Exploration Call

Please note: 

The information below applies to Call 2025-3. A provisional timeline for the subsequent calls (2026-1 and 2026-3) is already included, with more details to follow later.

Introduction

Basic research serves as the wellspring of innovation, driven by undirected curiosity. Our commitment is to empower researchers, providing them with opportunities to uncover new insights. Recognizing that fundamental knowledge is paramount to pioneering breakthroughs in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, we steadfastly invest in the exploration of knowledge and skills. This dedication ensures continued progress in the fight against cancer.

Aim

The Exploration Call is dedicated to basic research to uncover the underlying mechanisms that drive the onset, growth, and spread of cancer. Its aim is to address knowledge gaps, gain new scientific insights, and identify new leads and targets for preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Scope

The Exploration Call is intended for project proposals within the Basic research and Credentialing research phases:

• Basic Research (research phase 1)

  The goal of basic research is to obtain essential insight into the origin and progression of cancer and its (psychosocial) effects, as well as basic principles underlying the prevention and treatment of cancer and relevant technological developments. Basic research does not focus directly on the possible application of this knowledge.
   

• Credentialing (research phase 2)

  Credentialing (or collecting credentials, evidence, confirmation) aims at identifying (discovering) factors, targets and leads that could influence or improve prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and quality of life. Examples are the discovery of targets and  biomarkers or compound or drug screenings. Observational and population studies can also be part of the credentialing phase, as well as cross-sectional research, retrospective and/or prospective cohort studies and case-control studies. The credentialing phase also includes validating the identified factors, targets or leads, and preliminary testing whether the creation of a modality is possible.

Terms and conditions

• The KWF Funding Conditions 2025 and the KWF Accountants Protocol 2025 apply (see downloads).
   
• Please refer to the KWF Guidelines (see downloads) for further details on the process, characteristics, and eligibility terms applicable to the open Exploration call
   
• Projects wrongfully submitted to the Exploration call (due to an incorrect research phase selection) will not be considered. It is the project leader's responsibility to ensure submission to the correct call.
  
  Why is this important?  
  Choosing the correct phase ensures that:
  • The appropriate application form is used; this form meets the specific requirements of Exploration proposals. 
  • Your proposal is reviewed by the correct committee, this ensures the most accurate review of your proposal.
     
• As outlined in the KWF Guidelines, p.14 (see downloads):
  • If your proposal spans multiple research phases, please choose the phase that best reflects the central focus and primary objectives of the study. 
  • For applications involving an interventive prospective study, the clinical phase should be selected as the research phase.

For further details, please refer to Appendices 3 and 4 of the guidelines. We strongly emphasize that selecting the appropriate research phase is the applicant’s responsibility and is essential for a smooth and effective review process.

Apply for funding

The application procedure consists of a pre-proposal phase and a full-proposal phase (see below). Both should be submitted through our Grant Management System (KWF GMS). 

• PLEASE NOTE: Participating institutes not yet registered in our Grant Management System must submit a request through KWF-GMS at least 6 weeks prior to the call's closing date.

Pre-proposal & full-proposal

Call 2025-3 is the first Exploration call introducing a pre-proposal phase. An example of the pre-proposal template is available for download below, but please do not use this template to submit. At the opening of the call, you must register and download the most recent version of the pre-proposal template in our Grant Management System (KWF-GMS).

Download example forms

Timeline Call 2025-3

Timeline Call 2026-1 (provisional)

Timeline Call 2026-3 (provisional)

Review process

The review process comprises various stages, including internal review by KWF, a board review by our Exploration Committee and external review by (inter)national referees.

After reviewing the pre-proposals, applicants will be informed of the results. Only applicants with a positively evaluated pre-proposal will be invited to submit a full proposal. 

More information

Please contact our Help Desk.