Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)- Call for Multidisciplinary research into Epidemics and Pandemics in Response to the Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is issuing a call for a multidisciplinary funding initiative. Funding is available for projects addressing the prevention, early detection, containment and investigation of the causes, impacts and management of epidemics and pandemics, taking the example of SARS CoV-2 and other microorganisms and viruses that are pathogenic to humans. 

Subsidy: TBD 

Deadline: Letter of intent: 1 July 2020          Full proposal: 1 September 2020 

Consortium: single application or in consortium. Researchers based at universities, universities of applied sciences, non-university research institutions and healthcare facilities are equally eligible to submit proposals. Applicants should aim to cooperate with international researchers. 

Scope: The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is issuing a call for a multidisciplinary funding initiative. Funding is available for projects addressing the prevention, early detection, containment and investigation of the causes, impacts and management of epidemics and pandemics, taking the example of SARS-CoV-2 and other microorganisms and viruses that are pathogenic to humans. This includes for example, the investigation of: 

• the challenges and effects of an epidemic or pandemic and of measures taken for healthcare systems; 
• psychological, social and cultural factors in the emergence, spread and treatment of epidemics and pandemics and the legal and ethical implications; 
• the impacts on global and regional economic development, production and value creation chains, logistics, transport and communication; 
• fundamental biological and medical aspects of a pathogen and the associated symptoms, as well as therapeutic methods or preventive measures in combination with one or more of the above topic areas. 

The call is primarily aimed at multidisciplinary research projects. Proposals will also be considered for projects designed to gather and record basic data on the current epidemic and current countermeasures, which can serve as the basis for future retrospective analyses. Projects involving the simulation of the spread and consequences of pandemics and the effectiveness of interventions may also be submitted.