KBF - Joint call for research on cystic fibrosis 2025-2026

Research

What?

The Fund Alphonse and Jean Forton has been created to support research on cystic fibrosis (CF) and related diseases in Belgium. It is managed by the King Baudouin Foundation with the help of a Steering Committee.
The Belgian Cystic Fibrosis Association is the patient organisation of and for people with cystic fibrosis and their families in Belgium.
The Fund Alphonse and Jean Forton & the Belgian Cystic Fibrosis Association are launching a fourth joint call for research projects on Cystic Fibrosis.

It is essential that research outcomes not only advance scientific knowledge but also contribute to closing medical-therapeutic gaps and improving the quality of life of people with CF and their family members. This means that the criteria of scientific excellence and addressing unmet needs are given equal importance and must go hand in hand. Therefore, this fourth joint call for proposals is based on the 10 research priorities identified in 2022 by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust*. *https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk/research/your-cf-research-priorities

Projects may involve fundamental, translational, clinical, or psychosocial research.

Budget: 100.000 EUR - 300.000 EUR per project

Who?

The call is open to researchers or research teams within universities or research centres (including universities of applied sciences) in Belgium. Multi-centre research is encouraged (i.e. with proof of collaboration between researchers from different disciplines and centres regarding the content of the research, inclusion of patients and logistic cooperation).
Collaboration with international research teams is possible, but there must be a strong and evident Belgian contribution, i.e. realization of a well-developed work package by an autonomously functioning Belgian team.

Application?

Pre-proposal: all candidates can submit a pre-proposal in English online by 13 November 2025 at the latest via the website of the King Baudouin Foundation.
26 November 2025: feedback to candidates and invitation full proposal

Full proposal: preselected candidates will be invited to submit a full proposal in English online by 22 January 2026 at the latest via the website of the King Baudouin Foundation.

Assessment full proposals & shortlisting: the full proposals will be evaluated by international expert referees and an independent jury composed by experts from different domains.

In person presentation: shortlisted applicants will be invited for an in-person presentation of their project to the jury members on 18 June 2026. At the beginning of May 2026, they will receive the questions and comments from the referees and jury members to help them prepare for this presentation.

Final selection: following a deliberative discussion, the jury will submit a final selection proposal to the Steering Committee of the Fund Alphonse and Jean Forton and to the board of Muco.be, who will make the final decision by the end of June at the latest.

More information?

You can find more information on the website of the King Baudouin Foundation. And in the regulations.

Please always contact research@uhasselt.be if you want to apply.

Deadline intern

06.11.2025, 13.11.2025

Contact Hasselt University?

E-mail sarah.szyr@uhasselt.be

Tel. +3211269052