The ERA-Net `Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research' (NEURON) was established to coordinate the research efforts and funding programmes of European countries, Israel and Canada in the field of disease related neuroscience. Under the umbrella of this initiative, the partners open a joint call for funding multilateral research projects in the field of neuroinflammation.

a. Objective: The aim of the call is to facilitate multi-national, collaborative research projects that will address important questions relating to neuroinflammation. The call will accept proposals ranging from understanding basic mechanisms of disease through proof-of-concept clinical studies in humans. These may include research on the role of inflammation in neurological or psychiatric disorders, or associated with traumatic brain injury, pathogen infection or toxicity in the nervous system.

The ERA-NET NEURON funding organisations particularly wish to promote multi-disciplinary work and to encourage translational research proposals that combine basic and clinical approaches.

b. Research areas: Research proposals should cover at least one of the following areas:

a) Fundamental research on the role of neuroinflammation on the pathogenesis and/or aetiology of neural diseases. This may include the development of innovative or shared resources and technologies.

b) Research to develop new strategies for diagnosis, therapy, and rehabilitation procedures for diseases in which neuroinflammation constitutes a relevant process of the pathology.

Research dealing primarily with cerebrovascular or neurodegenerative diseases, without specifically focusing on the neuroinflammation aspect, will not be not eligible for this call.

c. Project eligibility:

- There should be clear added value in funding the collaboration over the individual projects.

- Only transnational projects will be funded. Each proposal must involve from three to five research groups (PIs) applying for funding. Not more than two eligible research groups from the same partner country participating in the call will be accepted.

d. Application details (Spain): Managed by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO):

1. Eligibility criteria for institutions: According to the country specific requirements:

• Universities

• Public research institutions (including hospitals and public foundations)

• Private non-profit research institutions

2. Eligibility criteria for Principal Investigator (PI) and team members:

- Applicants must have experience as principal investigator (PI) in projects funded by the Plan Nacional I+D+i 2008-2011.

- It is not allowed to overlap with other ERA-NET related funding (ERA-NET running projects), neither to apply for funding in more than one proposal.

In any case, MINECO will avoid double funding and will not finance projects or parts of projects that have been funded through other national or EU calls.

3. Funding scheme: Projects may be funded for a period of up to three years with a maximum funding of:

• Up to 200.000€ per partner if the Spanish applicant project consortium coordinator

• Up to 75.000€ if the Spanish applicant is not the coordinator

When more than one Spanish partner participate in the same proposal, the maximum funding of the Spanish part should not exceed 250.000 € per project or 300.000 € if one Spanish eligible institution coordinates the project.

4. Eligibility of expenses:

- Up to 100% of the marginal project costs may be financed within this programme in the following categories:

• Personnel costs for temporary contracts (fellowships are not eligible)

• Direct costs (consumables, small equipment, travel, other costs)

- Indirect costs (overheads), or clinical assays (proofs of concept, proofs of principle) are not eligible for funding from MINECO.

e. Deadlines (two-stage application procedure):

Pre-proposal submission:

- VHIR's deadline: February 28, 2014

- Official deadline: March 10, 2014 (14h)

f. Further information:

- Call information: HERE

- Application documents: HERE

- Access to submission system: HERE