Introduction 

The Foundation for Research in Rheumatology (FOREUM) is launching a joint call for proposals in rheumatology and neurology to support research that benefits from close collaboration between the two disciplines.

Many immune-mediated diseases extend beyond traditional specialty boundaries and may affect the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, skeletal muscle, and multiple other organ systems. Closer collaboration between rheumatology and neurology is therefore essential to advance our understanding of shared and overlapping disease mechanisms, clinical phenotypes, diagnostic pathways, disease assessment, and patient outcomes.

By bringing together researchers from rheumatology and neurology, this call aims to generate new knowledge that improves the recognition, characterization, and management of people living with complex immune-mediated diseases.

 

Scope 

This grant will provide one year of funding for independent clinicians and/or scientists with an established track record in RMD research, neurology, or neuromuscular medicine. Applications must provide a clear scientific rationale for the proposed interdisciplinary collaboration.

Proposals that establish a meaningful link between neurology or neuromuscular medicine and RMD research are encouraged. Both preclinical and clinical studies will be considered. Research areas may include, but are not limited to:

• shared immune-mediated disease mechanisms;
• neurological and neuromuscular manifestations of RMDs;
• inflammatory muscle diseases;
• the development of biomarkers and outcome measures; and
• interdisciplinary approaches to disease management and patient outcomes.

Each application should be jointly led by two principal investigators: one working in the field of RMDs and one in neurology or neuromuscular medicine.

Applications must clearly explain how the interdisciplinary approach will enhance and strengthen the proposed research. The contributions of the two principal investigators should be closely integrated and complementary, creating scientific value that could not be achieved through separate, discipline-specific projects. The proposed collaboration should demonstrate clear synergy between the investigators’ expertise, activities, and anticipated outcomes.

 

Eligibility and Requirements 

Main applicant

The following eligibility criteria apply to the investigator involved in rheumatology research.

To be eligible for this grant, the applicant must:

• be a member of a EULAR scientific society or an individual EULAR member at the time of submission and throughout the duration of the award, and come from a EULAR member country;
• hold a doctoral-level degree (MD, PhD, DO, MBBS or equivalent); and
• demonstrate research independence, scientific productivity, and career achievements.

Collaborating partners from centres in non-EULAR member countries may participate in exceptional cases (e.g. where specific scientific expertise is required) but are not eligible to receive FOREUM funding.

Please note, applicants are responsible for identifying their own collaborating partner.  FOREUM does not facilitate the pairing of researchers for applications to this award.

All award recipients must comply with FOREUM policies throughout the duration of the grant.

Patient Involvement

Participation of patient research partners is strongly recommended for all research projects to provide experiential knowledge, with the aim of improving the relevance, quality and validity of the research process. For more information, please read the material on EULAR | PARE patient research partners.

Ethical Considerations

FOREUM expects a high standard in the conduct of research it funds. For researchers this includes scientific integrity and adherence to the principles of good research practice. Patients involved in the study must be treated in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Data sharing and collaboration

Applications must include confirmation that participating centres agree to collaborate on data analyses and / or provide aggregated or raw data in accordance with applicable national regulations and the requirements of their respective governing bodies. This attestation can be added to the application as soon as participating centres have been defined.

 Budget 

50,000 EUR for one research project over a 12-month period.