VolkswagenStiftung
Rethinking neurodegeneration: new funding offer
Why does neurodegeneration research need new impetus - and how can interdisciplinarity help to achieve a breakthrough? Our Program Directors Dr Theresa Kratzsch and Dr Franziska Rönicke explain the vision behind the new 'NEXT – Rethink Neurodegeneration!' call.
With 'NEXT – Rethink Neurodegeneration!', the foundation is funding interdisciplinary research that challenges conventional ways of thinking and dares to take new approaches in basic research into dementia-related neurodegeneration. The focus is on high-risk, explorative projects that deliberately leave conventional paths. The aim is to prepare the ground for future breakthroughs in prevention and therapy. The two responsible funding officers report on the aim and target groups of the call and what they value in the applications.
The new call ‘NEXT - Rethink Neurodegeneration!’ is now being launched - the deadline for applications is 28 August 2025. Who exactly is it aimed at?
Franziska Rönicke: Our main focus is on those natural and life sciences that carry out basic research into dementia-related neurodegeneration. This includes molecular biology and genetics, among others. And we attach great importance to interdisciplinarity, for example with researchers in the area of computer science. This is because we believe that interdisciplinary approaches could make it possible to get to the bottom of the mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases more quickly.
Theresa Kartzsch: The call for proposals runs under the 'NEXT' funding framework in which we typically address topics of high future relevance that harbour real potential for significant progress. Neurodegeneration has of course been researched for a long time and there have been many smaller advances, but the really big breakthrough has yet to materialise. We therefore believe it is necessary to look at the topic from a new perspective and want to generate a boost in this direction.
What do you have in mind?
Theresa Kartzsch: We want to better understand the heterogeneity of neurodegenerative diseases that cause dementia, such as Alzheimer's or frontotemporal dementia. But also, the influencing factors – for example, from genetic influences and the environment. And last but not least, the mechanisms of resistance: What prevents people from developing dementia-related neurodegeneration? But in principle, the call is open to all approaches that are unconventional and new.
Franziska Rönicke: However, our focus is explicitly not on clinical studies or approaches directed at drug discovery. We don't yet want to go into matters around actual application. On the contrary, we want to start at the very beginning and open up the possibility of completely rethinking the fundamentals of previous research approaches. But the research results may certainly be used for future therapeutic strategies or new targets for therapeutic options.
In this area of research, animal testing is a recurring topic of debate. In principle, the Foundation also supports projects that involve animal experiments. What is the situation in the context of this call for proposals?
Theresa Kartzsch: In principle, we also support projects that use animal testing. Unfortunately, we still need animal experiments for important questions in basic research. However, we are of course in favour of replacing animal testing with non-animal-based methods wherever possible. And we are also prepared to bear the additional costs incurred as part of the funding.
Franziska Rönicke: The complexity of neurodegeneration in particular brings us up against the limits of non-animal-based models. In brain research, for example, so-called organoids are used intensively because they can answer certain research questions very well. For other questions, in particular the interaction of the nervous system with the immune system, the entire organism has to be examined, which means that animal experiments are often necessary
Experiments with animals – statement
Why the Volkswagen Foundation also funds projects involving experiments with animals.
What is particularly important when submitting an application?
Theresa Kartzsch: The important thing is that it is a two-stage process: In the first step, a short proposal of three to four pages is sufficient and is reviewed anonymously. This is about the idea and how it fits in with the call. The short proposal should clearly state where the new perspective on the research field lies and in which way it departs from prevailing approaches. We welcome proposals in the spirit of 'high risk, high reward'. Only in the event that the short proposal has been favourably reviewed will we invite full proposals in the second step. In addition, applicants must then present their project to a review panel. The entire process will take just over a year from the closing date for submission of proposals in August until approval.
Franziska Rönicke: In organisational terms, the research team should consist of two to five people from postdoc level upwards. We wish to support collaborations between early career researchers and established professors. The impetus we are now providing with our funding should be firmly anchored in the next generation of researchers. It is often particularly difficult for early career researchers to move 'off the beaten track' and thus also to acquire funding. With this new call, we want to provide a counterbalance.