Tracker - 25 May 2026

National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026-2036 

On Friday 22 May 2026, the Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon Mark Butler MP, announced the release of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026-2036. 

The National Strategy sets out a 10-year vision for strengthening Australia’s health and medical research system and creating a healthier nation. Through 5 focus areas the Strategy presents the architecture and series of actions to deliver its bold vision and values to guide implementation.

The Chair of the Strategy, Ms Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM, led the development of the National Strategy, in close consultation with the health and medical research sector. Researchers, clinicians, health care professionals, policymakers, industry leaders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and community leaders, and consumers have all provided insights to inform the final strategy.

Minister Butler thanked Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM for working with the sector to develop Australia’s first ever National Strategy for Health and Medical Research.

‘It provides a clear roadmap for strengthening health and medical research in this country over the coming decade,’ said Minister Butler.

Read more in the Minister’s media release on the media centre.

NHMRC Speaking of Science - Bowel cancer prevention: from discovery and innovation to impact on survival in Australia

Colorectal or bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Australia. Yet it is also one of the most treatable types of cancer when detected early. 

In light of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, NHMRC will be joined by Emeritus Professor of the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University, Professor Graeme Young AM to discuss the innovative research into bowel cancer screening and prevention, and how this has impacted survival rates in Australia. 

There will be a Q&A session at the end, so we encourage you to attend and ask questions!

This webinar will take place on Thursday 25 June 2026 from 11:00AM–12:00PM AEST. 

Register on Microsoft Teams here. 

Outcomes: NHMRC strategic workshop on research preparedness for the next pandemic

NHMRC CEO, Professor Steve Wesselingh, convened senior leaders from government, research, clinical practice, industry and community for a one-day strategic workshop on 17 February 2026 to discuss how Australia can be research ready for the next pandemic. 

A report on the outcomes of the workshop, including key themes and suggested actions to strengthen Australia’s research readiness, is available on NHMRC’s publications page​​​​​​​.

2026 Impact Case Study evaluation

NHMRC produces impact case studies to demonstrate its contribution to raising the standard of individual and public health throughout Australia. NHMRC periodically evaluates the case study business activity which is now published on NHMRC’s website. This evaluation demonstrates that the process through which research-based evidence leads to improvements to health usually takes 2 decades at a minimum. For this reason, stable and long-term funding for medical research is vital.

The evaluation is available on NHMRC’s evaluation webpage.

Invitation for Public Submissions: Dementia Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care

Monash University is seeking NHMRC approval under section 14A of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992 for its Dementia Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care.

These guidelines update the 2016 Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia. They aim to support health professionals to understand and apply current evidence on risk reduction, diagnosis, therapies and post-diagnostic care of dementia in practice. They are also intended to support people living with dementia and their carers to make informed decisions.

Public consultation on the draft recommendations is now open and will close on Monday 6 July 2026.

To view the draft recommendations and make a submission please visit Monash University’s Dementia Guidelines webpage. 
 

2026 NHMRC-Swiss National Science Foundation grant opportunity minimum data due soon

Minimum data for applications to the 2026 NHMRC-Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) grant opportunity is due on Thursday 28 May 2026 by 17:00 (AEST). 

Applicants must complete the required fields with correct information. Use of placeholder text will not be accepted. For more information on minimum data requirements refer to Appendix B of the 2026 NHMRC-SNSF Guidelines (available on GrantConnect).

Applicants 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.

Overseas institutions that will be involved in the planned research activity must be listed in the Participating Institutions section of Sapphire (refer to Section 5.4, Appendix B).

Applications will close on Thursday 18 June 2026 at 17:00 (AEST).

For assistance, please email help@nhmrc.gov.au. 

Key NHMRC grant program dates

NHMRC grant opportunities are funded through the Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA).

The following grant opportunity is opening soon:

• 2027 Investigator Grants round
  • Applications open on Wednesday 3 June 2026
  • Minimum data is due on Wednesday 1 July 2026 by 17:00 (AEST)
  • Applications will close on Wednesday 29 July 2026 at 17:00 (AEST).
    
    The Investigator Grants 2027 guidelines and peer review guidelines will be published on GrantConnect when applications open.
    
    Researchers are strongly encouraged to start planning their applications early and are reminded that accurate and complete minimum data information, such as fields of research, are essential in matching applications to appropriately qualified peer reviewers. 
    
    New users will need to register for a Sapphire account and complete their Sapphire profile. For more information, visit the Sapphire website or NHMRC’s Sapphire webpage.
    
    For further information or assistance contact the Research Help Centre at help@nhmrc.gov.au. 

The following grant opportunity is closing soon:

• 2026 Postgraduate Scholarship scheme
  • Applications will close on Wednesday 3 June 2026 at 17:00 (AEST).
    
    Further details, including the Guidelines and other supporting documents are available on GrantConnect (GO8345). 
    
    Applicants are reminded that the Application Title field should reflect the nature of the project and must not include the name of the applicant, or the name of the scheme (e.g. PhD application).  
    All mandatory profile information must be completed.
    
    RAOs are required to certify applications for submission. Applications should only be certified once they are complete and ready for submission.
    
    Research Help Centre (RHC) and Sapphire Requests
    Postgraduate Scholarship applicants should ensure:
  • their supervisors have an active Sapphire account, or request access as soon as possible. All users are asked to log into their Sapphire account well in advance to ensure that they have access to Sapphire. Inactivity in the system may result in password expiry or requirement to reset multi-factor authentication. Note that multi-factor authentication resets must come directly from the affected Sapphire user, not research team members or RAOs. Further guidance is available on NHMRC’s Sapphire webpage. Submission of a registration form and activation of a Sapphire account must occur at least 3 business days before application close, noting that account activation processes cannot be guaranteed in less than this time.
  • participating institutions listed as part of their application are available in Sapphire.
  • if a participating institution is not available in Sapphire, please email help@nhmrc.gov.au, and provide the institution’s name and website address (URL) and request that it be added to the system.
     

Medical Research Future Fund – grant opportunities key dates

The following MRFF grant opportunity has opened for applications: 

• 2026 Mental Health Research Grant Opportunity (GO8415)
  • Minimum data due Wednesday 19 August 2026 at 17:00 (AEST)
  • Applications close on Wednesday 16 September 2026 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 minimum data due 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 and ABN (if applicable).

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

Key dates

Please see the funding schemes and calendar page.

Tracker

See previous editions of Tracker.

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