On short notice, the Berlin University Alliance is launching a call for proposals within the framework of its Grand Challenge Initiatives for funding to analyze the current corona pandemic. Applications are open to projects which aim at collecting data related to the spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which can only be collected immediately. The funding scheme is up to 100,000 euros per project. Applications are open to professors and postdoctoral researchers with projects involving at least two of the four Alliance institutions. Applications can be submitted until 5 May, 12 noon.

The spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is not only a great medical challenge. It places completely new demands on societies worldwide. Pandemic research beyond the field of medicine is still rare. Currently, there is a window of opportunity to collect data on individual, social, cultural, economic, political or legal aspects of the pandemic that are linked to or associated with the pandemic. These data can help to develop measures to be able to react more quickly, effectively and socially acceptable in epidemics threats in the future.

The call for proposals is part of the Grand Challenge Initiatives of the Berlin University Alliance. Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have set themselves the goal of jointly addressing global challenges (Grand Challenges). After the first focus on Social Cohesion, the second Grand Challenge Initiative on Global Health will be launched at the end of this year. The current call for proposals on the pandemic refers to these first two Grand Challenge Initiatives of the Berlin University Alliance.