Key Projects

New Approaches towards Research, Diagnosis and Therapy: funding programme to enable scientists’ research projects in the field of medicine that promise a breakthrough in the sense of developing a new therapeutical approach or the revision of generally accepted textbook knowledge.
Research at Internal Medicine II Clinic, Uniklinik Freiburg

An overview of the projects funded from the funding line "Key Projects" can be found here.

Applications can be submitted at any time.

The Foundation’s aim with this funding measure is to find projects that have the potential to lead to fundamental discoveries that are groundbreaking for an entire field of research. This could be, for example:

  • evidence of a causal connection that was previously lacking
  • testing of a previously non-existent or unworkable hypothesis
  • questioning of a previously generally accepted theory
  • a “proof of principle” or a “first-in-man” examination of an innovative intervention approach,
  • a clinical trial that has the potential to significantly transform guidelines (with the exception of phase III pharmaceutical trials)
  • answering a new, fundamental question in an already established cohort

It is in the nature of going beyond the boundaries of previous limits of knowledge that such key projects can often not be assigned to any particular field or any thematically defined call for applications.

Anne Asschenfeldt
Anne Asschenfeldt
Scientific Funding: Ongoing Project Funding and Fellowships

Addressees Eligible to Apply
Applications can be made by scientists who have gained international recognition in their area of research and who have had outstanding publications in relevant fields. The applicants should provide convincing evidence that their work group is particularly suited – also in the competitive international context – to solving the problem at hand through the interplay between expertise, preparatory work or even infrastructure.

Both human and material resources may be applied for as necessary and scientifically justified for implementation of the planned project. The funds shall be allocated in a two-stage procedure. Prior to the time-consuming formulation of a full application, a draft proposal should be submitted first. The topicality and potential of the project idea as a key project shall be evaluated based on this draft.

Project managers of an EKFS funding project that is currently ongoing shall only be eligible to make a new application after completion and publication of the results of that project.

Submitting the Paper of the Month:
We invite all project managers, fellowship recipients and members of graduate study programs to submit their publications that have emerged from funding as Paper of the Month. You can find more information here. You can find an overview of the Paper of the Month here. 

Downloads

Funding of Groundbreaking Key Projects
for the preparation of outlines towards application for a key project
Template
Declaration of consent of Applicant(s) for storage of data [PDF]
Terms and Conditionspdf / 138.15 KB
of Approval (in German)
Progress Reportdocx / 32.66 KB
Template

Overview of key projects:

2023

PROTamine Application in patients underGOing tRAnScatheter aortic valve replacement (PROTAGORAS) $ Daniel Braun, LMU München

Key Project: "PROTamine Application in patients underGOing tRAnScatheter aortic valve replacement (PROTAGORAS)"

Entstehung von hämatologischen Neoplasien und kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen auf dem Boden der klonalen Hämatopoese: Gemeinsamkeiten und Besonderheiten $ Frederik Damm, Universitätsmedizin Berlin Charité

A brief description can be found here.

Glutaminyl cyclase as novel target for Parkinson’s disease therapy – Genetic and pharmacologic proof-of-principle $ Steffen Roßner, Franziska Richter Assencio, Leipzig University, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

A brief description can be found here.

Kombinationstherapie von Natürlichen Killerzellen mit dem tri-spezifischen Antikörper- Derivat 33-16-123 (KT-1) zur Behandlung der Akuten Myeloischen Leukämie $ Evelyn Ullrich, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt

Key Project: "Kombinationstherapie von Natürlichen Killerzellen mit dem tri-spezifischen Antikörper- Derivat 33-16-123 (KT-1) zur Behandlung der Akuten Myeloischen Leukämie"
 

The soluble HLA immunopeptidome as active modulator and biomarker for T cell immunity in malignant disease $ Juliane Walz, University Hospital Tübingen

A brief description can be found here.

The Neurodevelopmental Origin of Movement Disorders – a Precision Genomic Medicine Approach $ Michael Zech, Technical University of Munich, Helmholtz Center Munich

A brief description can be found here.

2022

Differentiation of IGF-I deficiency-related sarcopenia in geriatric patients by endocrinological functional testing: $ Michael Drey, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Universitätsklinikum München (LMU)

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

Pre-clinical evaluation of kidney engineering to prevent organ rejection in a large animal model: $ Constanca Figueiredo, Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School

Pre-clinical evaluation of kidney engineering to prevent organ rejection in a large animal model

Whole-body Electromyostimulation for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis (EMSOAT) in Overweight People - a Randomized Controlled Trial: $ Wolfgang Kemmler, Institute of Radiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

 

 

 

Refined locoregional genome editing to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy: $ Christian Kupatt, I. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Technische Universität München

Refined locoregional genome editing to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

SPLASH Studie Sterotactic Cisternal Lavage Therapy in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ... $ Roland Roelz, Neurologie, Neurochirurgie Universitätsklinikum Freiburg

SPLASH Studie "Sterotactic Cisternal Lavage Therapy in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage with Urokinase and Nimodipine for the Prevention of Secondary Brain Injury. A Randomized Controlled Trial"

Stellenwert der katheterbasierten Ablationsbehandlung von Vorhofflimmern bei Patienten mit terminaler Herzinsuffizienz vor oder während Listung zur Herztransplantation: $ Christian Sohns u.a., Universitätsklinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Stellenwert der katheterbasierten Ablationsbehandlung von Vorhofflimmern als mortalitäts- und morbiditätssenkende Therapie bei Patientinnen und Patienten mit terminaler Herzinsuffizienz vor oder während Listung zur Herztransplantation
Hauptantragstellende: Prof. Dr. Christian Sohns, Prof. Dr. Philipp Sommer, Dr. Vanessa Sciacca

Eine Kurzbeschreibung finden Sie auf unserer Website im Menü aktuelle Förderungen.

