Grant

Improve the Quality of Life of older cancer patients

EU-wide call for proposals to develop and test innovative, age-sensitive care approaches and tools for cancer patients aged 65+ to improve their quality of life. Submission deadline: 15.09.2026.

Health & Social Science

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Grant criteria

Application Deadline:
10.02. - 15.09.2026
Application level: Complex
Region: EU
Funding amount: €5,000,000 – €6,000,000
Funding rate: 100%

Funding objective

The goal is the in-depth investigation of the care needs of older cancer patients (aged 65 and above) and the development, testing, and scaling of innovative, holistic treatment and follow-up approaches, including pragmatic clinical trials, to reduce comorbidities, frailty, and impairments and to improve quality of life.

Eligible expenses

  • Personnel expenses
  • Material costs
  • Travel expenses
  • Clinical study
  • Data collection and management

Non-eligible expenses

  • Acquisition of real estate
  • Retroactive costs
  • Debt settlement

Eligible to apply

  • Public Institutions
  • Educational Institutions
  • Companies
  • Non-profit Organizations

Funding requirements

  • Led by at least three connected partners from different EU Member States or associated countries
  • Coordinator with demonstrated administrative and financial capacity
  • Multidisciplinary consortium with direct involvement of patient representatives

Documents required for application

  1. Project description
  2. Financing plan
  3. CV of key personnel
  4. Horizon Europe application template
  5. Cover letter for ethics submission

Evaluation criteria

  • Innovative content of the project
  • Expected impact on care and quality of life
  • Implementation capacity of the consortium

Description

The European funding initiative aims to develop and test innovative and age-sensitive care approaches for cancer patients aged 65 and over. Within the framework of this EU-wide call, public institutions, educational establishments, companies, and non-profit organizations can apply for a fully funded grant of €5–6 million. A multidisciplinary consortium of at least three partners from different EU member states or associated countries – including the direct involvement of patient representatives – is to jointly develop novel treatment and follow-up care strategies. The goal is to reduce comorbidities, frailty, and functional impairments through pragmatic clinical studies, improve mental and social health, and sustainably enhance the quality of life of older cancer patients. Required submissions include, among others, a project description, a financing plan, CVs of key personnel, and an ethics application; the deadline is 15 September 2026.

Funding covers personnel and material costs, travel expenses, clinical studies, as well as data collection and management. Real estate acquisitions, retrospective costs, and debt settlements are not eligible for funding. Submissions are made electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; the evaluation process includes a formal check, peer review by independent experts, and a final legal and financial assessment. Evaluation criteria are the degree of innovation, expected impact on care and quality of life, and the consortium’s implementation capacity. Successful projects will be invited to network within the EU Cancer Mission’s “Quality of Life” cluster to exchange best practices and foster synergies. This call offers the opportunity to transfer standardized, age-sensitive concepts into routine care across Europe, thereby making a significant contribution to the “Cancer Fight” mission.

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