Research Application
The Duchenne Parent Project Netherlands (DPP NL) promotes research into improved therapies and care for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients. DPP NL sponsors promising research projects and fellowships, fast exchange of data and stimulates international collaboration. Researchers from all countries are invited to submit a research project to DPP NL.
Duchenne Parent Project NL has invested over 20 million euro in research towards viable treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy over the last 20 years.
2024 Call for Grant Applications: The Future of Duchenne
The Dutch Duchenne Parent Project is pleased to announce that the 2024 call for grant applications is open.
Submission deadline: 1 July 2024
This international call is aimed at funding research projects and fellowships of young talented researchers. The intention is to develop the competencies of researchers at the beginning of their research career, to enable you to consolidate your individual research profile within the Duchenne field, or to help you explore new ideas. The overall mission of Duchenne Parent Project is hereby to contribute to securing the future excellence of the Duchenne research field.
Submission process
To apply, please download and complete the application form and the budget form. The forms should be submitted to research@duchenne.nl by the submission deadline. The application should be written in English language. Project applications selected by the board of the Duchenne Parent Project and the Scientific Advisory Board will undergo a thorough peer review process. The applications will be evaluated based on the novelty of the suggested research line together with the potential and the research vision of the applicant. The final decision will be made by the board based on the advice of the Scientific Advisory Board.
Amount: up to EUR 80,000-100,000 (excluding overhead and VAT expenses)
Submission deadline: 1 July 2024
Project duration: up to 2 years
Call outcome: end September 2024
Expected start of project: 1 January 2025
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the grant, applicants must be at the beginning of their research career, at the stage of transitioning towards independence and hold a position as PhD student, postdoc, research fellow, assistant professor or similar at an acknowledged research institution.
The grant is intended to finance researchers, who have either:
1. conducted research in Duchenne prior to application, or
2. done research in a related scientific field and want to switch to research in Duchenne.
The grant aims to give these young researchers the opportunity to strengthen and develop themselves as independent researchers within the Duchenne research field. Specifically, researchers are invited to submit an idea that will help them launch their own research line.
Applicants must have completed or be close to completing a PhD. Preference will be given to applications submitted by applicants within 7 years of receiving their PhD. As a PhD student, you can apply if you attach a declaration from your supervisor stating that your PhD will be submitted and defended within six months after the application deadline. If you are awarded this grant but fail to finalize your PhD within six months from the application deadline, the grant will be annulled.
Researchers from all countries are invited to apply.
Funding requirements
This call aims to stimulate a new generation of researchers within the Duchenne field. We would like to learn about the long-term research vision of the applicants, clarifying the direction their independent research is progressing and its future impact. Applicants are requested to state what is needed to achieve their research vision and how the proposed research can help them to work towards their vision. Applicants are encouraged to reflect on their commitment to the research vision by, for example, including their plans for further research, how they plan to expand their network, sharpen and develop their competencies, or increase their visibility in the Duchenne research field.
Duchenne Parent Project has a multi-track policy and funds the widest possible range of Duchenne research, including basic research, rehabilitation research, quality of life, psychosocial research, and genetic research. We sponsor promising and innovative research projects and fellowships, fast exchange of data and stimulate international collaboration.
Funded research projects should comply with the Grant Agreement. The conditions presented in the Agreement will not be changed.
Funded projects will be monitored closely, and grant recipients are required to submit a progress report and a final report. Based on the progress report, Duchenne Parent Project, with advice from the Scientific Advisory Board, will decide on the continuation of the grant.
Research data should be made findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR).The final results of the project should be published as soon as possible, in a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal, also in the case of ‘negative’ results.
In addition, we invite all funded applicants under this call to attend the International Duchenne Conference in Rome in 2026, in which connected to the program, a workshop will be organized on networking and career development theme.
For any inquiries regarding the call, please contact Michelle Reneerkens at research@duchenne.nl.
Fast track application
We give you the opportunity to apply for smaller projects through the fast track procedure. This includes applications for workshops as well. For grant conditions, click here. The maximum budget is € 25.000.
Applications are only accepted upon invitation.
Dr Imelda de Groot Award
The ‘Dr Imelda de Groot’ is an annual award and meant to stimulate persons to improve care for persons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Especially innovative projects are of interest. This award is an initiative of the foundation Duchenne Parent Project, The Netherlands.
Every professional involved in the care of persons with DMD can apply for the award. Support of the patients’ organization is advisable for the application.
Dr Imelda de Groot retired in April 2021 as a pediatric rehabilitation specialist at the Radboud University Medical Center. During her career she initiated innovative and relevant research projects in the field of Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy, such as ‘No use is disuse’ about exercise and physical activities, outcome measures and many other subjects. The goal of the award is to stimulate researchers and clinicians to develop activities in this field. Candidates for this award can be nominated by Duchenne (and Becker) patient organizations around to globe. The winner of the award, selected by a jury existing of experts including patients, will receive € 10.000 to be spend on this type of research.