Promoting cross-disease research
The DZG Innovation Fund (DZGIF) is a joint research funding programme of the German Centers for Health Research (DZG). There is an agreed research topic for each call for proposals. The prerequisite for the funding of a project is the participation of scientists from at least three of the DZG.
The aim of the DZGIF is to strengthen networking between its members, facilitate joint research and thus create interdisciplinary synergies between the DZGs.
By founding the DZGIF, the centers are pooling their expertise in order to facilitate and fund promising, cross-disease research ideas. In this way, the German Centers for Health Research aim to advance knowledge on the prevention and treatment of common diseases.
Inter-Organ-Metabolomics | Call for proposals 2025/2026
Scientists from the DZG can apply for the years 2025/2026 with joint research projects on the topic of "Inter-Organ Metabolomics".
Deadlines & Dates
15 May 2024: Expression of Interest by email to office(at)deutschezentren.de. Please use the template provided.
14 June 2024: On this day, a partner day will take place online, bringing together all interested DZG scientists.
Download Call 2025/2026 (PDF)
Download Expression of Interest (PDF)
Past calls
Microbiome | Call for proposals 2023/2024
The topic of the microbiome was selected for the 2nd call for proposals. A total of eight applications were submitted, which were assessed by a panel of experts consisting of SAB members of the DZG. Due to the outstanding evaluation, two projects were selected for funding:
Project 1:
Understanding the role of the gut microbiome as a mediator of organ protection by SGLT-2 inhibitors
Involved in the project are:
- DZD: Reiner Jumpertz-von Schwartzenberg (University of Tübingen), Tim Schulz and Francisco Garcia (DIfE Potsdam)
- DZHK: Dominik Müller and Nicola Wilck (MDC Berlin), Norbert Frey (UK Heidelberg)
- DZIF: Till Strowig (HZI Braunschweig), Christoph Stein-Thoeringer and Lisa Maier (University of Tübingen)
- DKTK: Mathias Heikenwälder (DKFZ Heidelberg), Michael Sigal (Charité Berlin)
- DZL: Katherina Sewald and Valerie Beneke (Fraunhofer ITEM, Hanover)
Project 2:
The gut microbiome as a functional modifier of myelopoiesis and inflammatory vascular endothelial phenotypes in cardiometabolic disease
Involved in the project are:
- DZD: Triantafyllos Chavakis (UK Dresden)
- DZHK: Christoph Reinhardt, Klytaimistra Kiouptsi, Carsten Deppermann, Wolfram Ruf and Andreas Daiber (University of Mainz), Arash Haghikia (Charité Berlin)
- DKTK: Daniela Krause (UK Frankfurt)
Cell and gene therapy | Call for proposals 2022/2023
The topic of the first call for proposals was cell and gene therapy. Researchers from five of the six DZGs joined forces and submitted a successful proposal:
Cell type-specific targeting for future in vivo delivery in cell & gene therapy
Involved in the project are:
- DKTK: Annette Künkele (Charité Berlin), Angela Krackhardt (TU Munich)
- DZD: Gerhard Przemeck, Heiko Lickert (Helmholtz Centre Munich)
- DZHK: Alessandra Moretti (TU Munich), Johannes Backs (Heidelberg University), Oliver J. Müller (Kiel University)
- DZIF: Tobias Feuchtinger (LMU Munich), Boris Fehse (UKE Hamburg)
- DZL: Nico Lachmann (MHH Hannover), Soni Savai Pullamsetti (JLU Giessen)
press release: Overcoming professional boundaries - DZG fund joint project on gene and cell therapy (20/03/2023)