D4L Impact Program
Enabling early-career researchers to generate real-world evidence
The D4L Impact Program supports digital health research with access to tools, data infrastructure, and mentorship – for a more open and evidence-driven future.
With the D4L Impact Program, Data4Life empowers early-career researchers to design and conduct high-quality studies based on real-world health data.
Funded by Data4Life, supported by the Hasso-Plattner-Foudation, the program offers tailored support for digital health projects that use patient-reported outcomes, wearable and sensor data, and mobile applications to generate real-world evidence (RWE).
Awardees receive free access to D4L Collect – our platform for structured, GDPR-compliant data collection – as well as cloud resources, publication support, and mentorship. In return, all results and datasets will be made openly accessible after publication, in line with our commitment to open science and public benefit.
What we offer
- Free 12-month access to D4L Collect
- Cloud infrastructure and technical support
- Mentorship in study design and data analysis
- Coverage of open-access publication fees
- Travel support for international conferences
How to apply for the D4L Impact Program
You can choose between two ways to submit your application:
Option 1: Online application form (without login)
You can fill out our online form directly in your browser.
Please note: It’s not possible to save your progress in this version. We recommend having all required information and documents ready before you begin.
Option 2: Google form (requires Google account)
If you prefer to save your application as you go, you can use our Google Form.
This option allows you to pause and continue later – as long as you are logged into a Google account.
Additional documents
Regardless of which form you use, please send the following documents separately via email to:
- CV of the applicant including list of publications (mandatory)
- CV(s) of the Principal Investigator(s), if applicable
- Any additional supporting material relevant for the review (optional)
Turning digital health questions into open, reproducible evidence
Join the D4L Impact Program
FAQs
1. Who can apply for the D4L Impact Program?
We welcome applications from early-career researchers affiliated with academic or nonprofit institutions. Priority is given to PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and junior group leaders working in oncology, neurology, or cardiovascular research.
2. What kinds of projects are supported?
The program focuses on studies that generate real-world evidence from digital sources. Eligible topics could include digital biomarkers, remote monitoring, patient-reported outcomes, wearable data integration, natural history studies or others.
3. What is expected in return?
Awardees commit to publishing their results in open-access venues and sharing code and datasets through Data4Life’s repositories after publishing, where ethically and legally permissible.
4. How do I apply?
Applications must be submitted via the Data4Life submission portal. You’ll need a project abstract, a structured study design (TCIO-TAR), technical requirements, team details, and a dissemination plan.
5. How are proposals evaluated?
Proposals are reviewed for scientific quality, innovation, feasibility, and long-term impact. Selection is based on a two-stage review by internal and external experts.
6. When is the next application deadline?
The call for proposals opens in January 2026. Applications must be submitted by April 12, 2026 (23:59 CET).
7. Is there a budget limit or co-funding requirement?
Projects over €100,000 require 50% co-funding by the applicant institution. For smaller projects, full support is provided by Data4Life.
Application Form for D4L Impact Program
The D4L Impact Program supports early-career researchers in designing and conducting innovative digital health studies using D4L Collect. This application form enables applicants to provide core scientific and technical information about their proposed project in a structured and comparable way. Before filling in the form, applicants are required to read the full Application Guidelines, which outline program requirements, eligibility criteria, evaluation standards, and compliance obligations. Please complete all sections carefully and concisely to facilitate the review process.
Submission Instructions
The completed application form must be submitted via the form below or PDF by email to:
impactprogram@data4life.care
The submission deadline is:
April 19, 2026 – End of Day (23:59 CET)
