University of Pisa

Prof. Raffaele De Caterina, Chair of Cardiology at the University of Pisa and Director of the Cardiovascular Department at the University Hospital in Pisa, is widely recognised for his pioneering work in cardiovascular research. But it does not stop there. With an ERC Advanced Grant proposal, he is focusing on atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability as a risk predictor for vascular dementia onset and possible intervention strategies. A project that brings together fundamental science, clinical insights, and translational potential.

From groundbreaking science to a grant proposal

Although the research idea was highly innovative and clinically relevant, the challenge lay in transforming it into a competitive ERC Advanced Grant proposal. ERC evaluators not only demand groundbreaking science but also flawless execution in terms of structure, budget planning, and proposal aesthetics. Like many leading researchers, Prof. De Caterina needed support in bridging the gap between scientific excellence and the complex non-scientific requirements of ERC applications

Our contribution to the ERC Advanced Grant proposal

That is when Hezelburcht became involved. Our expertise was chosen because the University of Pisa had identified our firm as an expert in ERC funding. Our contribution was multifaceted:

• Providing in-depth knowledge of ERC requirements.
• Offering a broad scientific and clinical understanding of the research project
• Delivering strong expertise in budgetary matters, often a weak point for researchers.
• Adding organisational elements, including structuring tables, figures, and visual presentation.
• Conducting critical reviews to detect errors, repetitions, and weaknesses.
• Enhancing the visual and aesthetic quality of the final proposal.

Through the process, our specialists collaborated with Prof. Raffaele De Caterina on the preparation and submission of his proposal. Given the competitiveness of ERC grants, the partnership with Hezelburcht was crucial in strengthening both the scientific presentation and the administrative precision of the proposal. Overall, it was a highly professional collaboration that required some great flexibility.

Pleasant and productive collaboration

Regardless of the outcome of the funding decision, Prof. De Caterina strongly values the collaboration with our specialists and highly recommends their services to other researchers pursuing competitive grants. Our experience demonstrated how specialised consultancy can transform strong scientific ideas into robust, competitive proposals. Looking forward, the University of Pisa aims to continue developing groundbreaking research, with the possibility of future collaborations with Hezelburcht in securing further research funding.

Independent of whether my proposal will be accepted or not, I could not hope for better help in structuring it for the final submission. I would definitely recommend Hezelburcht for other investigators competing for this and similar grant openings. - Prof. Raffaele De Caterina | Chair of Cardiology, University of Pisa