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HORIZON EUROPE TOPIC · Cluster 1 · Health

Development of innovative antimicrobials against pathogens resistant to antimicrobials

HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-08 — the expected outcomes as checkable statements, what evaluators look for in this topic, and the conditions that shape the proposal.

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ForthcomingRIADeadline 17 February 2027EUR 8 million to EUR 10 million per project

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TopicHORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-08
StatusForthcoming
CallHORIZON-HLTH-2027-01 — Cluster 1 - Health (Single stage - 2027/1)
DestinationTackling diseases and reducing disease burden (2026-27)
Type of actionResearch and Innovation Actions
Opening29 October 2026
Deadline17 February 2027
BudgetEUR 8 million to EUR 10 million per project · 5 projects expected · EUR 44.2 million in total
Part B page limit40 pages (standard application form; check your call)
TemplateWork Programme 2026–2027 application form

Expected outcomes

Projects should contribute to all of the expected outcomes. The topic says: “This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:”

  1. EO1 The scientific and clinical communities have a better understanding of and access to new and innovative products for the treatment of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and fungi, as well as for further clinical investigation.
  2. EO2 Candidate therapies are available to treat patients for antimicrobial resistant bacteria and fungi, increasing therapeutic options for clinical deployment in the fight against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Expected impacts named in the destination

The wider, long-term effects the destination seeks. Your outcomes feed them; they are not project deliverables.

  1. EI1 Disease burden in the EU and worldwide is reduced through effective disease management, including through the development and integration of innovative preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, digital and other people-centred solutions for healthcare.
  2. EI2 Premature mortality from non-communicable diseases is reduced by one third (by 2030), mental health and wellbeing are promoted, and the targets of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of non-communicable diseases, are attained, with an immediate impact on the related disease burden (Disability-Adjusted Life Years - DALYs).
  3. EI3 Healthcare systems benefit from strengthened Research and Innovation expertise, human capacities and know-how for combatting communicable and non-communicable diseases, including through international cooperation.
  4. EI4 Citizens benefit from reduced (cross-border) health threat of epidemics and AMR pathogens, in the EU and worldwide,,.
  5. EI5 Patients and citizens are knowledgeable of disease threats, involved and empowered to make and shape decisions for their health, and better adhere to knowledge-based disease management strategies and policies (especially for controlling outbreaks and emergencies).

What evaluators will look for in this topic

Expected outcomes

  • Projects should contribute to all of the expected outcomes.
  • For each outcome (EO1 to EO2), name who will use or adopt your results (a specific group, not “industry” or “society”), how they get them, and the indicator that shows the change, with baseline, target and date.
  • Use the topic's own words for each outcome, so the evaluator can tick it off.

What the scope asks for

Evaluators check the proposal against these sentences of the scope. Answer each one visibly, in the call's own words.

  • “Proposals should pursue the development of innovative and effective antibacterial and antifungal agents, including antibody-based therapies, which meet at least one of the four World Health Organization (WHO) innovation criteria, namely: i) new chemical class, ii) new target, iii) new mode of action and iv) no evidence of cross-resistance.”
  • “Proposals under this topic should not pursue the development of phage-therapies.”
  • “Applicants should explicitly state in their proposal which of the following pathogens is targeted and the proposed work should address only this specific pathogen.”
  • “The proposed work should pursue the development of existing therapeutic candidates targeting exclusively one of the following pathogens:.”
  • “Proposals should thus aim to accelerate testing of novel candidates in human trials, diversify and accelerate the global prophylactic and therapeutic research and development portfolio for AMR bacterial and fungal infections, and to strengthen the leading role of the EU in prophylactic and therapeutic research and development.”
  • “Proposals should address all the following areas:.”
  • “Attention should be paid to critical biological and social factors such as sex, age, ethnicity, disability and vulnerability.”
  • “Participation of third countries where AMR bacteria and fungi in the proposal are endemic or where outbreaks have occurred or are ongoing is encouraged.”
  • “The participation of start-ups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is encouraged with the aim of strengthening their scientific and technological foundations, enhancing their innovation potential, and exploring possibilities for commercial exploitation.”
  • “All projects funded under this topic are expected to engage with regulatory bodies in a timely manner to ensure adequacy of the actions from a regulatory point of view.”
  • “Proposals should advance research by leveraging already existing and emerging state-of-the-art research initiatives such as the co-funded European Partnership on One Health Anti-Microbial Resistance (EUP OHAMR).”
  • “Applicants should provide details of their clinical studies in the dedicated annex using the template provided in the submission system.”

Conditions that shape the proposal

  • Part B, sections 1–3: 40 pages (standard application form). Text beyond the limit is not read; tables and figures count.
  • Other Eligibility Conditions: “In recognition of the opening of the US National Institutes of Health’s programmes to European researchers, any legal entity established in the United States of America is eligible to receive Union funding.”
  • Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds: “To ensure a balanced project portfolio covering the pathogens targeted in this topic[[Pathogen i to vi, as given in the scope of this topic.]], grants will be awarded (within available budget) to proposals not only in order of ranking but at least also to those proposals that are the highest ranked within different…”
  • Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes: “The thresholds for each criterion will be 4 (Excellence), 4 (Impact) and 4 (Implementation). The cumulative threshold will be 12.”

