Medical research

Support for scientific medical research that addresses major needs in society.

Medical progress does not fall from the sky; it comes after long and costly years of research. It is work that opens the door to new therapeutic treatments for the benefit of patients and those near and dear to them. Thanks to the means made available by philanthropists, the King Baudouin Foundation supports research in healthcare at Belgian and European levels, complementing public investment and working alongside partners in the public and private sectors.

Our activities

  • supporting medical research projects and providing grants to top level researchers in various fields of health, including rare diseases, cancer, neurology, cardiology and rheumatology
  • notable research on rare diseases, thanks to significant resources allocated by the Generet Fund, which awards a Prize of one million euros to a leading researcher each year
  • developing ‘niche approaches’ that are not financed by others but focus on innovation.

Medical research is part of the programme Health

Calls for projects

Fund Prinses Máxima Centrum Belgium

Clinical fellowship in paediatric haematology-oncology

Selection announced

Generet (Fund)

A prestigious award to encourage groundbreaking research in rare diseases in Belgium for a better quality of life of patients.

Call 2024 - Fund iris-Research

Clinical and translational multicentric research in the hospitals of the iris network Brussels

Selection announced

Grantees

In vitro/in vivo studies rond miRNA's als therapeutische doelwitten voor schildklierkanker / Études in vitro/vivo sur des miARN comme cibles thérapeutiques pour le cancer de la thyroïde

Functional role of miR-1179 and miR-873-5p in thyroid tumorigenesis (part 2)

Cystic Fibrosis Association

Funding the Cystic Fibrosis Association’s operation, awareness-raising campaigns, etc.

URORA study: decoding heterogeneity in metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

Use of single-cell resolution spatial transcriptomics and AI to profile matched metastatic and primary breast tumors to better treat MSC

Events

Award ceremony 5th Prize Generet into rare diseases

16/02/2023 17:30 until 16/02/2023 21:00

Award Ceremony of the 5th Generet Prize for Rare Diseases

Award ceremony - laureates 2022 Funds for health research

05/10/2023 10:30 until 05/10/2023 12:30

Award ceremony - Laureates 2022 of the Funds for health research

Funds and philanthropic tools

Ruts Ruys (Fund)

Research on serious diseases (prevention and treatment), with particular focus on cancer, dementia, heart problems and lung disease.

Consciousness without Borders (Fund)

The Fund aims to promote research on states of consciousness and to stimulate their potential, with the goal of helping to improve end-of-life conditions for everyone.

Press Releases

Mental Health Research Mapping

KBF releases 4 million euro for mental health research

16 02 2024

The KBF is setting up the Fund for Mental Health Research to map mental health research in Belgium.

Over 6 million euros allocated to health research

06 10 2023

In 2022, 60 Funds dedicated to scientific medical research allocated a total of 6.6 million euros to 72 research projects.

One million euros for research into motor neuron disease ALS

16 02 2023

Prof. Dr Ludo Van Den Bosch is awarded the Generet Prize for Rare Diseases (€ 1,000,000) for his research into motor neuron disease ALS.

Stories

From asthma research to better treatment for cystic fibrosis complications?

Medical research

"When we see a patient whose cystic fibrosis is deteriorating, it is often hard to identify the cause. There is a need for better diagnosis of allergic reactions to fungi."
Dr Eva Van Braeckel
Pulmonologist (UGent and UZ Gent)

Pancreatic cancer: gradually untangling a complex knot

Medical research

“In families where there are more cases of pancreatic cancer, we are also seeing an association with colon and breast cancer.”
Prof. Kathleen Claes
UGent, Lab for Cancer Predisposition and Precision Oncology

New perspective on DNA variations leads to explanation for rare disease

Medical research

“We have shown that it is also worthwhile to look at the variants just before and just after genes.”
Prof. Eric Legius
Head of Centre for Human Genetics UZ Leuven