A disease is defined as rare if there are fewer than 5 out of 10 000 persons affected. These people and their relatives often lead very restricted lives. The knowledge of several experts is required to diagnose and treat the disease. The lack of networks of doctors, therapists and patients, as well as limited knowledge of local health professionals complicate everyday life: patients have to travel over large distances in order to meet specialists, where they are often confronted with long waiting times and indifference. After a period of on average 7 years to diagnose a rare disease, the problem continues as treatments exists for only very few disorders.
With the Health Care Award Kindness for Kids wants to improve the condition of health care provision for children with rare diseases. We are looking for interdisciplinary, innovative research projects which will help to improve the quality of life of those affected. The award is endowed with an amount of 40 000 Euro.
What is supported?
The Kindness for Kids health care award funds the implementation of a project that aims to directly improve situation of children living with a rare disease through structural changes or with a new therapeutic approach. A scientific study should evaluate the concept and ideally lead to a publication by project termination.
The following criteria should be considered:
- Innovative approach
- Sustainable orientation of the project
- Dissemination of the concept
- Local, national or international networking
- Scientific approach
- Participation of patient organisations
What won’t be funded?
Literature research
Basic research
Clinical research
- Co-financing (unless funded project is clearly defined and delimited)
Symposia, meetings and conferences
Who can apply?
Students, health care professionals, medical doctors and scientists from universities, hospitals, research institutions and NGOs from Europe.
How to apply
- The application has to be submitted before April 30th 2023 as a pdf document via email to c.engelhorn@kindness-for-kids.de
- The application can be either in English or German.
- Applications will be evaluated from an advisory board and results will be announced in July 2023.
- For additional questions please contact Dr. Carolin Engelhorn (c.engelhorn@kindness-for-kids.de).
Information on the application requirements can be found here for download.
The formal requirements criteria can be be found here for download.
Advisory board
Prof. Dr. Georg Hoffmann – Direktor Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Karl-Heinz Klingebiel - Ehrenvorsitzender Bundesverband Kleinwüchsige Menschen und ihre Familien e.V.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Lang - Chefarzt Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Leiter der Neonatologie im Perinatalzentrum, Klinikum Starnberg
Prof. Dr. Jochen Peters - Chefarzt Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Klinikum Dritter Orden München
Prof. Dr. Laura Inhestern - Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
