EP PerMed's RITC2026 Call Opens New Avenues for Multimodal Data Research in Personalised Medicine

The European Partnership for Personalised Medicine, known as EP PerMed, has launched its inaugural Research, Innovation and Technology Call for 2026, or RITC2026. This initiative focuses on testing and demonstrating multimodal data approaches for personalised medicine under the acronym MultiPMData2026. With a total budget exceeding 14.8 million euros contributed by 19 funding organisations across multiple European countries and regions, the call represents a significant opportunity for academic institutions to advance collaborative research in health data integration and patient-centred care.

Understanding the Scope and Objectives of the MultiPMData2026 Call

Multimodal data in this context refers to the integration of diverse health-related information sources, including clinical records, genomic data, imaging, wearable device outputs, and patient-reported outcomes. The call specifically targets projects that address the management of multimorbidity, defined as the presence of at least two chronic diseases requiring coordinated care. Funded projects must test innovative solutions in controlled real-world settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, or simulated environments, with a minimum technology readiness level of 3, indicating successful proof-of-concept on relevant biological or clinical data.

Key aspects include detection and characterisation of co-morbidities, disease monitoring and progression tracking, shifts toward outpatient care via remote technologies, decision support for interventions, management of multiple treatments to minimise interactions, and improvement of long-term treatment adherence. Projects are required to incorporate a comprehensive data strategy covering collection, processing, and usage, while integrating six enabling elements: knowledge integration, technologies and processes, infrastructure, business or value models, policies and regulations, and organisational behaviour and values. Patient and citizen participation is strongly encouraged to ensure relevance and ethical considerations, including attention to sex, gender, underrepresented populations, and social factors.

Participating Funding Bodies and Geographic Reach

Nineteen funding organisations from 16 countries support the call, with some represented by specific regions. These include Belgium (Flanders via FIO VLAIO and Wallonia via SPW-EER), Czech Republic (MZCR/AZVCR), Finland, France (ANR), Ireland (HRB), Israel (CSO-MOH and IIA), Italy (IT-MoH), Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal (Centro Region), Romania (UEFISCDI), Slovak Republic (CVTI SR), South Africa (SAMRC), Spain (Andalusia and Navarre), Sweden, and Turkiye. Malta participates through a cooperation scheme with Xjenza Malta, allowing its researchers to join on their own funds with potential additional support up to 300,000 euros per project.

This transnational structure requires consortia to include at least one enterprise partner and one clinical partner, with strong encouragement for academic and non-profit involvement. National and regional eligibility rules apply, and additional documentation may be required depending on the funding body. The Joint Call Secretariat, hosted by the French National Research Agency (ANR), manages the process with contact points available for queries.

Timeline and Application Process for Researchers

The call was published on 1 October 2025. Key milestones include an information day on 28 October 2025, a matchmaking event on 18 November 2025, pre-proposal submission deadline of 12 January 2026 at 14:00 CET, invitation to full proposals expected around 19 March 2026, full-proposal deadline of 27 April 2026 at 14:00 CEST, rebuttal stage in late June 2026, and funding decisions expected in early September 2026. Projects are anticipated to begin scientific work toward the end of 2026 or early 2027 following consortium agreements, data management plans, and ethics approvals.

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the PT-Outline platform. Consortia register early, and coordinators handle submission on behalf of the team. Guidelines detail eligibility, evaluation criteria, and national requirements. Larger clinical trials fall outside the scope, focusing instead on exploratory or proof-of-concept studies.

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Opportunities for European Universities and Higher Education Institutions

Academia plays a central role, with research teams from universities and higher education institutions explicitly eligible. This call aligns closely with institutional strengths in data science, bioinformatics, clinical research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. European universities can lead or partner in consortia, accessing funding for personnel, equipment, travel, and other costs subject to national rules. The emphasis on real-world testing environments offers practical training grounds for PhD students and early-career researchers in translational medicine and health informatics.

Institutions in participating countries stand to benefit from strengthened international networks, enhanced research infrastructure utilisation, and contributions to policy development around data governance and personalised approaches. The call's focus on multimorbidity management addresses pressing healthcare challenges, positioning universities as key drivers of innovation that can influence curricula, attract talent, and foster public-private partnerships.

Implications for Research Careers and Talent Development

For academics and PhD-track professionals, RITC2026 provides pathways to secure competitive funding for projects integrating multimodal data. Successful proposals often involve roles in data analysis, clinical integration, ethics, and implementation science, creating positions for postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, and project coordinators. The participatory element encourages involvement of patient organisations, broadening career options beyond traditional lab or clinical settings.

European higher education institutions can leverage participation to build capacity in emerging fields like AI-driven health decision support and remote monitoring technologies. This supports retention of talent within Europe and attracts international collaborators, contributing to a vibrant ecosystem for personalised medicine research.

Challenges and Considerations in Multimodal Data Projects

While promising, projects face hurdles such as harmonising diverse data sources across borders, ensuring compliance with varying national regulations on data privacy and ethics, and achieving meaningful patient engagement. The requirement for controlled real-world testing demands robust infrastructure and careful selection of environments. Consortia must navigate differing funding rules and overhead rates, requiring strong coordination from the lead institution.

Attention to underrepresented groups and sex/gender dimensions adds complexity but enhances the equity and applicability of outcomes. Universities will need to invest in training for researchers on data management plans and interdisciplinary teamwork to maximise success rates.

Future Outlook for Personalised Medicine in European Higher Education

The RITC2026 call signals a sustained commitment to advancing personalised medicine through data-driven innovation. As decisions approach in September 2026, successful projects will likely generate publications, patents, and implementation frameworks that feed back into university teaching and further research calls. This positions European higher education as a leader in addressing complex health challenges like multimorbidity, with ripple effects on workforce development and healthcare delivery systems.

Longer term, the integration of enabling elements such as business models and regulatory alignment could accelerate the translation of academic discoveries into clinical practice, benefiting patients across the continent and beyond.

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Resources for Prospective Applicants in Academia

Interested researchers should consult the official call documents, including the call text and guidelines for applicants available on the EP PerMed website. National contact points provide tailored advice on eligibility and additional requirements. Matchmaking events facilitate partner identification, essential for building compliant consortia that meet the mandatory enterprise and clinical partner criteria.

Universities are encouraged to review internal support structures for grant applications and consider how participation aligns with strategic priorities in health research and digital innovation.