The call for LBG Clinical Research Groups aims to support medium-term, collaborative research programmes with a clear focus on patient-oriented, medically relevant topics in the field of non-commercial clinical research. In line with the current government programme (2025–2029), this year’s call focuses on women’s health research and gender medicine.

Clinical research projects on women’s health and gender medicine across all life stages of women and girls are eligible for funding.

This includes, for example, gynaecological diseases such as endometriosis, as well as research questions relating to menstrual health, sexual and reproductive health, peri-, meno- and postmenopause, and issues around healthy ageing. Since women’s health and gender medicine encompass far more than gynaecological questions, clinical research questions on sex- and gender-specific differences in the prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental illnesses across the entire lifespan are also eligible. These include, among others, cardiovascular, oncological, neurological, psychiatric, immunological, endocrinological, metabolic and other chronic diseases, as well as aspects of drug safety and/or efficacy and precision medicine. In addition to the clinical research projects, life-stage-oriented approaches, digital medicine, aspects of health services research, intersectionality and gender diversity may also be taken into account.

The call supports the development of innovative research findings in disease- or patient-oriented clinical research within the framework of investigator-initiated clinical trials, with the possibility of integrating translational aspects. At the same time, in the spirit of promoting early-career researchers, young clinical researchers should be offered high-quality training opportunities.

The Clinical Research Group should address a coherent research programme consisting of several work packages/sub-projects. The following requirements must be met:

• innovative and of high quality in the field of disease- or patient-oriented clinical research and the development of diagnostic or therapeutic methods;
• at least 50% of the planned work must be carried out at medical universities/faculties;
• includes investigator-initiated clinical trials, Phase I–III, or other non-commercial clinical studies in combination with clinical pilot or accompanying studies, such as observational studies, longitudinal studies, epidemiological studies, biobanking, biomarker studies, patient outcome studies, proof-of-concept studies, etc.;
• complies with Good Clinical Practice standards;
• demonstrates an interdisciplinary, synergistic and collaborative nature between clinical and non-clinical members;
• promotes early-career researchers and addresses gender equality issues.