FOREUM-UCB Platinum Grant Call 2026

The molecular mechanisms of non-response to TNF inhibitors in patients with spondyloarthritis

Introduction

FOREUM is committed to promoting the best talent in the field of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Consistent with these goals, FOREUM is pleased to launch its Platinum Partner-Supported Project Call.  This grant aims to fund excellent researchers with innovative ideas and high-quality research projects in basic-translational or clinical science related to RMDs.

 

Scope

This FOREUM project grant is intended to fund one excellent scientist with an established track record in RMD research for a project entitled: The molecular mechanisms of non-response to TNF inhibitors in patients with spondyloarthritis.

The grant aims to support the initiation of an innovative, independent research project for a maximum period of 12 months.

This research call aims to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying non-response to TNF inhibitors (TNFi) in patients with spondyloarthritis, addressing a major unmet need in treatment strategy optimisation. Despite the efficacy of TNFi, up to one-third of patients fail to respond and are less likely to respond to the subsequent alternative mode of action treatment. This could be due to the heterogeneity in underlying inflammatory pathways beyond TNF-driven disease but also upregulation of compensatory mechanisms in response to TNFi treatment. This project seeks to define the molecular mechanisms that underlie this trend.

 

Eligibility and Requirements

Age limit: No limit.

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must hold a doctoral degree (e.g. PhD) or a medical degree (MD, DO, MBBS or equivalent) and provide evidence of independent research and academic output.
  • The applicant must be employed in a EULAR member country and must be members of a EULAR scientific society OR an individual EULAR member at the time of submission.
  • Collaborating partners from centres from non-EULAR member countries may participate as partners in exceptional cases (e.g. specific scientific expertise) but will not be eligible to receive direct research funding.
  • Applicants must not be a member of FOREUM Committees and / or the EULAR Council Committee.

 

Budget

The applicant may apply for total funding of up to 100K EUR for a maximum duration of 1 year. Continued financial support will be subject to the successful evaluation and approval of written mid-term and final reports by FOREUM’s relevant committees. Submitted publications can be used as part of the report.

Application Process

 

Stage 1 - Letter of Intent (LoI)

To apply for this call, applicants must complete Stage 1 of the application – the Letter of Intent (seven sections) - via the AlphaFoundation grant submissions platform by 01 September 2026.

How to apply

Click the "apply here" button to access the AlphaFoundation grant submission platform and follow the instructions provided in the online system. The platform will guide you through the application process and indicate the information required for each section.

What's involved?

The required structure and content of the Stage 1 application (LoI), including the word count for each section, are specified on the AlphaFoundation platform.

The LoI, lay summary and CV are requested as part of the online application on AlphaFoundation and should not be submitted separately to the FOREUM Office. All supporting information and documents requested for Stage 1 must also be provided through the AlphaFoundation platform.

The Stage 1 application consists of seven sections of which six are mandatory and must be completed.

  1. Administrative Details
  2. CV
  3. Basic Information (Including collaborating PRP)
  4. Lay Summary
  5. Financing
  6. Legal Terms
  7. Attachments (optional)

Section 7, which allows applicants to upload additional documents, is optional. Applicants are not required to upload any additional documents in this section, and any documents uploaded there will not form part of the evaluation.

When prompted on the AlphaFoundation platform, applicants must also provide a CV and a short statement of support from the head of the centre. Word limits are strictly applied.

Stage 1 Review Process

Stage 1 applications (Letters of Intent) will be assessed by members of the FOREUM Scientific Committee. Applications demonstrating the highest merit will be selected on a competitive basis. The FOREUM Office will respond by the end of September 2026 to confirm whether the proposal meets the scope, priority, and requirements of the call.  Applicants whose Stage 1 proposals are selected will then be invited to submit a full application.

*Please note that applicants will not receive individual feedback at Stage 1 of the application process.

 

 

Stage 2 - Full Project Proposal

The number of applicants shortlisted for the second stage will be determined at the discretion of the Scientific Committee and will generally be approximately three times the number of grants available. They will then be invited to submit a full proposal on the grant submission platform.

The Stage 2 full proposal will be assessed based on the scientific excellence of the applicant, the innovation potential, impact and feasibility of the proposed project, as well as clear evidence of support and the availability of the necessary infrastructure at the host centre.  

To facilitate review by patient representatives, applicants invited to submit a full proposal must also complete a lay summary.  This will be requested as part of the online application on the AlphaFoundation system and does not need to be submitted separately to the FOREUM Office.

Full research proposals must be submitted electronically via the AlphaFoundation platform by 06 November 2026.

Participation of Patient Research Partners (PRPs)

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.

 

Evaluation and Decision

Stage 1 Letters of Intent (LoI) and Stage 2 full proposals will be evaluated by the FOREUM Scientific Committee and invited experts.

Each proposal will be independently peer-reviewed based on:

  1. its relevance to the call and subject matter
  2. its feasibility
  3. its novelty and importance for the field of rheumatology
  4. its study design and processes (weighted double)

In addition, proposals will also undergo review by FOREUM’s Patient Research Partners (PRPs), who will assess proposals from a patient perspective according to the following criteria:

  1. The active participation of people with RMDs in the project
  2. The potential benefits for patients (weighted double)
  3. The burden of participation for people with RMDs in this study

Based on the peer review process, the FOREUM Scientific Committee will make a funding recommendation to the FOREUM Executive Committee, which will take the final funding decision.

Decisions will be communicated to applicants by mid-December 2026.

*Please note that all projects submitted for this Call (LOIs and full applications) will be shared with the supporting industry in accordance with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.  Supporting industry partners interested in directly funding a project may contact applicants whose proposals were not selected through the Call process.

 

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.

 

Application Instructions

Applications must be submitted through the AlphaFoundation platform. 

Apply Here(opens in new tab)

Please select the Platinum / Gold level option and then select Platinum from the drop-down menu.

The AlphaFoundation grant submission system will guide you through the application process and specify the word count limit for each section.

Management of the Call

The call and approval process will be administered by the FOREUM Secretariat in collaboration with the FOREUM Scientific Committee.

Call Timeline

  • Closing date for applications: 1 September 2026
  • Decisions on applications announced: End of September 2026
  • Closing date for full proposals: 6 November 2026
  • Decisions on full proposals announced: Mid-December 2026

General Inquiries

Please contact the FOREUM Secretariat at info@foreum.org

For questions only. Applications cannot be submitted by email.