A collaboration between six Dutch academic metabolic centers & patient organization VKS
A collaboration between six Dutch academic metabolic centers & patient organization VKS
Patients with an inherited metabolic disease deserve an early diagnosis as well as effective and optimal treatment. Detrimental effects of the disease can only be prevented or mitigated through individualized treatment and tailored care.
An inherited metabolic disease is caused by a flaw in the DNA that disrupts the body's energy balance and causes the body to poison itself.
We all need energy. Metabolism is the process that keeps your energy balance in order: building blocks from the nutrients we eat, such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, are converted into energy.
Children with metabolic disease are born seemingly healthy, but because of a mistake in their DNA, their energy systems do not function properly. The result is life-threatening energy deficiencies and severe damage to the body from unprocessed waste. All systems are down. The consequences vary from child to child: some become deaf, blind, mentally or physically disabled, or forget who their parents are. Many children die at a very young age: 1 in 4 do not live past the age of 18. Without treatment, metabolic disease kills everyone.
Call for the submission of UMD Catalyst Grant proposals: Submit before november 10th, 2025.
UMD aims to improve diagnosis, prevention, treatment and care for patients and families with an inherited metabolic disease through UMD Catalyst Grants.
Collaborative projects that fit within the Kennisagenda Erfelijke Metabole Ziekten, UMD objectives and within one (or more) of the UMD themes are eligible for funding. Researchers can submit an application for a project or for the start/part of a project with a maximum amount of €20.000. The total amount available this round is €40.000
There will be four UMD Catalyst Grant rounds each year and thus there will be a quarterly deadline for submitting applications. The upcoming deadline for submitting an application is november 10th, 2025 at 18.00h. Each proposal will be reviewed by 3 members of the UMD Catalyst Grant review committee and decisions will be made within eight weeks after the submission deadline and sent to the applicants with feedback.
Formulieren
- The UMD Catalyst Grant Proposal form can be found through this link. Please note that for sending in your applications, the online fillable form should be filled in which is accessible through the red button on this page.
- More information about the guidelines and requirements can be found here. N.B. the guidelines have been slightly updated since the last application round therefore, please read the guidelines carefully before preparing your application.
For more information or questions regarding the UMD Catalyst Grant procedure please contact the UMD program manager (info@umd.nl).
The great diversity, complexity and rarity of inherited metabolic diseases require more focused and integrated attention, increased awareness and financial support for scientific research.
This is needed to improve future perspectives and outcomes for patients and their families in the coming years. To address these requirements in an integrated way, we founded ‘United for Metabolic Diseases’ (UMD).
UMD is a unique collaboration between medical doctors, researchers and laboratory specialists of the metabolic centers of expertise in the Netherlands and the Dutch umbrella patient organization ‘Volwassen, Kinderen en Stofwisselingsziekten’ (VKS).
UMD’s mission is to apply and translate innovative research and technology into improved diagnosis, treatment and care for all patients and families suffering from an inherited metabolic disease.
The metabolic catalyst wheel: UMD is all about the patient.
Activities within the UMD are centered around the patient. The goal is to catalyze translational research into a healthy future for all individuals with an inherited metabolic disease. The patient can enter the metabolic catalyst wheel at any phase of the program. The aim is to let the patient follow the wheel towards tailored treatment and care.
United for Metabolic Diseases (UMD) is a unique, innovative and multidisciplinary collaboration with the common goal to perform innovative research in order to improve diagnosis, prevention, treatment and care for patients and families with an inherited metabolic disease.
The Metakids Foundation facilitated the establishment of the UMD with revenues from the ‘VriendenLoterij Prijzenmarathon’ in 2018 and will do so for at least the next 5 years. In addition, the Metakids Foundation and the UMD will collectively and separately raise additional funding to maintain and further develop UMD into a sustainable collaboration.
