Development of novel vaccines for viral pathogens with epidemic potential
Topic ID: HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-04
General information
Programme: Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Call: Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2026) (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01) Type of action: HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions Type of MGA: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] Status: Closed Deadline model: Single-stage Opening date: 10 February 2026 Deadline date: 16 April 2026 17:00:00 Brussels time
Topic description
Expected Outcome
This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:
- The scientific and clinical communities have a better understanding of and access to experimental vaccines for the prevention and treatment of emerging or re-emerging viral infections, as well as for further clinical investigation, including better understanding of biological sex and social determinants that influence immune response, vaccine efficacy, safety, and uptake.
- Candidate vaccines are available for emerging and re-emerging viral infections, increasing therapeutic options for clinical deployment in case of an epidemic or pandemic.
Scope
Infectious diseases remain a major threat to health and health security in the EU and globally. Viral disease emergence is already being accelerated by climate change, and thus a proactive approach to the development of vaccine-based antiviral prophylactics and therapeutics in preparedness for future infectious disease outbreaks is needed. The availability of vaccines that can be adjusted to variants would provide a critical preparedness measure against future health threats, due to infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.
This topic contributes to strengthening the Research and Innovation ecosystem within the EU and supports the implementation of the European Medical Countermeasures Strategy.
Applicants should explicitly state in their proposal which of the following viruses is targeted and the proposed work should address only this specific virus. The proposed work should aim to advance the development of existing prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine candidates targeting exclusively one of the following viruses:
- Junin mammarenavirus
- Lassa mammarenavirus
- Andes virus
- Hantaan virus
- Sin Nombre virus
- Hendra virus
- Enterovirus D68
- Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus
Proposals should thus aim to diversify and accelerate the global prophylactic and therapeutic research and development portfolio for emerging and re-emerging viral infections, and to strengthen the leading role of the EU in prophylactic and therapeutic research and development.
Proposals should address all the following research areas:
- If necessary, finalisation of the in-vitro characterisation of existing vaccine candidates with regard to target specificity, epitope recognised, and their ability to impair or inactivate viral functions.
- In-vivo tests in at least one animal model or, if available in humanised immune system animal models, to demonstrate the protective function of the vaccine candidates deemed sufficient for moving to first clinical trials.
- If requested by regulators as pre-requisite for clinical studies, in-vivo tests in a non-human primate model.
- Production of batches of the most promising vaccine candidates according to the Good Manufacturing Practices [GMP].
- First in human clinical safety studies demonstrating a clear regulatory pathway for market authorisation. Attention should be paid to critical biological and social factors such as sex, age, ethnicity and disability.
Participation of third countries where viruses addressed in the proposal are endemic or where outbreaks have occurred or are ongoing is encouraged.
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) may contribute to the proposals selected for funding with work on strategic technologies for economic security and innovative industrial ecosystems, particularly activities on innovation in vitro biotechnologies.
The participation of start-ups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is encouraged with the aim of strengthening their scientific and technological foundations, enhancing their innovation potential, and exploring possibilities for commercial exploitation.
All projects funded under this topic are expected to engage with regulatory bodies in a timely manner to ensure adequacy of the actions from a regulatory point of view.
Proposals should advance research by leveraging already existing and emerging state-of-the-art research infrastructures such as those having contributed to the services developed under the ISIDORe project.
Applicants should provide details of their clinical studies in the dedicated annex using the template provided in the submission system. As proposals under this topic are expected to include clinical studies, the use of the template is strongly encouraged.
[1] https://health.ec.europa.eu/health-emergency-preparedness-and-response-hera/preparedness/medical-countermeasures-strategy_en [2] https://health.ec.europa.eu/medicinal-products/eudralex/eudralex-volume-4_en [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32003H0361 [4] https://ri-portfolio.esfri.eu [5] https://isidore-project.eu
Topic updates
25 August 2026 We recently informed the applicants about the evaluation results for their proposals. The results of the evaluation for this topic are as follows:
- Number of proposals submitted (including proposals transferred from or to other calls): 27
- Number of inadmissible proposals: 1
- Number of ineligible proposals: 0
- Number of above-threshold proposals: 13
- Total budget requested for above-threshold proposals: €136,082,641.75
- Number of proposals retained for funding: 4
- Number of proposals in the reserve list: 2
- Funding threshold: 13.50
- Number of proposals with scores lower or equal to 15 and higher or equal to 14: 5
- Number of proposals with scores lower than 14 and higher or equal to 13: 4
- Number of proposals with scores lower than 13 and higher or equal to 12: 4
Proposals with the same score were ranked according to the priority order procedure set out in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
For questions, please contact the Research Enquiry Service.
24 August 2026 Summary of observer report: Two independent observers were appointed by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) to follow the evaluation process. They observed the central evaluation between 2 June and 7 July 2026 and attended briefings for experts that took place in the month of May 2026.
29 April 2026 Call HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01 closed on 16 April 2026. 1003 proposals were submitted. The breakdown per topic is:
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-STAYHLTH-02: 74 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-STAYHLTH-03: 16 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-01: 119 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-04: 38 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-05: 3 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-02: 102 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-03: 103 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-04: 27 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-09: 84 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11: 89 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-15: 9 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-CARE-01: 9 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-CARE-03: 82 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-03: 204 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-05: 20 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-06: 1 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-07: 3 proposals
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-IND-03: 20 proposals
Evaluation results are expected to be communicated on Friday 7 August 2026 at the earliest.
12 February 2026 The submission session is now available for: HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-STAYHLTH-03, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-05, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-04, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-06, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-IND-03, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-03, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-01, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-03, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-CARE-01, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-15, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-02, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-05, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-07, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-STAYHLTH-02, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-09, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-CARE-03, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-04
11 February 2026 Please note that the call opening is delayed, as we are experiencing technical issues.
Topic destination
Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden (2026-27)
Topics under this destination are directed towards the Key Strategic Orientation 3 “A more resilient, competitive, inclusive, and democratic Europe” of Horizon Europe’s strategic plan 2025-2027.