The Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research (NEURON) aims at coordinating and optimising research efforts and funding programmes of its partner countries/regions in the field of mental, neurological and sensory disorders.

Aim and Scope

The newly launched call aims to facilitate multinational, collaborative research projects that will address critical translational and clinical questions using interdisciplinary approaches to better understand the neuroscience of pain. Proposals should also demonstrate their potential to improve the lives of the people affected.

The present call is aimed at funding preclinical and clinical research up to proof-of-concept clinical studies addressing the neuroscience of pain. Research areas may cover a broad range of aspects such as biomarkers; clinical phenotyping; intra- and inter-individual differences; the role of neuroplasticity and plasticity in the nociceptive system; neuroinflammation, sensitisation and persistence; genetic, epigenetic and molecular mechanisms (neuronal and non-neuronal) as well as the psychological impact of chronic pain and its management.

The development of (multimodal) preventive, diagnostic and/or therapeutic approaches based on pathophysiological mechanisms are within the scope of the call. Pharmacological studies and technological developments, including the integration of artificial intelligence, are also included. Research on headaches, including migraines or cluster headaches, is within the scope of the call if the research proposal clearly considers cross-cutting, transdisciplinary and transdiagnostic aspects applicable to other chronic pain syndromes.

Research proposals that focus solely on acute pain, without establishing a connection to chronic pain, are outside the scope of this call. Applicants should clearly state how their projects will contribute to alleviating chronic pain for patients in clinical practice.

The ERA-NET NEURON funding organisations are particularly interested in promoting multidisciplinary work and translational research proposals that combine basic and clinical approaches. The involvement of clinical research groups is strongly encouraged.