Generet Award for Rare Diseases

Objective

On the initiative of the Fund Generet, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, the prestigious Generet Award will be granted in 2025, for the 8th time, to support a 4-year research project in the field of rare diseases in Belgium.

Features

Amount: € 1.000.000 over 4 years granted in two instalments of € 500.000 (the second being subject to the positive evaluation of a mid-term report).

Rare diseases are considered to be life threatening or chronic conditions which affect no more than 1 person out of 2.000. Rare cancers and rare adverse drug events research projects are not eligible for this call.

Call timeline

Opening of the call: March 20, 2025
Pre-proposals deadline: May 12, 2025
First Panel meeting: End of June 2025
Invitation for full proposals: following the first Panel meeting
Full proposals deadline: August 11, 2025
Second Panel meeting: End of November 2025
Start of the research: January 1, 2026

Profile and conditions

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants are:

Internationally established investigators, with outstanding scientific achievements and multiple seminal contributions in the field of rare diseases.
Internationally established investigators, with outstanding scientific achievements and multiple seminal contributions in common diseases, who can demonstrate that their research will have a substantial added value for rare diseases and can accelerate research in this particular field.

Applicants must have a scientific seniority of min. PhD + 10 years (career breaks, such as maternity leave or long-time illness, not included).

Applicants must be affiliated to a Belgian University, a Belgian University Hospital or an eligible Research Institute, until December 31, 2029 and not reach the retirement age limit during the project timeframe.

Former laureates cannot reapply to the Generet Award as Principal Investigator but can be partners in other applications (at the earliest 4 years after being laureate).

Eligible research project

The research project must be conducted in Belgium in the field of rare diseases.

The research project should aim at a better understanding of the processes underpinning rare diseases and translating fundamental discoveries into better prevention, diagnosis or treatment for patients. Research can encompass all stages from bench to bedside.

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses encompass personnel costs, running costs and equipment. A max. of 10% overheads may be applicable (subject to negotiation and included in the Prize money).

Up to 30% of the Award's amount can be outsourced for supporting international or intranational expenses (personnel and running costs) including the private sector if they charge at cost price.

Procedure

Pre-proposals, written in English, must be submitted via the online application system available on www.generetaward.be on May 12, 2025 at the latest.

Evaluation procedure

Proposals will undergo a two-step application procedure encompassing a pre-proposal phase (open to all) and a full proposal phase (accessible to shortlisted applicants from the first stage).

Applicants submitting a pre-proposal must fill in a brief administrative form, provide a letter of intent of max. 3 pages focusing on the scientific proof of concept of the research project and attach a relevant core bibliography and short CV information.

Regulations and downloads

Contact

Questions about the Award should be addressed via email to prix@frs-fnrs.be.