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Science Grants Program - Blood-Brain Barrier and CNS Drug Delivery is sponsored by EQT Foundation. Non-dilutive grants for breakthrough innovations in crossing or modulating the blood-brain barrier for CNS therapeutic delivery. Open to researchers at nonprofit institutions worldwide including US-based scientists.
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EQT Foundation opens applications for science grants to overcome the blood-brain barrier and transform CNS drug delivery Active Core Infrastructure Transition Infrastructure Two Decades of Future Proofing Companies Education What is a Private Equity Fund?
“Doing as We're Told Could've Cost EQT €50B” Lennart Blecher Chairperson of EQT Real Assets Discover Our Latest Insights on ThinQ by EQT EQT AB's Year-end Report 2025 Year-end presentation & Acquisition of Coller Capital News EQT Foundation opens applications for science grants to overcome the blood-brain barrier and transform CNS drug delivery March 10, 2026, 09:30 Share EQT Foundation opens applications for deeptech solutions grants, tackling one of medicine’s most formidable biological barriers The program will award between EUR 25,000 and EUR 100,000 The call focuses on breakthrough technologies to cross or modulate the blood-brain barrier for therapeutic delivery to the brain EQT Foundation is launching a new open call for proposals under its Science Grants program, focused on breakthrough innovations to cross or modulate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for therapeutic delivery to the central nervous system.
The program will award catalytic, non-dilutive grants of €25,000 to €100,000 to researchers developing high-risk, high-impact deeptech solutions with the potential to unlock a new era of Central Nervous System (CNS) medicine. Designed to accelerate bold scientific ideas with strong translational potential, the call is open to scientists affiliated with accredited nonprofit institutions worldwide.
The blood-brain barrier protects the central nervous system, but it also blocks more than 98% of small molecule drugs and nearly 100% of large molecule therapeutics from reaching the brain.
(1) This biological firewall remains one of the greatest bottlenecks in medicine, leaving hundreds of millions of patients with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, ALS, and rare pediatric neurological conditions without effective treatments.
Breakthroughs in BBB delivery have the potential to fundamentally transform outcomes for patients facing devastating and currently incurable diseases. This grant call aims to support frontier science that enables precise, safe, and scalable delivery of therapeutics to the brain.
The Foundation is particularly interested in translational proposals that begin in the lab but are clearly designed to move toward clinical and real-world deployment, helping to de-risk and accelerate the next generation of CNS therapies.
The program seeks research at the intersection of deeptech innovation and therapeutic application, with a focus on: Novel BBB-crossing delivery platforms: engineered vectors, capsids, nanoparticles, receptor-mediated transport systems, shuttle peptides, molecular Trojan horses, exosome engineering, and cell-type-specific targeting strategies that enable therapeutic cargo to cross the BBB with precision and safety Physical and device-based BBB modulation: focused ultrasound innovations, energy-based or mechanical approaches, and implantable or minimally invasive devices that transiently and reversibly open the BBB for localized or systemic CNS drug delivery Biological and molecular BBB modulation: tight junction modulators, osmotic or chemical permeabilizers, and genetically or pharmacologically induced transient BBB opening with spatiotemporal control and strong safety rationale CNS-targeted gene therapies and large molecule delivery: AAV capsid engineering, alternative viral vectors, non-viral systems such as lipid or polymeric nanoparticles, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and RNA platforms with demonstrated or plausible brain penetration BBB models, biomarkers, and translational tools: human-relevant in vitro BBB models, imaging and biomarker platforms for non-invasive assessment of BBB integrity and drug penetration, AI-driven permeability prediction tools linked to specific delivery strategies, and high-throughput screening platforms that accelerate translational validation Cilia Holmes Indahl, CEO of EQT Foundation, comments: “The blood-brain barrier is one of the greatest unsolved challenges in medicine, limiting our ability to treat millions of patients with serious neurological conditions.
Through this grant program, we want to back ambitious scientists developing transformative technologies that can safely unlock the brain and fundamentally change what is possible in CNS care.
” In addition to funding, selected grantees will benefit from access to EQT’s global network, including technical experts, potential industry partners, and tailored commercialization and founder support to help bridge the gap from scientific discovery to scalable patient impact. Applications close on April 7, 2026, at 23:59 CET. Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of scientific, technical, and translational experts.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interviews with the EQT Foundation team, with final decisions communicated shortly thereafter. https://eqtgroup. com/eqt-foundation/grant-submission EQT Press Office, [email protected] Brain.
(2026). Volume 149, Issue 2 [Special issue]. Oxford University Press.
https://academic. oup. com/brain/issue/149/2?
login=false Press release_EQT Foundation opens applications for science grants to overcome the blood-brain barrier and transform CNS drug delivery_260310 EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 270 billion in total assets under management (EUR 141 billion in fee-generating assets under management) as of 31 December 2025, within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets.
EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership. More info: www. eqtgroup.
com Follow EQT on LinkedIn , X , YouTube and Instagram EQT Foundation is a philanthropic organisation and long-term shareholder of the global investment organization EQT, founded by partners at EQT. The Foundation supports scientists and entrepreneurs bringing breakthrough solutions from lab to market, combining EQT’s expertise with catalytic investments and grants.
With a focus on supporting scientific progress in underfunded areas of climate and health, the Foundation provides a learning platform for EQT employees to develop and work collaboratively across the globe, while engaging in philanthropy and making a positive impact. Exclusive News and Insights Every Week
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Scientists affiliated with accredited nonprofit research institutions worldwide; small biotech firms also mentioned as eligible. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates €25,000 to €100,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is April 7, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
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Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.