Prevent-OO: A Major Transnational Call to Tackle Obesity During Critical Life Transitions

Overview

The ERA4Health partnership has launched the Prevent-OO call, a transnational funding opportunity dedicated to understanding and preventing overweight and obesity, with a focus on critical transitional periods in life. By funding research consortia of 3-5 partners from at least three eligible countries, this initiative aims to generate new knowledge on the mechanisms of obesity onset and progression, investigate neglected determinants, and develop novel prevention and intervention strategies.

Why Focus on Critical Transitions?

Certain life stages are associated with accelerated weight gain and increased obesity risk. These include the transition from childhood to adolescence, pregnancy and postpartum, menopause, job loss, relocation, or retirement. The Prevent-OO call specifically encourages projects that address mechanisms, determinants, and strategies during such windows of vulnerability, recognizing that the most effective interventions may be timed to these sensitive periods.

Two Research Topics

The call is structured around two main topics. Applicants must choose one:

Topic 1: Mechanistic Understanding of Obesity Causes

This topic supports research into the biological, psychological, and social mechanisms driving overweight and obesity. This includes studies on appetite regulation, energy metabolism, adipose tissue biology, gut-brain axis, genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as the role of the environment, stress, sleep, and the microbiome. The goal is to improve our understanding of why and how obesity develops and progresses.

Topic 2: Prevention Strategies for Critical Life Transitions

This topic focuses on developing, testing, or evaluating interventions designed to prevent unhealthy weight gain during critical life transitions. Projects may involve behavioral or digital health interventions, policy evaluation, community-based programs, or healthcare system changes. Studies should be targeted to one or more specific transitional periods and should include measurable outcomes related to weight, body composition, metabolic health, or related biomarkers.

Eligibility Criteria

Consortium Composition

• 3-5 eligible partner organisations
• Partners must be from at least three different countries
• At least two of those countries must be EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries

Eligible Organisations

• Academic institutions (universities, research institutes)
• Clinical and public health sector organisations (hospitals, health authorities, non-profits)
• Enterprises (SMEs, startups, or larger companies)
• Operational stakeholders (patient organisations, policy bodies, community groups)

Geographic Restrictions

Applications are open to partners from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Taiwan.

Funding Details

• Project duration: 36 months
• Funding mechanism: Each partner is funded by their national or regional funding organisation, not by a single central EU pot. This means applicants must check eligibility rules and funding rates with their own national contact before applying.
• No minimum or maximum budget is specified at the call level, but each national funder may have its own limits.

Timeline

• Call opens: 21 January 2026
• Deadline: 10 June 2026 (non-rolling)
• Results expected later in 2026, with projects starting in 2027

How to Apply

Applications are submitted via the PTI-PTF online portal (German project management platform). The process involves:

1. Pre-proposal stage (single-stage call - no pre-proposal; full proposal directly)
2. Full proposal submission by the deadline
3. Eligibility check by national funders
4. International peer review
5. Final selection based on scientific quality, impact, and consortium balance

Why You Should Apply

• Transnational collaboration is encouraged, enabling access to diverse populations and expertise.
• Focus on critical life transitions fills a gap in current obesity research.
• Early-career researchers are explicitly welcome.
• No cap on total funding at the call level - ambitious projects can be proposed.
• The call aligns with EU health priorities and the European Research Area (ERA).

Tips for a Strong Application

1. Form a balanced consortium - include expertise from basic science, clinical practice, and public health.
2. Clearly define the critical transition period your project addresses.
3. Justify the choice of partners - explain why transnational collaboration is essential.
4. Include a dissemination and exploitation plan for real-world impact.
5. Check national eligibility rules early - each country funds its own partners.
6. Involve early-career researchers as work package leads or co-investigators.
7. Address neglected determinants such as social inequality, mental health, or digital environment.

Conclusion

The Prevent-OO call is a significant opportunity for European and international researchers to tackle obesity from a fresh perspective: focusing on the moments in life when people are most vulnerable. By funding both mechanistic and prevention research, ERA4Health aims to generate evidence that can inform future public health strategies. If your consortium is ready to make a difference in obesity research, this is your chance.

Apply by 10 June 2026.