Calls
RAMP-UP: Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products – United for PhD Excellence
RAMP-UP invites researchers from all faculties at the implementing universities - Lund University, Leiden University Medical Center, the Technical University of Denmark, and Hannover Medical School - to propose doctoral research projects relevant to the development of regenerative medicine and ATMPs. Our first call closes on Tuesday, 30 December, 2025.
Are you ready to join our network and help train the next generation of leaders in advanced therapies?
Call for Research Projects: November 2025
The RAMP-UP COFUND Doctoral Programme, funded under HORIZON-MSCA-2024-COFUND, is now announcing the first of two Calls for Research Projects.
This call invites Principal Investigators (PIs) from the Beneficiary (Lund University) and Implementing Partner institutions (Leiden University Medical Center, Hannover Medical School, and the Technical University of Denmark) to submit interdisciplinary and innovative research project proposals in line with RAMP-UP's thematic priorities in regenerative medicine and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs).
We invite interdisciplinary research from diverse academic backgrounds that encompass the entire ATMP value chain, including:
- Experimental and Clinical Sciences,
- Engineering and Technology Innovation,
- Health Economics and Policy,
- Ethics, Law and Regulation, as well as
- Social Sciences and related fields.
The selected projects will form the core offering in the subsequent doctoral fellow recruitment call and should aim to attract top early-stage researchers across Europe and beyond.
Doctoral candidates will be invited to indicate their preferred project(s) during the selection process, and final matching and appointment will be made through mutual agreement between the candidate and the Principal Investigator. Eligible supervisors will receive a minimum of €2,800 per student per month for the duration of the PhD program. No funding will be disbursed until a project has been formally assigned and accepted by both parties.
More details on this call, including submission guidelines and timelines, are provided below:
Awarded Doctoral Projects Receive:
- Funding:
- Minimum €2,800/month per student
- 4 years (LU, LUMC, MHH)
- 3 years (DTU)
- Additional Benefits:
- Mobility Allowance: €100/month
- Training Opportunities: Summer and Winter Schools for your student
- Networking: Access to an international, interdisciplinary research community
Principal Investigators at Lund University, Leiden University Medical Center, the Technical University of Denmark, and Hannover Medical School are invited to submit the following:
- Personal and Project Information (max. 2 pages, included in the application template)
- Ethical Compliance Form and Data Management Plan (included in the application template)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the main supervisor and co-supervisors (max 2 pages each, included in the application template
- Project Proposal – max. 2 pages, including:
- Project Description - Applicants should provide a comprehensive overview of the proposed research project. The description should include:
- Problem Definition and Urgency: Clearly articulate the research problem, its context, and why it is important to address it now.
- Objectives: Specify the aims of the research and what it seeks to achieve.
- Methods: Describe the research design, methodology, any tools or techniques to be used, and ethical considerations
- Innovative Character: Highlight the novelty of the approach, concept, or application.
- Expected Impact: Discuss the relevance to the ATMP value chain and anticipated academic, clinical, and societal contributions of the project.
- Other Information - max. 1 page
- Research Environment and Budget
- Supervisory Structure and Study Timeline
- Suggested Secondments
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Project Description - Applicants should provide a comprehensive overview of the proposed research project. The description should include:
5. References (not included in page count)
To submit a project, the main supervisor must:
- Belong to a Beneficiary or Implementing Partner institution.
- Meet their institution’s supervision requirements.
- Have supervised at least two doctoral candidates to graduation.
If the main supervisor does not meet the above doctoral supervision experience:
- They must have completed all pedagogical training required by their institution.
- The co-supervisor must have supervised at least two doctoral candidates to graduation.
Projects must align with at least one of the RAMP-UP thematic areas. The research should ideally be in:
- Invention & Innovation
- Clinical Translation
- GMP & Technical Production
- Regulatory Affairs and Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues
- Commercialisation & Health Economics
All submitted projects will undergo a two-stage evaluation:
- Preliminary Eligibility Check
- Verifying supervisor eligibility and completeness of documents
- Ethical compliance review
- Scientific Evaluation
Each project will be evaluated using the following criteria (max. 50 points):
- 0: Incomplete or fails to fulfill criterion.
- 1: Poor – inadequately addressed or fulfilled.
- 2: Fair – addressed and partially fulfilled, but with significant weaknesses.
- 3: Good – well addressed and fulfilled, with some shortcomings.
- 4: Very good – minor shortcomings.
- 5: Excellent – fully addressed and fulfilled.
| Criteria | Description | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Excellence | Convincingly demonstrates:
| 20 |
| Relevance to RAMP-UP, ATMP & Contribution to EU Ecosystem | Convincingly demonstrates:
| 15 |
| Supervision, leadership & DEI | Convincingly demonstrates:
| 15 |
- Minimum score for consideration: 35/50 (70%)
- Automatic rejection: If any individual criterion scores below 1.5
Selected projects will be included in the upcoming doctoral candidate call and widely shared through RAMP-UP communication channels. Please note that inclusion in the call does not guarantee selection; and funding will only be allocated once a project has been formally chosen by a PhD candidate enrolled in the programme.
Timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| PI Info Webinar (hosted by MT) | 27th October and 3rd November |
| Call for Projects Opens | 3rd November |
| Deadline to Submit Projects | 30th December |
Before submitting, please review the eligibility and evaluation criteria outlined above.
- Download the application template provided on this page.
- Complete all sections of the template and save your final application as a PDF using the following format: Ramp_Up_Project Application_2025_Last Name_University
- Submit your application by completing the online submission form and uploading your PDF file.
Only complete applications submitted through the form before the deadline will be considered.
For any questions, please contact: rampup [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (RampUp[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)
RAMP-UP 2025 Call For Research Projects
Application Period:
03 November - 30 December, 2025
Watch the RAMP-UP Information Webinar Recording
Did you miss the live information session about the RAMP-UP Doctoral Programme and our first open call for research project proposals?
You can now watch the full recording of the webinar which provides an overview of the programme’s goals, eligibility criteria, application process, and key dates, as well as answers to common questions from prospective supervisors.
Wondering what happens next if your project is selected?
In January 2026, the first call for PhD students will open.