The Leenaards Foundation supports Translational Medical Research in the Lake Geneva region carried out in collaboration with academic institutions. The aim is to strengthen structural links between clinical and basic research. The Leenaards Foundation is open to projects in the fields of integrative or personalized medicine.
The amount at disposal is 1,4 million Swiss Francs (CHF) to be distributed between 2–3 major and innovative projects with maximum budgets between 500 and 700 KCHF.
Supported research team(s) will be free to plan the use of the funds over the duration of the projects (maximum 3 years).
You will find all the information to submit your project below or in the booklet Call for proposals 2025 (pdf).
Applications are currently closed. The next round of applications will open early 2025 (for projets starting in January 2026 at the earliest).
The project will investigate a clinical or health problem from an original angle including pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention or therapy. It must associate clinical and basic research.
The project must include a human research component. The proposal must stand on its own; however, it may be embedded in the context of an existing study.
Preference will be given to projects attesting a new collaboration between 2–3 partners in the Lake Geneva region, carried out with academic institutions (CHUV, UNIL, HUG, UNIGE, EPFL). Two partners of the Lake Geneva region may seek the collaboration of a third partner belonging to another region/country.
The Prize is not renewable.
If supported by the Leenaards Foundation, you agree to actively participate in promoting the launch and results of your project.
This implies to:
The primary applicant (principal investigator) will be a clinical scientist (MD, MD-PhD, or PhD), below age of 45, with an established research track, who has demonstrated her or his capacity as an independent investigator to lead original clinical research.
The project’s co-applicants (max. 2), preferably also at a relatively early stage in their careers, will have shown their skills in their respective fields. Their contributions in the project must be clearly specified.
All applicants must hold a «stable position» for the entire duration of the project.
Applicants who have been granted the «Leenaards Prize for Translational Medical Research» during the last 3 years (2021–2023) are not eligible, and the project cannot be an extension of a previous Leenaards project.
For the first evaluation round, applicants need to submit the following documents (in English and pdf format):
Applications are currently closed. The next round of applications will open early 2025 (for projets starting in January 2026 at the earliest).
The evaluation of projects will take place in two stages: