2026 - FIVE SCIENTIFIC SCOPE AREAS ACROSS TWO FOUNDATIONS
ODIN focuses on research within some of the most pressing global health challenges, where outcomes hold strong innovation potential. The programme targets the early, exploratory (i.e. precompetitive) phases of drug discovery and clinical diagnostics in human health, and actively encourages highly innovative, high-risk projects. ODIN and its funded projects are supported financially by both the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation supports four scientific areas across Grant Type 1 (large grants for new projects) and Grant Type 2 (top-up grants for previously funded ODIN projects).
- Cardiometabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases: Development of innovative approaches to better understand, prevent, diagnose, and/or treat diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, as well as cardiometabolic conditions including diabetes, obesity, and their interrelated risk factors.
- Infectious Diseases: Advancing research and technologies to address the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases, including novel approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance.
- Regenerative Medicine: Development of cutting-edge therapies and technologies to repair, replace, or regenerate damaged tissues and organs.
- Disease-agnostic Platform Technologies and Research Tools/Methods: Innovative technologies, tools, and methods that enable advancements in drug discovery, drug delivery, and/or clinical diagnostics across a broad range of therapeutic areas. These platforms should provide foundational innovations that can be adapted or applied to multiple disease contexts, including one or more of the above areas.
CARDIOVASCULAR & CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASES
INFECTIOUS
DISEASES
REGENERATIVE
MEDICINE
DISEASE-AGNOSTIC PLATFORM TECHNOLOGIES & RESEARCH TOOLS/METHODS
DISEASES OF THE CENTRAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM
From 2026, the Lundbeck Foundation joins ODIN, providing support for Grant Type 1 projects within a newly targeted scientific area.
- Diseases of the Central Nervous System: Advancing innovative research into the biological mechanisms, development, function, and pathology of the brain and nervous system to better understand, prevent, diagnose, and treat brain disorders.
DISEASES OF THE
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
All projects, regardless of call focus, must be precompetitive, open and designed to meet ODIN’s selection criteria and aim (see Call Guidelines under "Documents").
ABOUT ODIN
We unite bright minds from industry and academia to jointly create need-driven clinical research projects - and pave the way for innovative new treatments and diagnostics. We fund the best project ideas through competitive funding calls. Although companies cannot receive funding, it is free of charge to join.
The platform is sponsored by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with 180 million DKK from 2024-2029.
CONTACT ODIN
You are welcome to contact us if you have questions or comments. Reach out to odin@au.dk or find the Secretariat's direct email addresses under contacts.
Although the platform spans five Danish universities, we're based in Aarhus. Our office is located at Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Bldg 1535-117.
