KWF BOOST programme

BOOST

(Bridging Obstacles for Optimal model use via Shared Technical expertise)

Despite major advances in cancer biology, many promising preclinical drug candidates fail in clinical trials due to insufficient efficacy or unforeseen toxicity. A key reason for this is the apparent limited translatability of preclinical research, potentially due to a sub-optimal match between the experimental model, design and research question. To address these challenges in ongoing KWF projects, KWF is launching the BOOST programme (Bridging Obstacles for Optimal model use via Shared Technical Expertise). The goal of BOOST is to raise the benchmark of preclinical research by enhancing its predictive value and translational relevance, primarily through improved use of experimental models and study design, and by promoting the refinement, reduction, and replacement of animal research. 

Preclinical research models & design 

Traditional preclinical models often struggle to reflect the full biological complexity of cancer, making it difficult to predict how a drug will perform in patients. In particular, widely used models for in vitro or in vivo experiments (such as cell-line based systems) often lack key characteristics needed to recapitulate important clinical aspects such as: 

• Heterogeneity in patients, tumors and drug responses
• Cancer-host interactions & (metastatic) progression
• Drug interactions (e.g. resistance, pre-treatments, side-effects)
• Inter-species differences in pharmacokinetics & dynamics (e.g. systemic exposure, metabolism, target expression and functionality)
• Co-morbidities 

Overcoming such limitations is essential to achieve a better match between a research question and an experimental model. KWF recognizes this requires access to advanced technologies such as NAMs (New Approach Methods) and sophisticated in vivo models, as well as the technical expertise to apply them effectively. Moreover, while having the right models and specialistic expertise is essential, there is also potential to further improve the design of preclinical studies. Integrating clinical aspects into preclinical design such as pre-treatments (e.g. first- or later-line therapy), standard-of-care controls, dosing regimens, pharmacokinetics and clinical endpoints can significantly increase predictive value and translational relevance.  

Maximizing the translatability of preclinical model systems and study design early in drug development strengthens the evidence base for critical go/no-go decisions. More rigorous testing in clinically relevant models can help determine whether a candidate drug is suitable for progression to a lead candidate and clinical trials, and under what conditions. Yet adopting such models or approaches often requires technology, expertise or infrastructure that may not be readily available within the research group. In other cases, incidental access to technologies through academic service providers or contract research organization (CROs) can be essential, but outsourcing comes with steep unbudgeted costs, while building such capabilities in-house is often impractical or inefficient. To address these challenges, KWF launches the BOOST programme. This call enables researchers to incorporate additional clinically relevant experimental conditions into their existing KWF drug research projects. Funding is provided to access and develop clinically relevant models, techniques, and validation strategies that support high-quality, stringent preclinical research. 

Scope  

The following activities/items are eligible for funding: 

The BOOST application must aim to strengthen preclinical drug research methodologies to enhance the translatability of the associated KWF-project. BOOST activities must clearly build on and improve the translational value of your original project, they should not introduce unrelated activities outside its scope. 

1. Structural in-house access to clinically relevant technologies and expertise through development and implementation 
Activities aimed at sustainably embedding translational technologies and expertise (such as models, methods and infrastructure) within the research group, in the context of the associated KWF drug development or drug optimization project. Activities must be within the scope of the related application, and should aim to improve technology, models or designs planned in the related KWF-project: 

• Training or exchange of scientific or technical staff (national or international) with the goal of acquiring specialistic expertise and implementation into the applicant’s lab. (e.g. orthotopic surgical modelling techniques, advanced in vitro/in vivo systems, genetic engineering (pre)clinical trial methodology. The expenses of the laboratory providing expertise are also eligible for reimbursement.
• Development of a new clinically relevant experimental model.
• Implementation and use of (existing) clinically relevant in vitro or in vivo models (e.g. microfluidic systems, PDO’s, other NAMs, PDX, GEMMs, orthotopic models)
• (Backward) clinical validation or feasibility assessment of a model or technique prior to lab implementation, as preparation for long-term use (e.g. validation of a model by testing if it mimics a known clinical therapy response)
• Implementation, validation or feasibility assessment of methods or study elements that integrate clinical trial aspects into preclinical research (e.g. realistic drug exposures, clinically relevant dosing schedules, standard-of-care controls, or inclusion of pretreatment conditions)
• Purchase or setup of essential equipment (delivery systems, culture platforms) to enable sustainable use of a clinically relevant model. 

