On March 15, the European Union (EU) issued a call for proposals to promote research into the so-called Zika virus, which has claimed the most victims in Brazil. Another 40 countries have already registered infections with the virus, which is supposedly linked to microcephaly and other neurological problems in babies.
Open until April 28, the call was launched under Horizon 2020, the EU's largest research and innovation program. Brazilian researchers linked to institutions legally established in the country can participate in the call, available here.
Prerequisite
The projects submitted must initially prove the link between the Zika virus and severe malformations in newborns. Once this requirement has been met, the researchers will be able to tackle the fight against the virus, including developing methods for diagnosis and testing potential vaccines or treatments.
The €10 million funding will complement other H2020 initiatives. One of them is a call for €40 million to develop a vaccine for malaria and other infectious diseases. Another will provide €10 million for studies into the control of diseases transmitted by insect vectors. The EU is also co-funding research into the prevention of infectious diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean.