Pragmatic clinical trials to optimise immunotherapeutic interventions for patients with refractory cancers

The call "Pragmatic Clinical Trials to Optimize Immunotherapeutic Interventions in Patients with Refractory Cancers" supports academically initiated, randomized, and pragmatic clinical trials at the EU level. The goal is to demonstrate the effectiveness, affordability, and patient-centeredness of new immunotherapies for refractory tumor diseases. Submitted projects must be led by multidisciplinary consortia linking academic research institutions from EU Member States or associated countries with stakeholders and health authorities. The maximum funding amount ranges between €7,000,000 and €8,000,000 with a funding rate of 100% over a project duration of 48 months. Eligible costs include personnel expenses, material costs, subcontractor services, travel expenses, and clinical trial costs; retrospective costs and real estate acquisitions are excluded. The submission deadline is 15.09.2026.

Evaluation criteria include excellence, impact on patient care and health systems, as well as the quality and efficiency of project implementation. Applying institutions – companies, educational institutions, and public bodies – must be part of a cross-border consortium and submit all required documents, such as project and dissemination plans as well as financial and curriculum vitae evidence. Patients with refractory cancers, medical professionals, policymakers, and research institutions will benefit from robust, real-world evidence data to inform the introduction of cost-effective immunotherapies. The funding thus supports knowledge transfer and evidence-based decisions in European health systems and makes a significant contribution to the "Cancer Fight" mission within Horizon Europe.