Tracker - 17 March 2025

NHMRC Speaking of Science - An evaluation of NHMRC-funded dementia and diabetes research

As the key driver of health and medical research in Australia, NHMRC has an integral role within the broader health innovation system in generating research impact that aims to reach our mission of ‘building a healthy Australia’.

To promote the upcoming launch of NHMRC’s report ‘An evaluation of NHMRC-funded dementia and diabetes research’, a comprehensive study by Elsevier, join us for a live panel discussion on Tuesday 18 March 2025 from 10:00AM – 11:00AM AEDT as part of our Speaking of Science webinar series.

This report, commissioned by NHMRC and delivered by Elsevier, provides comprehensive AI-derived insights into the research outputs, outcomes, and impacts of NHMRC-funded health and medical research in the areas of dementia and diabetes. 

Hosted by NHMRC’s Executive Director of Technology and Data, Simon Mair you’ll hear from a live panel including:

• Dr Luigi Rucco (Head of Analytical Services Europe and Emerging Markets, Elsevier)
• Professor Steve Wesselingh (Chief Executive Officer, NHMRC)
• Professor Josephine Forbes (President, Australian Diabetes Society)
• Professor Christopher Rowe (Director, Australian Dementia Network, University of Melbourne).

Register for this webinar on Eventbrite.

If you have any questions for the event organisers you can reach us at media@nhmrc.gov.au.

Nominate to be the next Chair of AMRAB

On 16 February 2025, Professor Ian Frazer AC stepped down as Chair of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB). Professor Caroline Homer AO is currently acting Chair of AMRAB. Professor Homer has served as Deputy Chair of AMRAB since 2021 and is also the Chair of the Council of the NHMRC. 

Nominations are now being invited from those interested in leading AMRAB. The Chair will be an exceptional and recognised leader with a demonstrated passion in achieving positive health outcomes and a wide range of expertise and experience.

Nominations are encouraged from people from diverse backgrounds, including individuals at early career stages and consumers or people with experience in consumer issues. 

Nominations close on 11 May 2025. Access the nomination form on the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website.

Project abstracts available for the 2024 NHMRC-ERC implementing arrangements call

Project abstracts are now available for the European Research Council (ERC) Implementing Arrangements call for 2024. NHMRC-funded researchers can apply to work with European research teams for up to a year during their grant period. 

Contact international@nhmrc.gov.au Or ERC-IMPLEMENTING-ARRANGEMENTS@ec.europa.eu for further details.

If you take up this opportunity, let the team know by emailing international@nhmrc.gov.au.  

Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) – annual scientific meeting

The rescheduled GACD annual scientific meeting is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from Monday 9 June to Thursday 12 June 2025. If you had previously registered for the October 2024 meeting, please re-register as prior registrations do not carry over. 

The GACD offers a broad range of training and capacity strengthening resources and events for researchers. These resources have also been featured on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) knowledge action portal, the first community driven platform for noncommunicable disease knowledge sharing. Curated GACD resources can be explored on the WHO’s website.

Australian Consumer Partnerships in Research Awards

AccessCR are hosting their first Australian Consumer Partnerships in Research Awards. These Awards aim to inspire action, and honour innovation and excellence in research participant experience and consumer partnership in research. 

Entries are open until 22 April 2025. Learn more about the award categories and entry process here.

AccessCR are hosting a Q&A webinar to answer questions about the awards on Friday 21 March 12-1pm AEDT.

Register for this webinar on Humanitix.  

Extension processes due to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred

NHMRC acknowledges that Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred may have affected some applicants’ ability to finalise their applications for grant opportunities that are closing soon. NHMRC encourages applicants who have been affected to seek advice from their research administration officer (RAO) regarding potential extension requests. Application extension requests received through the established process outlined in the relevant section of the respective Grant Guidelines will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

RAOs are reminded that the following schemes will close on Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 17:00 AEDT for the following schemes: 

• Synergy Grants (GO7526)
• Partnership Projects (PRC1) (GO7440)
• NHMRC e-ASIA Joint Research Program (GO7403).

MRFF Grant Schemes: 
The following MRFF grant opportunity closing dates have been extended as follows: 

• 2024 Clinical Trials Activity (GO7146) will close on Wednesday 9 April 2025 at 17:00 AEST
• 2024 Integrated Multidisciplinary Models of Primary Care (GO7154) will close on Wednesday 9 April 2025 at 17:00 AEST

Further details on these schemes are available on GrantConnect.

Please contact help@nhmrc.gov.au for further information or assistance.

Medical Research Future Fund – grant opportunities key dates 

The following MRFF grant opportunities have minimum data due dates approaching:

• MRFF – 2024 Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 grant opportunity (GO7225) 
  • Minimum data due on 26 March 2025 at 17:00 AEDT
  • Applications close on 16 April 2025 at 17:00 AEST.

Details on how to apply for MRFF grant opportunities and all MRFF close dates are available on GrantConnect. Applicants are reminded that only applicants who completed minimum data by the due date can submit an application. It is also the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements, including limits on the number of times a person can be named as a Chief Investigator on applications submitted to a grant opportunity.

Applicants should ensure:

• their Sapphire account is active or access to Sapphire has been requested,
• their organisation is an approved MRFF Eligible Organisation before the close date, and
• any intended participating institutions are listed in Sapphire or request that a new participating institution be added by emailing help@nhmrc.gov.au, including the institution's website address (URL) and ABN (if applicable).

MRFF grant assessment committee
Register your interest to become a member of a MRFF grant assessment committee.

2025 NHMRC e-ASIA Joint Research Program (JRP)

Key dates: 

• Minimum data due on Wednesday 19 March 2025 17:00 AEDT 
• Applications close on Wednesday 2 April 2025 17:00 AEDT. 

Applicants to the 2025 NHMRC e-ASIA JRP are also reminded that mandatory profile information is indicated in the ‘My Profile’ section of Sapphire. All mandatory profile fields are required to be completed by all Chief Investigators (CIs) - including any international CIs named on the application. CIAs will need to verify that each of the CIs has completed and updated their profile before an application is certified. Please refer to Section 5, Appendix D of the 2025 NHMRC e-ASIA JRP guidelines for further information. 

Overseas institutions that will be involved in the planned research activity must be listed in the participating institutions section (Section 5.14, Appendix D).

NHMRC Partnership Projects 2025 - upcoming key dates  

Partnership Projects 2025 PRC1: minimum data due by Wednesday 19 March 2025 17:00 (AEDT), only applicants that completed minimum data by Wednesday 19 March 2025 17:00 (AEDT) can submit a full application in PRC1. 

• Partnership Projects 2025 PRC1: applications close on Wednesday 2 April 2025 17:00 (AEDT).
• Partnership Projects 2024 PRC2: open for applications on Thursday 20 March 2025.

Please direct all enquiries to help@nhmrc.gov.au

Key dates

Refer to Funding schemes and calendar.

Tracker

See previous editions of Tracker.

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