Merck KGaA – In-Vitro Models & Assays for Neuroinflammatory Diseases (2026)
Predictive Human-Relevant Models for Bladder & Neuroinflammatory Drug Discovery
Organization: Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Support Type: Research grant
Award Amount: Up to €250,000 per year (up to 2 years)
Deadline: August 31, 2026 (23:59 CEST)
Geographic Focus: Global
About the Program
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is inviting proposals to develop predictive in-vitro models to identify and optimize novel small molecule medicines targeting neuroinflammatory diseases.
This opportunity emphasizes the development of physiologically relevant, human-centered models capable of improving translational success in neurodegenerative disease research.
Research Priorities
Proposed models should:
- Recapitulate key features of the neuro-immune axis
- Enable microglial-neuronal crosstalk
- Support pharmacological and genomic manipulation
- Be suitable for medium-to-high throughput assays
Systems may include patient-derived iPSC co-culture platforms incorporating neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and active microglia.
Funding
- One grant available
- Up to €250,000 per year
- Maximum 2-year duration
Apply / Learn More
➡️ https://www.emdgroup.com/en/research/open-innovation/research-grants.html
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Deadline: August 31, 2026
Best For: Neuroscience and translational medicine researchers
