Human health is influenced not only by a diagnosis, but also by genetic, biological, lifestyle, environmental and other individual factors. As a result, modern medicine is increasingly moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches towards more precise disease prevention, earlier diagnosis and healthcare solutions tailored to individual needs, according to the Research Council of Lithuania (LMT).
To strengthen research capacity in this field in Lithuania, the Research Council of Lithuania has launched its first call for project proposals under the targeted programme “Personalised Medicine – for Longer Life Expectancy and Better Quality of Life.” Around €1 million in state budget funding has been allocated to support projects to be implemented between 2026 and 2029.
From understanding disease mechanisms to more precise healthcare solutions
The call will support projects focused on comprehensive research into the causes and mechanisms of disease. The aim is to develop science-based solutions that enable more personalised approaches to disease prevention and diagnosis, as well as the development of healthy lifestyle strategies based on the principles of personalised medicine.
Personalised medicine is one of the fields where scientific research can directly drive progress in healthcare. It brings together clinical practice, data science, biobanks, public health and health technologies. This research area is important not only for generating new knowledge, but also for translating discoveries into practical applications — from more accurate disease risk assessment to improved clinical recommendations and new diagnostic solutions.
“Personalised medicine is a field that requires ongoing dialogue between science, clinical practice and data analysis. The better we understand the causes and mechanisms of disease, as well as the individual factors that influence health, the stronger the foundation we will have for more precise prevention and diagnosis. This call is important because it encourages collaboration across different areas of expertise and supports the development of solutions that could be applied in healthcare practice in the future,” says Prof. Dr Vilmantė Borutaitė, Chair of the Expert Committee for Natural and Technical Sciences at LMT.
Focus on both research quality and practical impact
The call emphasises that funded projects should focus not only on generating new scientific knowledge, but also on their potential for practical application. Proposed activities must contribute towards achieving at least four quantitative indicators defined within the programme.
Potential outcomes include the implementation of personalised medicine innovations, the development of clinical application recommendations or updates to clinical protocols, the initiation of preclinical studies, and the reuse of health data collections, open databases or biobank samples. Projects may also result in high-impact scientific publications, patent applications, presentations at international scientific conferences and public engagement activities.
Call open to research institutions and university hospitals
Applications may be submitted by Lithuanian research and higher education institutions included in the Register of Education and Science Institutions, as well as by university hospitals. The project leader must be a researcher.
Funding of up to €250,000 per project may be awarded, with a maximum project duration of 36 months.
Further information and application details are available here.
Key dates
- Deadline for applications: 20 August 2026
- Administrative review and establishment of the expert committee: by 21 September 2026
- Expert evaluation: by 16 November 2026
- Contract signing: by 30 November 2026
- Project implementation period: until 30 November 2029
27.07.2026.
