Call 1: Applications for this call should address how biological, social and environmental factors affect the trajectory of neurological, mental and sensory disorders across the lifespan.

Call 2: Applications for this call should address how biological, social and environmental factors affect the trajectory of neurodegenerative disorders across the lifespan.

Applications addressing risk factors that are shared between mental health, neurological, mental and sensory disorders on the one hand, and neurodegenerative disorders on the other are encouraged and should be submitted to the call that best suits their project.

Applicants should select either Call 1 or Call 2 for their proposal.

Please note that applying with the same proposal to both EP BrainHealth calls is not allowed.

Applications submitted under both calls must be interdisciplinary and include at least two of the three factor categories:

• Biological factors (e.g., genetics, epigenetics, -omics, neuroplasticity, inflammation, infection, synaptogenesis, circuits, vascular factors, sensory impairment, co-morbidities).
• Lifestyle and social factors (e.g., exercise/activity, nutrition, sleep, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, work, socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, sex and gender, education, safety, social interactions, access to healthcare, stress, trauma, migration).
• Environmental factors (e.g., pollution/contaminants, urbanicity, disasters, pandemics, war/conflicts, climate change, microbiota, nature).

In addition, proposals must investigate at least two of the following aspects:

• Mechanisms of action of the identified factors.
• Early recognition, diagnosis, and prognosis linked to these factors.
• Prevention, treatments, interventions, technological development, care, and support related to these factors.

Furthermore, the following aspects are important in the context of this call:

1. Applications should investigate how factors impact brain health trajectories along the life course.
2. Outcomes benefiting the quality of life of patients and their carers are of special importance and should be explicitly defined and stated.
3. Applications focusing on disability, gender, ethical, cultural and socio-economic aspects are encouraged.
4. Approaches such as integration of multimodal data, use of accessible wearable technologies (e.g. mobile devices), artificial intelligence/digital twins and drug repurposing are particularly welcome.

Applications focussing on cancers are excluded from both Calls.

Awarded projects will have a duration of up to 36 months. For applicants based in Ireland, Research Ireland will provide the following funding for projects:

• Up to a maximum of €330,000 direct costs* per project for Irish applicants as Partner on transnational proposals.
• Up to a maximum of €405,000 direct costs* per project for Irish applicants as Coordinator on transnational proposals.

*The maximum total award per project, including overhead contribution, will be €430,000, for a partner and €530,000 for applicants who take on the role of coordinator.

Only an academic partner or coordinator based in an eligible Irish Host Research body may apply for Research Ireland funding.

The Irish-based applicant requesting Research Ireland funding must:

• hold a PhD or equivalent qualification for at least 3 years by the pre-proposal deadline. The official date is defined as the day, month and year that the degree was conferred i.e., the month and year printed on the official PhD certificate.

AND

• be a member of the academic staff of an eligible Research Body (permanent or with an active contract that covers the period of the grant)

OR

• be a contract researcher with a contract that covers the period of the grant, who is recognised by the eligible Research Body as an independent investigator and will have an independent office and research space for which he/she will be fully responsible for at least the duration of the Research Ireland grant

OR

• be an individual who will be recognised by the eligible Research Body upon receipt of the grant as an academic staff or as a contract researcher as defined above. The applicant does not necessarily need to be employed by the Research Body at the time of the application submission.

AND

• be an author on at least three international peer-reviewed articles. Only original research publications, and not review articles or other secondary research literature, are acceptable.

Applicants must also meet the primary eligibility and consortium requirements of the relevant EP BrainHealth Call as defined in the Call Text: JTC 2026 Call 1 or JTC 2026 Call 2

In addition: 

• Research Ireland will only accept one application per applicant. 

All requested costs must be comprehensively justified. Please include detailed descriptions and cost itemisation in the proposal.

1. Salary-related costs for research personnel. Please use current Research Ireland Team Member Salary Scales. The Irish partner cannot request their own salary or buy-out.
2. Equipment costs up to a maximum value of €10K
3. Travel costs with consideration for Research Ireland’s Guidance for Sustainable Travel Policy  
4. Direct running costs (materials and consumables)
5. Dissemination and knowledge exchange costs    
6. Subcontracting costs may be considered an eligible budget category however strong justification for subcontracting must be provided and pre-approved directly with Research Ireland in advance of pre-proposal submission.

Unless otherwise stated, all rules regarding listed eligible costs apply as defined within Research Ireland’s grant budget policy. Please refer to this policy closely in the development of the budget request.

• Website: https://www.brainhealth-partnership.eu/
• Call 1 Website: https://www.brainhealth-partnership.eu/calls/jtc2026-neurological-mental-sensory-disorders/
• Call 2 Website: https://www.brainhealth-partnership.eu/calls/jtc2026-neurodegenerative-disorders/
• Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda for Brain Health: https://www.brainhealth-partnership.eu/news-events/news/sria-online-partnership-brainhealth/

• 8th January 2026: Publication of the call
• 10th March 2026 (13:00, local Irish time): Deadline for pre-proposal submission
• End of May 2026: Communication of the results of the pre-proposal assessment and invitation to the full-proposal stage
• 30th June 2026 (13:00, local Irish time): Deadline for full-proposal submission
• September 2026: Peer Review Panel meeting to assess the full proposals
• November 2026: Final funding decision and start of national administrative procedures
• Early – Mid 2027: Expected project start (according to regional/national funding regulations)

Please give a brief notification of your intent to submit a pre-proposal through email to eu-cofund@researchireland.ie before the submission deadline. Within the notification, please include the following information:

• Call (1 or 2)

• List of project partners

• Irish Host institution*

• Total budget request to Research Ireland

• Whether you intend to apply as a coordinating or non-coordinating partner

 *Please note it is also the responsibility of the applicant to notify the Research Office of their Host Institution of their intention to submit a pre-proposal.

The completed pre-proposal must be submitted directly on the EP BrainHealth submission platform.