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.

2025 Call for research incentive grant applications now open

Duchenne Parent Project the Netherlands is pleased to announce that the 2025 call for grant applications is open.

Submission deadline: 15 July 2025

We are pleased to announce the opening of applications for the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) Research Incentive Grant, designed to stimulate groundbreaking and innovative research in the field of DMD. This grant aims to support the development of novel collaborations that will set up a consortium to apply for a subsequent grant working. The collaboration can focus on diagnostic tools, therapies, medical devices, behavior and other scientific insights that contribute to improving the lives of individuals living with DMD.

The DMD Research Incentive Grant offers a maximum of 100,000 EUR to at least two researchers or research teams pursuing high-impact studies that align with our mission. This pre-seed subsidy should support a joint grant application of two or more researchers for the EC, national grants, NIH, or other joint grant opportunities. The grants can be spent freely, emphasizing the generation of sufficient background for the new grant proposal. The grants can, for example, be used to hire (new) scientific personnel, organize a number of consortium meetings, arrange networking events to set up new consortia or realize participation of industrial parties/companies for a joint grant application.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be based at recognized research institutions.
Applicants must be actively engaged in DMD-related research.
Proposals from both early-career researchers and established investigators are encouraged.
Collaborative proposals across disciplines are welcome.
Applicants must specify the future grant opportunity they wish to apply for.
Novel collaborations are highly encouraged.
A researcher is allowed to submit only one project as an applicant or team member. 
The budget could be divided between all applicants, in line with efforts.

Projects

Projects bring together at least two researchers or research teams with different expertise in the field of DMD (in the broadest sense).
Projects should be innovative and can include fundamental, applied or implementation science.
The focus of the project and the envisioned external grant application should be connected to Duchenne Parent Project’s mission and vision (see below).
The proposed external funding body is known, and accompanying application deadlines are within max. 18 months after the start of the project.

Submission process

To apply, please download and complete the application form and budget form. The forms should be submitted to research@duchenne.nl by July 15, 2025. 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 applicants. The board will make the final decision based on the advice of the Scientific Advisory Board.

Amount:  up to EUR 100,000 (VAT expenses not eligible, a maximum of 7% for overhead costs can be included in the budget if those costs can be directly related to the project)
Submission deadline: 15 July 2025, 11:59 PM (end of day)
Project duration: up to 18 months
Call outcome: mid to end-October 2025
Expected start of project: 1 January 2026

About Duchenne Parent Project’s funding

Duchenne Parent Project (DPP) has a multi-track policy and funds the widest possible range of Duchenne research. This includes basic research, rehabilitation research, quality of life, psychosocial research, and genetic research. We sponsor promising and innovative research projects and fellowships, facilitate the fast exchange of data, and stimulate international collaboration.

Our mission is to improve the lives of everyone affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, now and in the future. We believe that research into all aspects of DMD is essential to developing treatments that slow or stop muscle degeneration, improving care, and promoting participation in society. We are committed to ensure that every person with DMD can live a better, longer life through research, medical advancements, assistive technologies, and strong support systems.

The vision of DPP is to drive research, improve knowledge, increase awareness, and empower Duchenne families to take an active role in shaping their future. By working together with global experts and research institutions, we can accelerate solutions and create meaningful change.

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 (9 months after the start of the project) 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.

If pilot data is generated in this incentive grant, the researchers should aim to make the data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR). If pilot data is available, we encourage these results to be published as soon as possible in a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal, as well as in the case of ‘negative’ results.

For any inquiries regarding the call, please contact Minou Verhaeg 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.