45 new research projects to improve clinical practice close to patients

How can we develop treatments that work for people in the real world? That question is at the heart of the thematic funds from Independent Research Fund Denmark, which have just been awarded: DKK 228.8 million to 45 groundbreaking research projects aimed at benefitting patients and their families.

 Read about one of the new projects here: “New contraceptives spark demand for knowledge on long-term health risks.”

“It is crucial that research is rooted in clinical practice and that clinicians are given the opportunity to pursue their own ideas and questions. With this instrument, we are strengthening the independent research environments that work to improve care and treatment close to citizens. We have seen very high quality in the projects – both within established and emerging research fields,” says Professor Kaare Christensen, Chair of the Thematic Committee.

Broad scope: From stroke fatigue to asthma and coma consciousness

The theme covers a wide range of clinical issues, with projects addressing fatigue following stroke, consciousness in patients in coma, and asthma in children. Several projects are interdisciplinary and combine clinical practice with societal perspectives and patient involvement.

Many of the selected projects fall within the prioritised themes defined in the political agreement behind the Danish Research Reserve, including:

  • Prevention and the effectiveness of standard treatments. One project team will examine how AI is used in daily clinical routines and how it can best benefit both clinicians and patients.
  • Citizen-centred healthcare and patient involvement; One project explores the development of stress and treatment effects across municipalities and regions, with potential for both prevention and better care.
  • Women’s health: One project investigates how treatment for endometriosis affects risks of depression, fertility, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Another focuses on egg donation – a relatively unexplored research area.
  • Contraception: One project examines the neurological and chemical effects of hormonal intrauterine devices.
  • Health inequality: A research team will explore how information about genetic disease risks influences individual decisions and life courses – and how the healthcare system might reduce social inequality in prevention and treatment.
  • Dementia: One project aims to develop a practical method for making joint, ethically sound decisions in care across cultures, values, and professions. The initiative also seeks to reduce moral stress and uncertainty among caregivers of people with dementia.

…and many more. Explore all 45 selected projects here.

Two additional pools: Fertility and substance use. In addition to the thematic funding for clinical research, the fund has also awarded two special pools: Fertility: A project will investigate the factors affecting fertility in Denmark to support those wishing to have children and ensure that future health policies are built on solid evidence. Substance use and opioid treatment: Two project teams will focus on (1) prevention and harm reduction in alcohol abuse and (2) substitution treatment for opioid addiction among young people.

Please note that grant amounts and the number of grants may be subject to adjustment following the administrative review.

 

Facts about the theme

Independent Research Fund Denmark received a total of 325 applications for this call. Grants were awarded to 45 projects, resulting in a success rate of 14% based on the number of applications.

This theme is one of twelve politically prioritised themes to which the fund will allocate funding in 2025.

Since 2018, Independent Research Fund Denmark has awarded grants under politically prioritised thematic calls, financed through annual political agreements on the allocation of the Danish Research Reserve.

The thematic instruments are open to applications from all scientific disciplines that can contribute relevant knowledge to the theme. Thematic research – as politically prioritised – serves as a supplement to the fund’s free and independent research funding based on researchers’ own curiosity-driven ideas.