Third funding round of the Humane Measurement Models research program begins!

The third funding round of the Humane Measurement Models research program has kicked off. This means that researchers with promising humane measurement models they wish to further develop can apply for funding. Grants of up to one million euros are available for research projects with a duration of two to four years.

Within the Humane Measurement Models research program, the Dutch Collaborative Health Funds (SGF), ZonMw and the Top Sector Life Sciences & Health (Health~Holland) are funding public-private partnerships focused on research models based on human cells and data. In this third funding round, researchers with promising humane measurement models who want to further develop them are being called. A total of €5.4 million is available. Proefdiervrij is co-funding with €50,000.

Why humane measurement models are important

Humane measurement models are research models that take humans as the starting point, such as cells on a chip or computer models using human data. By replacing laboratory animals with humane measurement models, we not only put an end to animal suffering but also work towards research results that better represent patients’ situations. In other words, research results obtained with humane models are more easily translatable to patients, allowing these results to be used sooner to better treat patients.

Who this grant call is for

This grant call is open to researchers who have developed a promising measurement model based on human cells or data and wish to further develop it. You can apply if your consortium consists of:

• At least two research institutes, one of which is the main applicant
• Collaborative partners or co-applicants, including at least one for-profit enterprise

You can find the detailed conditions on this page.

Successful research from previous rounds

In the previous two funding rounds of Humane Measurement Models, a total of 13 projects were funded. These public-private partnership projects received more than 9 million euros in total. In the second round, we co-funded three fantastic projects with €150,000 from Proefdiervrij, which are still ongoing:

• Eye-on-a-Chip: In this research, an eye-on-a-chip capable of perceiving light is being developed based on human cells. The chip can be used to better understand eye diseases—such as hereditary retinal disorders—and to test potential treatments.
• 3D brain organoids with blood-brain barrier: Currently, the blood-brain barrier often prevents life-saving medications for brain diseases from reaching their target. In this project, mini 3D brains grown in a culture dish are connected with a blood-brain barrier to form a system resembling the human brain, enabling the testing of new drugs for incurable neurological disorders.
• A virtual model of human brain blood vessels: This project involves creating a realistic computer model of the small blood vessels in the human brain. This model can optimize the use of MRI to better visualize the severity of brain diseases associated with impaired functioning of small blood vessels in the brain (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s).

More information and registration

The application and all required attachments must be submitted by October 4. You can find all necessary forms and more practical information about applying on the official grant call page.