FRM are looking to fund research into the human health effects of chronic exposure to environmental agents.

The Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM – Foundation for Medical Research) was founded in 1947 by doctors and researchers in France. As a non-profit organisation, the FRM provides funding for research on all types of diseases: cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, infectious diseases, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, rare diseases etc.

FRM has opened applications for the 2026 edition of its thematic call for proposals, titled ‘Environment and Health’, focused on research into the human health effects of chronic exposure to environmental agents (air, soil or water pollution from physical, chemical or infectious agents or from food contaminants) and of climate change. Exposure linked to the environment in general, to workplace situations or to gender inequality is often characterised by social inequalities that reinforce their impact. At the same time, the monitoring and detection of exposure to environmental factors, including through portable or fixed sensors (eg microsensors used by individuals, local authorities or associations), generates data that can be used to put in place prevention and information policies for those affected.

In such a context, FRM aims to support:

• Interdisciplinary approaches that seek to better understand the way environmental agents work, alone or mixed with other agents, in the establishment of pathogenic processes.
• Pilot studies to assess the acceptability of sensors for measuring exposure and the potential effects of such sensors on behaviour with regards to environmental exposure. The long-term goal of these studies is to help establish new public policies and to retrospectively evaluate existing policy.

Lead applicants and co-applicants must be a part of independent teams recognised as such by supervisory bodies (single-team units, teams from a multi-team unit or from a research centre) that operate within French laboratories and are affiliated with at least one French public research or higher education institution (Inserm, CNRS, CEA, Inria, universities, etc). Lead applicants and co-applicants must be permanent researchers or teaching researchers (enseignants-chercheurs).

Consortia must be composed of 2-4 teams, including at least one humanities and social sciences team. Particular attention will be paid to consortia led by a humanities and social sciences team. The teams involved must not all come from the same disciplines. Teams outside of France or teams from the private sector may participate in the project but cannot receive FRM funding.

Successful consortia will receive funding of up to €600,000 for a project with a duration of up to three years. Each team must request at least €25,000 across the total duration of the project. Eligible costs include equipment costs, running costs, mission expenses and staffing costs.