In vivo Evaluierung von Baseneditoren zur Behandlung von dilatativer Kardiomyopathie mittels Einzelzellanalyse: $ Lars Steinmetz, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)

Eine Kurzbeschreibung finden Sie auf unserer Website im Menü aktuelle Förderungen.

A deadly liaison between proteins and RNA – how partners become enemies: $ Martin Vabulas, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin

A deadly liaison between proteins and RNA – how partners become enemies

Defining proteostasis differences between immortal pluripotent stem cells and their neuronal counterparts to ameliorate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: $ David Vilchez, CECAD Forschungszentrum, Universität Köln

Defining proteostasis differences between immortal pluripotent stem cells and their neuronal counterparts to ameliorate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

 

OptoCilia - Targeting ciliary signaling in the development of polycystic kidney disease: $ Dagmar Wachten, Institute of Innate Immunity, Biophysical Imaging, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

An adjustable MLL-ENL derived transcription factor for in vitro manufacturing and in vivo application of human phagocytes $ Christian Wichmann, Philipp Greif $ Klinik für Anaesthesiologie, Abteilung für Transfusionsmedizin, LMU Klinikum

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

Personalised immunotherapy of cholangiocarcinoma targeting fusion-specific neoepitopes: $ Thomas Wirth, Anna Saborowski, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

Personalised immunotherapy of cholangiocarcinoma targeting fusion-specific neoepitopes

2021

Study of biliary microbiome in liver transplantation (SMILE): $ Joachim Andrassy, Klinikum der Universität München

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.
 

From phenomena to theory-guided mechanisms: changing perspectives on ADHD: $ Christian Beste, TU Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

PROJECT DATA CHIKAmark – Biomarkers for severe Chikungunya virus infections: $ Jan Felix Drexler, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

Examination of the immune response before/after COVID-19 disease or SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in dialysis patients, organ transplant recipients and medical personnel: $ Christian Hugo, TU Dresden University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

Identifying novel gene regulatory functions of glucocorticoids: $ Henriette Uhlenhaut, Helmholtz Zentrum München

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

 

2020

The impact of peripheral inflammation on the human brain’s immune response and its role in Alzheimer’s disease: $ Jonas Neher, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) e.V. and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

Omission of sentinel lymph node biopsy in triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer patients with radiologic and pathologic complete response in the breast after neoadjuvant systemic therapy: $ Toralf Reimer, University Hospital Rostock

Key project: "Omission of sentinel lymph node biopsy in triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer patients with radiologic and pathologic complete response in the breast after neoadjuvant systemic therapy: a single-arm, prospective surgical trial (EUBREASR-01 trial)" (2020)

Here you can get further information.

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

Role of the blood-derived coagulation factor Fibrinogen on Fibrotic Scaring in CNS disease: $ Christian Schachtrup, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

Here you can get further information.

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

Monogenic CD33 deficiency as cause of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: $ Daniel Kotlarz, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Key project: "Monogenic CD33 deficiency as cause of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease – A model to explore mechanisms and therapeutic targets for inflammatory and hematological disorders" (2021)

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

DNA damage response by caspase-activated DNAse (CAD): a physiological process with pathophysiological potential? $ Georg Häcker, Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

Effects of adaptive servoventilation on ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure patients with either obstructive or central sleep apnea – a substudy of the ADVENT-HF trial: $ Michael Arzt, University Hospital Regensburg

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

2019

Monitoring von Therapieeffekten und Nachweis minimaler Resterkrankung (MRD) bei der akuten myeloischen Leukämie (AML) des Erwachsenen mit DNMT3A Mutation im Rahmen innovativer Studienkonzepte der AMLSG: $ Verena Gaidzik, Universitätsklinikum Ulm

Key project: "Monitoring von Therapieeffekten und Nachweis minimaler Resterkrankung (MRD) bei der akuten myeloischen Leukämie (AML) des Erwachsenen mit DNMT3A Mutation im Rahmen innovativer Studienkonzepte der AMLSG (AMLSG 09-09, AMLSG 12-09 und ALMSG 16-10)" (2019)

Role of hepatic IL-1R1 in inflammatory hepatocarcinogenesis: $ Nadine Gehrke, Universitätsmedizin Mainz

Here you can get further information.

A brief description can be found on our website in the menu Currently Funded Projects.

Inducing blood stage immunity by repeated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite infection: $ Peter Kremsner, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen

Key project: "Inducing blood stage immunity by repeated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite infection" (2019)