2. Incidental access to clinically relevant technologies and expertise through external parties 
Activities aimed at enhancing the ongoing KWF drug development project through short-term, high-value contributions from external expertise, infrastructure, or validation models. Activities must be within the scope of the related KWF-project. 

• Validation of existing preclinical data: Confirmation of previously generated findings through repeat experiments in an alternative, (demonstrable more) clinically relevant model system, conducted by, or in collaboration with, an academic partner, service provider, or commercial CRO (e.g. validation of animal-based efficacy data in patient organoid panels.
• Generation of additional specialized preclinical data that directly supports the clinical translation of the associated drug research: Targeted data generation in an alternative, clinically relevant model system to strengthen translational interpretation, conducted by, or in collaboration with, an academic partner, service provider, or commercial CRO. (e.g. PK/PD, preliminary toxicology on a human-based system, bioinformatic analyses of clinical data) 

Not in scope:  

• Activities not related to drug research.
• Access to expertise and model development/implementation with the primary goal to increase fundamental knowledge.
• In-house development of widely available (commercial) in vivo models.
• Purchase of equipment that is not directly required for access to expertise and model development/implementation within the scope of the BOOST project (e.g. general-purpose analytical platforms such as flow cytometers). Only equipment directly enabling the use of the requested model or technique is within scope.
• General technical training and visiting staff activities not directly tied to the implementation of clinically relevant technology within the BOOST project.
• Research using alternative but comparable model systems without clearly added translational value.
• Development or implementation of models and techniques that do not offer substantiated advantages over existing, accessible alternatives.
• Outsourcing activities identical to those already budgeted within the ongoing KWF project.
• Projects that are better suited for regular KWF funding in terms of scope and size, such as a Research project, Young Investigator Grant, Unique High Risk project, or Consortium project. 

