Horten Health Foundation is a Swiss health-focused funder that backs medical research and clinical care institutions, with a strong emphasis on turning scientific advances into patient benefit. Its largest and most distinctive grants support precision oncology and clinical translation projects in Switzerland, while its Young Investigator program funds early-career medical researchers across the full spectrum of medicine. The foundation appears to favor ambitious, milestone-driven, institutionally anchored projects rather than open-ended or unsolicited proposals.
Focus Areas
Precision OncologyClinical Translation of Medical ResearchCancer Diagnostics and TherapeuticsPhase I/II Clinical TrialsBrain Health and PsychiatryImmunology, Infectiology, and VaccinologyEarly-Career Medical Research
Giving Approach
Makes large, program-based grants in Switzerland, often in the multi-million-dollar range for flagship initiatives, alongside smaller investigator grants for early-career researchers. Funding is application-based through formal calls, with pre-proposal/full proposal stages for some programs, and no unsolicited proposals are accepted.
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How to approach this funder
Do not submit unsolicited proposals; funding is only available through specific calls and formal application stages. Watch the foundation’s website for annual or periodic calls, especially the Young Investigator Grants announcement in January and March deadline, and note that major programs like PIONEER-Spark and CONPRO require Switzerland-based projects with pre-proposal/full proposal review.
Notable grantees:
• Medical centers in Switzerland
• Hospitals in Switzerland
• Multidisciplinary clinical research consortia
• Early-career independent medical research groups
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Horten Health Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses in 20 days (Jun 15, 2026)Award: Up to $3M
Consortium Projects for Clinical Translation
clinical translationtranslational researchdiagnostics+9 more
Who can apply: Consortium in Switzerland with one lead PI and up to four co-applicants, including at least one physician-scientist with ongoing clinical responsibilities. PI and co-applicants must hold independent group leader positions. The clinical translation must be predominantly pursued in Switzerland.
Deadline: Pre-proposal deadline: 2026-06-15 23:59 CEST. Full proposal is by invitation after shortlist, with timing indicated for summer 2026 in the call materials.
Open nowCloses in 20 days (Jun 15, 2026)Award: Up to $3M
Consortium Projects for Clinical Translation (CONPRO)
Clinical translationBrain health (mental health, psychiatry, neurology)Immunology (immunology, infectiology, vaccinology)+2 more
Who can apply: Consortia of several research groups collaborating interdisciplinary and inter-institutionally in Switzerland. One lead PI and up to four co-applicants; at least one physician-scientist with clinical responsibilities. PI and co-applicants must hold independent group leader positions. PI should commit ≥10% FTE, co-applicants ≥5% FTE. Projects pursued predominantly in Switzerland.
Deadline: Application deadline: Monday, 15 June 2026 (23:59 CEST). Pre-proposal and full proposal must be submitted simultaneously.
precision oncologyoncologyclinical translation+6 more
Who can apply: Consortia of leading Swiss-based institutions with complementary expertise. For Pillar 1, the project must be led by a physician-scientist with clinical responsibility and a tenured full professorship at an eligible Swiss university hospital or EOC. For Pillar 2, the Lead PI must hold a tenured full professorship at an eligible Swiss institution and at least one member of the project leadership must be a physician-scientist with clinical responsibility and a tenured full professorship at an eligible Swiss university hospital or EOC.
Deadline: Pre-proposal deadline: 2026-07-28 23:59 CEST. Full proposal deadline for invited consortia: 2027-01-12 23:59 CET. In-person hearings: April 2027.
medical researchbasic researchclinically applied research+1 more
Who can apply: Independent early-career group leaders in Switzerland. 'Independent' means holding an employed position as an independent PI (e.g., group leader, assistant professor, tenure-track professor, research fellow) and eligible to apply for SNSF project funding. 'Early-career' means within the first 6 years of independence as group leader by the call deadline. Applicants who have previously received HHF YIG funding or already hold a tenured professorship are not eligible.
Deadline: Submission deadline: 2026-03-10 12:00 CET (past call). Next call expected to open in January 2027 with deadline in March 2027.
Basic medical researchTranslational researchClinically-applied research+1 more
Who can apply: Independent early-career group leaders in Switzerland. 'Independent' = employed position for duration of project as independent PI (group leader, assistant professor, tenure-track, research fellow eligible as independent applicant). 'Early-career' = within first 6 years of independence by call deadline after deducting eligible interruptions. Applicants who already received HHF YIG funding or hold a tenured professorship are ineligible.
Deadline: Next call published in January with application deadline in March. 2026 call closed; 2026 deadline was 10 March 2026. Next cycle: January 2027 call / March 2027 deadline.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.