A new opportunity for research collaboration is on the horizon. On 10 December 2025, the European Rare Disease Research Alliance (ERDERA) will open its 2026 Joint Transnational Call (JTC 2026), focused on “Resolving unsolved cases in rare genetic and non-genetic diseases through variant validation and new technological approaches.”
The call aims to support multinational research teams working to provide diagnostic clarity in unsolved rare diseases, promoting collaboration between scientists, clinicians, and patient organisations across Europe.
VASCERN encourages its members and partners to explore this opportunity and consider applying to advance research that directly benefits people living with rare multisystemic vascular diseases.
About the 2026 call
The ERDERA Joint Transnational Call 2026 focuses on addressing patient-led challenges in both genetic and non-genetic rare diseases. It invites proposals that use new technologies and integrative approaches to help solve undiagnosed cases, improve variant interpretation, and accelerate diagnosis.
Research areas of interest include:
- Functional validation of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) through in silico, in vitro, or model systems.
- Multi-omics and integrative methods (transcriptomics, epigenomics, etc.) to clarify complex variants.
- Advanced bioinformatics and AI-based tools for variant analysis.
- Systems biology, disease mechanism modelling, and use of sensor-derived or environmental data.
The call encourages participation from academia, hospitals, enterprises (including SMEs), and patient advocacy organisations. Projects must include partners from at least four different participating countries to qualify for funding.
Timeline and key dates
- 10 December 2025: Launch of the call
- 16 December 2025, 15:00–17:00 CET: Information webinar for potential applicants
- 12 February 2026: Pre-proposal submission deadline
- 8 July 2026: Full proposal submission deadline
- December 2026: Notification of funding decisions
Researchers interested in applying can join the free information webinar on 16 December, which will cover eligibility, procedures, and guidance for building strong, transnational proposals.
Register for the webinar here.
Encouraging collaboration and patient involvement
ERDERA strongly encourages early involvement of patient organisations in project design and implementation. Including patient perspectives from the beginning helps ensure that research outcomes reflect real patient needs and improve care pathways.
For guidance on patient engagement in research, consult this EURORDIS guide.
Learn more
The pre-announcement of the 2026 Joint Transnational Call, including eligibility details and thematic scope, is now available on the ERDERA website.
Access the pre-announcement here.
For further information, visit the ERDERA website or contact the Joint Call Secretariat at ERDERAcall@agencerecherche.fr.