Terms and conditions 

• The KWF Kankerbestrijding Funding Conditions 2025 and the KWF Kankerbestrijding Auditor's Protocol 2025 apply.   
• The BOOST application must be related to an ongoing or recently finished KWF project. This also applies to KWF-PPP (Public-Private Partnership) projects. The BOOST application can be submitted during the duration of the KWF project and up to 1 year after the end date.
• Regarding BOOST applications related to KWF-PPP projects, the BOOST application must not conflict with the terms and conditions that apply to the KWF-PPP project.
• Duration: 6-18 months.
• Budget indication: 150.000 euros, including VAT. The budget can be requested for additional expertise and activities within the scope of the BOOST programme that were not budgeted in the related KWF project.
• The format in GMS is leading for budget requests.
• All KWF funding types except PoC are eligible, such as Research projects, Consortium projects, Young Investigator Grants, Unique High Risk projects, PPS, etc.
• KWF projects in the research phases Credentialing, Creation of Modality & Preclinical are eligible to apply for BOOST funding. Basic research projects may be eligible when specifically related to drug research.
• BOOST applications may be requested for KWF projects with “Immune Response Modifiers” or “Agents” as primary or secondary modality. Projects with “Basic Research”, “Biomarkers”, “Interventive Devices” or “Imaging” are also eligible as either primary or secondary modality, provided the application clearly relates to the development, or better use of cancer drugs.
• The related KWF project may include fundamental research, but the BOOST application itself must specifically aim to strengthen drug development or its clinically relevant application. If in doubt, applicants are encouraged to contact their Science Liaison to confirm whether their project is in scope.
• The innovation must have at least a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 (www.rvo.nl/onderwerpen/trl).
• A BOOST project may either replace activities of the KWF project (e.g. replacing 2D by 3D in vitro systems) or add activities (e.g. complementing/validating 2D with 3D systems). If planned drug research activities in the main project are replaced by activities under BOOST, BOOST covers the additional costs required for the upgraded experiment or expertise. In this scenario, KWF aims to minimize administrative burden and prefers to keep allocated funding of the original budget of the related KWF project intact. If applicable, the original budget becomes eligible to perform the new experiment through a budget change request (after funding decision). The additional costs can be requested in the BOOST budget.
• Travel costs related to training and personnel exchanges are eligible under budget category 3.4.
• An exchange must be linked to an ongoing KWF project, but the required expertise may be sourced from a new academic or commercial partner outside the original consortium.
• Agreements for an exchange concerning expertise/material/techniques must be formalized in a Collaboration Agreement (CA), material transfer agreement or invoice between parties, subject to KWF approval after the funding decision.
• Project-related costs for ‘capacity building’ can be requested by the academic experts that will provide training under budget category 3.6 of KWF Funding conditions 2025 (€2500 per month, up to a maximum of €10.000). This includes costs related to planning, administration and logistics of the training, preparatory work such as developing a (custom) shareable SOP or experimental protocol, and post-training support. These costs fall under separate categories from execution of the training, which are eligible for funding under budget category 1, 2, 3.1-3.5.
• If BOOST runs during the main project timeline the following requirements apply: 
  - At least 0.5 FTE scientific staff must be maintained on the main project.  
  - BOOST projects do not require 0.5 FTE scientific staff commitment. 
  - One employee cannot be funded for more than 1.0 FTE in total.
• The budget for additional expertise not covered by the NFU salary scales can be requested in GMS as a 'service provider'.  KWF applies maximum hourly rates for hiring freelancers (external hire). The maximum hourly rates can be found in the "KWF Tarievenbeleid 2025”. These are the maximum hourly rates including all other costs (travel expenses, parking fees, travel hours, etc.). Quotes for external service providers must be submitted, specifying the effort in hours. In the exceptional case that the costs of service providers exceed the maximum hourly rates, we request 1) a detailed justification explaining why this particular service provider is of critical importance to the project, and 2) two additional quotes from comparable parties. By comparable parties, we mean those that could deliver work of the same quality. These documents need to be uploaded to GMS and submitted together with the application. The committee will then take the justification and rates of comparable parties into consideration in their evaluation.
• A letter of intent/support is mandatory if a commercial partner is involved in the project.  
• The project leader on the KWF project does not need to be the project leader on the BOOST application. If the project leader of the KWF project is not involved as a project leader on the BOOST application and is also not a participating party, the project leader on the KWF project must provide written consent for the submission and execution of the BOOST application.
• KWF requires to review the appropriate agreements on the exploitation of the results made for the BOOST application before the start.
• Any early termination of the KWF project will lead to reconsideration of the BOOST grant. 

Recommendations and considerations  

• When choosing between either local implementation or outsourcing of techniques and expertise, applicants should carefully consider how often and for how long the technology or expertise will be needed. For repeated, long-term use within the associated project and research line, local implementation can durably strengthen the research group’s translational capacity. For one-off or short-term needs, outsourcing or collaboration is generally deemed more cost-effective and efficient.
• BOOST supports smart use of advanced technologies, models and specialist expertise that clearly strengthen translational value. At the same time, KWF is committed to the 3Rs in animal research (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement). Therefore, applicants must avoid unnecessary development of animal models that already exist by using available solutions wherever possible. For use of complex animal technologies (such as GEMMs, orthotopic models, or humanized mice), local development should only be considered if access through certified facilities, academic partners or CROs is demonstrably not feasible and adds unique translational value that cannot be achieved externally. Applicants must weigh whether long-term, repeated use justifies in-house implementation or whether short-term or occasional needs are better served by outsourcing or collaboration.
• We recommend considering suitability with the science liaison associated with the KWF project before submitting a proposal. 

Additional information  

Apply for funding 
The application procedure consists of a (shortened)  full-proposal phase only, which should be submitted through our Grant Management System (KWF GMS) before their corresponding deadlines (see above). 
 
PLEASE NOTE: Participating institutes not yet registered must submit a request through KWF-GMS at least 6 weeks prior to the call's closing date. 

This programme will only consist of a full-proposal phase. Project proposals will be assessed by a dedicated BOOST-committee. Composition of the committee (members and chairpersons) will be published on the KWF website in due course.

Timeline

Budget & Duration