The call supports collaborative research between French and German research teams to cure or eradicate the viral diseases.

France’s Agence Nationale de Recherche sur le Sida | Maladies Infectieuses Emergentes (ANRS MIE – National Agency for AIDS Research – Emerging Infectious Diseases) and the Deutsche Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF – German Centre for Infection Research) have joined forces to tackle an area of mutual interest: finding a cure for HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and/or hepatitis D (HDV).

The joint call is intended to strengthen scientific collaboration between France and Germany for the long term. Proposals must be focused on curing HIV, HBV and/or HBD and must provide an explanation of how the proposed strategy could lead to a functional cure or eradication of the virus. They must also present a clear translational trajectory, showing how the research could eventually lead to a clinical application. Projects must also propose an innovative approach that is likely to help progress research in the field.

Eligible projects must be collaborative, involving at least one French and one German research team, who will jointly coordinate the project. The two joint coordinators must belong to:

• French public research establishments: French higher education and/or research establishments or groups of such establishments, as well as private French establishments that contribute to public service missions of higher education and research in accordance with article L 732-1 of the French Education Code.
• German public research establishments: DZIF member establishments, associated partner institution or associated partner.

The total budget per project must fall between €300,000 and €500,000. ANRS MIE will fund French partners and DZIF will fund German partners. The funds requested from each funder must not exceed €250,000. Projects will have a duration of 24 or 36 months.