Impact pathway and traps

  • The scope expects pilots or demonstration. Name the sites, the partners who run them and what is measured there.
  • International cooperation is part of the scope. Explain what the non-EU partners add and how the cooperation is organised.
  • Policy or regulation is in scope. Name the policy owners you will reach and what you will give them.
  • Keep outputs, outcomes and impacts apart: what you deliver, what changes when others use it, and the long-term effect.
  • For each destination impact you claim, show which of your outcomes feeds it. Destination impacts are long-term effects, not project deliverables.
  • Name the barriers outside the project (regulation, markets, user behaviour) that could block uptake, and what you will do if they do.
  • Section 2.3 (the summary canvas) is optional on this call; the old split into scientific, economic and societal impact is no longer required.
The scope, as published

The rapid rise of AMR presents a formidable threat to public health, challenging our ability to treat infections that were once easily managed with standard antimicrobials. As pathogens continually adapt and develop resistance to existing drugs, the efficacy of these treatments diminishes, leading to more severe and prolonged illnesses, increased healthcare costs and productivity losses, and higher mortality rates. This escalating crisis underscores an urgent need for viable therapeutic alternatives required to reduce the burden of diseases caused by antibiotic resistance. Innovative solutions are crucial to maintaining effective disease management and safeguarding public health. Proposals should pursue the development of innovative and effective antibacterial and antifungal agents, including antibody-based therapies, which meet at least one of the four World Health Organization (WHO) innovation criteria, namely: i) new chemical class, ii) new target, iii) new mode of action and iv) no evidence of cross-resistance. This topic contributes to strengthening the Research and Innovation ecosystem within the EU and supports the implementation of the European Medical Countermeasures Strategy and the forthcoming Critical Medicines Act. Proposals under this topic should not pursue the development of phage-therapies. Applicants should explicitly state in their proposal which of the following pathogens is targeted and the proposed work should address only this specific pathogen. The proposed work should pursue the development of existing therapeutic candidates targeting exclusively one of the following pathogens: Carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumanii (CRAB) Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (C3GRE) Carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (Drug)-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus (Drug)-resistant Candida spp Identifying a specific pathogen does not preclude the exploration of these candidates' effects on other bacteria or fungi. Proposals should thus aim to accelerate testing of novel candidates in human trials, diversify and accelerate the global prophylactic and therapeutic research and development portfolio for AMR bacterial and fungal infections, and to strengthen the leading role of the EU in prophylactic and therapeutic research and development. Proposals should address all the following areas: If necessary, finalisation of in-vivo tests in at least one animal model or, if available in humanised immune system animal models, to demonstrate the protective function of the therapeutics deemed sufficient for moving to first clinical trials. If requested by regulators as pre-requisite for clinical studies, in-vivo tests in a non-human primate model. Production of batches of the most promising antimicrobials candidates according to the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). In human clinical safety and efficacy studies, demonstrating a clear regulatory pathway for market authorisation. Attention should be paid to critical biological and social factors such as sex, age, ethnicity, disability and vulnerability. Participation of third countries where AMR bacteria and fungi in the proposal are endemic or where outbreaks have occurred or are ongoing is encouraged. The participation of start-ups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is encouraged with the aim of strengthening their scientific and technological foundations, enhancing their innovation potential, and exploring possibilities for commercial exploitation. All projects funded under this topic are expected to engage with regulatory bodies in a timely manner to ensure adequacy of the actions from a regulatory point of view. Proposals should advance research by leveraging already existing and emerging state-of-the-art research initiatives such as the co-funded European Partnership on One Health Anti-Microbial Resistance (EUP OHAMR). Applicants should provide details of their clinical studies in the dedicated annex using the template provided in the submission system. As proposals under this topic are expected to include clinical studies, the use of the template is strongly encouraged. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240093461 https://health.ec.europa.eu/health-emergency-preparedness-and-response-hera/preparedness/medical-countermeasures-strategy_en https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-critical-medicines-act_en https://health.ec.europa.eu/medicinal-products/eudralex/eudralex-volume-4_en https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32003H0361 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101217154, https://ohamr.eu Please note that the definition of clinical studies (see introduction to this Work Programme part) is broad and it is recommended that you review it thoroughly before submitting your application.

Other topics in HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01

Source and attribution

Topic text from the official topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, retrieved 19 October 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU (CC BY 4.0). Changes: the expected outcomes and impacts are split into numbered statements, long passages are shortened, and the evaluator checklist is GrantWise's own commentary. Your call and the Work Programme always win; check them before you submit. GrantWise is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the European Commission.