals had to be submitted electronically by the coordinator. A proposal template and guidelines were provided by the Joint Call Secretariat in order to support the applicants in terms of the proposal format. The Joint Call Secretariat is hosted by PT-DLR, Germany.

Peer Review

In order to properly cover all aspects of the broad topic, 48 experts were recruited from NEURON partner countries and beyond. Each pre-proposal was assessed in writing by at least two, most of them by three evaluators. The assessments were based on the criteria listed in the call text and consisted of a global score and additional comments. The reviewers’ scores led to a ranking list and were used by the funding bodies as a basis for selecting 44 pre-proposals whose coordinators were invited by the Joint Call Secretariat to submit full proposals. Twenty experts on the Peer Review Panel (PRP) discussed these full proposals thoroughly in a face-to-face meeting and eventually provided a funding recommendation for each proposal and a ranking list.

Funding decision and granting process

The funding decision was made by the funding bodies participating in the joint call for proposals. Starting with the best proposal and following the ranking list, as many proposals were selected for funding as the budget of each funding organisation allowed for.

As a result of this step, the top 10 projects could be funded. The projects comprise 43 research groups (Principal Investigators) from eleven countries. The total funding volume amounts to about 10.1 M € for three years.

In a last step, the Principal Investigators had to fulfil legal and administrative requirements of their national / regional funding body, in order to receive the grant.

The projects started during the first half of 2015.

Funding organisations supporting this call

Seventeen funding organisations from 17 countries participated in the JTC2014 “Neuroinflammation”.

CountryFunding Organisation
AustriaAustrian Science Fund (FWF)
BelgiumResearch Foundation – Flanders (FWO)

Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS)
Canada / QuébecCanadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (CIHR-INMHA)

Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (FRQS)
FranceNational Funding Agency for Research (ANR)
GermanyFederal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
IcelandRANNIS – The Icelandic Centre for Research
IsraelChief Scientist Office - Ministry of Health (CSO-MOH)
ItalyMinistry of Health (MOH)
LatviaLatvian Academy of Sciences
LuxembourgNational Research Fund (FNR)
PolandNational Centre for Research and Development (NCBR)
PortugalFoundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
RomaniaExecutive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI)
SlovakiaSlovak Academy of Sciences (SAS)
SpainMinistry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO)
SwedenSwedish Research Council (SRC)
United KingdomMedical Research Council (MRC)