Applied Research Grant

Patients’ oral health and well-being is at the core of the Osteology Foundation’s mission. As contemporary oral medicine evolves from pure curative and reactive treatments to more preventive and personalised approaches, the Osteology Foundation wishes to place greater emphasis on clinical research in the area of precision oral medicine fostering preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. At the same time the Osteology Foundation wishes to involve the active participation of patients in research.

To achieve this vision, the Osteology Foundation created a research compass to encourage interdisciplinary, cross-cutting clinical research and platform developments in the following focus areas in 2026:

 

  • Bio-functionalisation of regenerative biomaterials

  • Prognostication of regenerative wound healing

 

In general, applications must be in the field of oral tissue regeneration.

Research compass for targeted research

Bio-functionalisation of regenerative biomaterials

Within this area, the Osteology Foundation seeks to answer clinical research questions on how oral tissue regeneration can be accelerated by modifying tissue regenerative biomaterials (excluding dental implants) that are used in clinical scenarios. Biomaterial functionalisation should be biological in nature, meaning to impart a certain biological activity to the material for example through the incorporation of biomimetic molecules, biological active factors, or surface modifications.

 

Prognostication of regenerative wound healing

Within oral and maxillofacial wound healing, prognostication refers to estimating or predicting the likely course and outcome of an oral disease or condition or regenerative treatment, including the likelihood of recovery, relapse, or treatment success. Clinical research within this area shall address how different biological markers, signals, or molecules can be utilised to predict wound healing by combining biological and clinical outcomes. Prognostic factors that may optimise wound healing and tissue regeneration, patient recovery, or treatment modalities leading to improved clinical outcomes should be considered.

 

Grant Applications 2026

Applications for the Applied Research Grant programme can be submitted from 1 February on. Submission deadline will be 1 May. Notifications about the proposal outcome will be communicated by 15 November.

Please follow the Grant application guidelines for submission.

Submit your proposal here

or go to https://proposalcentral.com/ and search for Osteology Foundation in the Grant Opportunities tab.

Please sign up/log in to be able to create a new application. Please note that you will need to log in to your account to access a previously created application. If you use the link again, it will generate a new application.

Budget and CV templates are available during proposal submission (step 13 - Attachments).


Who can apply?

This programme provides funding for both early-career and established researchers, and teams who present with a track record in generating and translating basic research findings towards clinical application. Interdisciplinary (collaborative) research involving basic scientists and clinicians, as well as research groups from different universities/entities, is strongly encouraged.

An early-career researcher is defined as a dependent researcher who has a maximum of five years’ academic research experience following the completion of their PhD degree, or completion of clinical training (residency programme) and provide demonstration of enrolment in a research programme (i.e. PhD).

Every other researcher is considered an established researcher, having both:

  1. At least five years’ academic research experience following the completion of their clinical training/PhD (or equivalent) degree
  2. Track record of funding (principal investigator of at least one completed and fully funded grant/project) and publications (at least 5 first- or last-author publications + 5 other publications)


Amount of funding

Grants will be yearly awarded to selected researchers after thorough peer-review. Up to 125'000 Swiss francs can be allocated for each selected project. Applications requiring less than the maximum amount are accepted and encouraged, provided that financial feasibility is ensured.

The submitted applications can be part of a larger project (e.g. larger clinical trial), in this case the roles/responsibilities/project ownership must be clarified.


Awarding criteria

In 2026, the research projects proposed in the scope of the Applied Research Grant programme must be clinical in nature , but must demonstrate clinical relevance for evidence-based dental/medical practice for the benefit of human health and clinical care. The awarding criteria reflect this principle, and will focus on:

  • Clinical relevance
  • Methodology
  • Originality of hypothesis
  • Facilities and qualifications

Additionally, a letter of institutional support is required for any early-career applicant.

Research Wizard

The Osteology Research Wizard guides you step by step in the process of drafting a new research project and directs you to important information.

 

Contact

If you have any questions or technical issues, please reach out to grants@osteology.org