19 October 2026
Cardiometabolic chronic kidney disease (CM-CKD) is associated with an increased risk of kidney failure, cardiovascular events, hospitalization, and premature death. Yet current clinical markers such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) provide only limited insight into the biological mechanisms driving disease progression and cardiovascular risk.
To enable more precise patient stratification and support the development of targeted approaches, new biomarkers are needed that capture relevant disease processes across the kidney-cardiovascular axis. Non-invasive biomarkers reflecting mechanisms such as inflammation, fibrosis, vascular dysfunction, or metabolic dysregulation could improve risk assessment and support translational research. Emerging multi-omics and cardiovascular phenotyping approaches may help identify such biomarkers.
Through this opnMe call, we invite scientific experts to submit innovative research proposals addressing the following question:
How would you propose to identify and validate novel non-invasive, mechanism-anchored biomarkers linking kidney biology to cardiovascular risk in CM-CKD beyond eGFR and UACR?
Selected applicants will have the opportunity to collaborate with translational scientists from Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Experimental Medicines team to further develop and validate their proposed biomarker approach. Funding requests should be milestone-based and generally not exceed EUR 300,000 per project. Proposals requiring a higher level of funding may be considered depending on the maturity of the proposed approach, the extent of existing validation, and the scope of the project.
Submit your ideas now! Proposals will only be accepted if received by December 9, 2026, 11:59 pm PST.
No registration required
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About our opn2EXPERTS question:
How would you propose to identify and validate novel non-invasive, mechanism-anchored biomarkers linking kidney biology to cardiovascular risk in CM-CKD beyond eGFR and UACR?
With ambitious questions such as this, we share precisely formulated scientific challenges with the research community through our opn2EXPERTS program. Together with selected teams, we aim to explore innovative solutions for discovery and translational research that may ultimately help address unmet patient needs.
About opnMe:
opnMe.com, the open science portal of Boehringer Ingelheim, fosters science and collaboration initiatives in areas of high unmet medical need. Our molecules are provided to the scientific community either free of charge as “Molecules to Order” or applied for via scientific research submissions as “Molecules for Collaboration”. With our “opn2EXPERTS” and “techMATCH” calls, we enlist scientific advice on key scientific topics to fuel further drug discovery and deliver novel solutions that benefit unmet patient needs. Our "opn2TALENTS" postdoc grants at one of our research sites offer opportunities for high-level talents to propose innovative approaches for precisely defined scientific questions.