Welcome to Tracker, NHMRC’s fortnightly newsletter with the latest information on major activities and funding opportunities
Reflecting on health and medical research excellence
What inspires health and medical researchers to pursue a career in research? And how do they become the top-ranked researchers of NHMRC’s largest grant funding schemes?
Recipients of 2023 NHMRC Research Excellence Awards have reflected on their careers to date and have written first person pieces describing the significance of their research and how their hypotheses are helping to build a healthy Australia.
Read 2023 NHMRC Gustav Nossal Postgraduate Scholarship awardee, Dr Johanna Birrell’s, first person piece on her research into the epidemiology and equity of kidney failure in Australasia.
Dr Sean Humphrey, recipient of the 2023 NHMRC Peter Doherty Investigator Grant Award (Emerging Leadership), tells us his story - unlocking molecular vulnerabilities in childhood brain cancers.
Recipient of the 2023 NHMRC Frank Fenner Investigator Grant Award (Emerging Leadership), Dr Romain Ragonnet, has written a piece on his research into designing adaptive strategies to drive tuberculosis towards elimination.
Keep your eyes on NHMRC’s news centre for more research story-telling from our awardees.
Reminder: Review of the Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research
NHMRC and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia Ltd (CHF) are collaborating to review the 2016 Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research (the Statement).
The Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA) is running workshops around Australia throughout April 2024, using the Consumer Statement Review position paper as the basis for discussion. All interested stakeholders are encouraged to attend a workshop to have their say on what should be included in the revised Statement.
View the workshop schedule online via the Engagement on CCI Statement - AHRA website.
All interested stakeholders are encouraged to provide responses in the position paper through NHMRC’s Consultation Hub by Friday 31 May 2024.
Australian National Persistent Identifier Strategy released
The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) has released the Australian National Persistent Identifier (PID) Strategy: Accelerating Research Excellence and Impact.
The Strategy proposes a national, coordinated, collaborative approach to help with the adoption of PIDs to identify and connect data across Australia’s research and innovation ecosystem for greater, faster research impact.
NHMRC contributed to the development of the Strategy through representation on the task force and participation in the consultation processes. NHMRC is considering actions that can contribute to the Strategy and roadmap.
NHMRC/MREA – grant opportunities key dates
The following NHMRC/Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA) grant opportunities are open:
NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships 2024:
NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships 2024 scheme opened for applications on Wednesday 10 April 2024.
- Key Dates:
- Minimum data due Wednesday 8 May 2024 17:00 AEST.
- Applications close Wednesday 5 June 2024 17:00 AEST.
NHMRC Development Grants 2024:
NHMRC Development Grants 2024 opened for applications on Wednesday 17 April 2024.
- Key Dates:
- Minimum data due Wednesday 15 May 2024 17:00 AEST.
- Applications close Wednesday 12 June 2024 17:000 AEST.
The following NHMRC/MREA grant opportunities have minimum data due soon:
NHMRC Targeted Calls for Research:
NHMRC Targeted Call for Research: Climate-related health impacts and effective interventions to improve health outcomes 2024 has minimum data due.
- Key Dates
- Minimum data due Wednesday 1 May 2024 17:00 AEST
- Applications close Wednesday 15 May 2024 17:00 AEST
A reminder that budget requests are capped at a maximum of $1 million per applications for this grant opportunity.
Applicants and their supervisors need to ensure that their Sapphire account is active, or register for access to Sapphire well in advance of the minimum data deadline.
The following NHMRC/MREA grant opportunities are closing soon:
Ideas Grants 2024:
Applications for the Ideas Grant scheme close on Wednesday 15 May 2024 17:00 AEST.
All applicants (CIs and AIs) on an application must activate their profile in Sapphire before they can submit their applications. NHMRC may not be able to process requests for registrations and activations made less than 72 hours before the application close deadline.
Minimum Data
NHMRC has received over 2700 applications for the Ideas Grant scheme by the minimum data deadline.
Applications which did not meet minimum data requirements, (including test applications or those with incomplete minimum data) will not progress further. RAOs will be notified of these applications via email.
Key NHMRC grant program dates
Please see the Funding schemes and calendar page.
Medical Research Future Fund – grant opportunities key dates
The following MRFF grant opportunity has a minimum data due date approaching:
- 2023 Clinical Trials Activity (GO6540)
- Minimum data due Wednesday 1 May 2024 at 17:00 AEST.
- Applications close Wednesday 29 May 2024 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.
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 self-nomination
Register your interest to become a member of a MRFF grant assessment committee.