3 March 2025

Welcome to Tracker, the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) fortnightly newsletter with the latest information on major activities and funding opportunities.

Investigator Grants 2025 outcomes announcement

NHMRC welcomed the announcement of the funding outcomes for the 2025 Investigator Grants round by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP, on Monday 24 February 2025.

The funding announcement of over $422 million will support 229 outstanding health and medical research leaders across Australia. The media release for this announcement is available on NHMRC’s website and outcomes data is available on NHMRC’s Outcomes of funding rounds webpage.

Collaborations in Health Services Research 2024 funding announced

On Wednesday 26 February 2025, NHMRC announced the funding outcomes for the 2024 Collaborations in Health Services Research (CHSR) grant opportunity totalling $15 million.

CHSR funding is intended to support small scale, health service-focussed research projects that relate to the health system, conducted in a health service setting and as a collaboration between health services and research organisations.

These projects will foster collaborations to improve health care through a leveraged investment of almost $10 million committed by funding partners, bringing the total to $25 million.

Find out more about the projects funded in NHMRC's media release.

Partnership Projects 2024 funding announced

On Friday 21 February 2025, NHMRC also announced the funding outcomes for 2024 Partnership Project PRC2 grants totalling $8.9 million.

These grants support researchers to partner with policy makers and health service providers to design and deliver research that addresses health needs in our community. Researchers work with partners to define research questions and undertake research that the partners then translate into improved health services for end users. 

Projects funded will be supported by 62 funding partners, which together are contributing a further $11.2 million, bringing the total investment in the collaborative research to over $20 million.

Find out more about the projects funded in NHMRC's media release.  

Invitation for public submissions: NHMRC third party guidelines

Australian Living Guideline for the Pharmacological Management of Inflammatory Arthritis

The Australia and New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network (ANZMUSC), the Australian Rheumatology Association and Cochrane Musculoskeletal are seeking NHMRC approval under section 14A of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992 for their Australian Living Guideline for the Pharmacological Management of Inflammatory Arthritis.

Consultation on draft living recommendations opens on Tuesday 4 March 2025 and will close on Monday 7 April 2025
The draft living recommendations relate to:
 

  • Dose reduction or discontinuation of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) in people with psoriatic arthritis (refer Guideline Section 7.2)
     
  • Dose reduction or discontinuation of biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) versus dose reduction or discontinuation of conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) (refer Guideline Section 9).

Submissions can be made on ANZMUSC’s website.

Public call for tender and evidence reviews for the Australian Dietary Guidelines (diet for older adults and diet and sustainability)

Public call: 

NHMRC is reviewing evidence for dietary guidance. We invite all stakeholders and members of the public to submit high quality primary studies for selected diet and nutrition related topics. 

The primary studies will support the development of new evidence reviews by addressing gaps where additional research may be needed. 

Submissions are open until Friday 14 March 2025 at 15:00 AEDT. 

For more information visit the public call for evidence for Dietary Guidelines evidence reviews webpage.  

Open tender: 

NHMRC is commissioning a further 4 scoping reviews for the revision of the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines, including:

  • intake of protein rich food and the development of sarcopenia (age related muscle wasting) 
  • intake of protein rich food and the development of neurocognitive conditions and impairments (including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease) 
  • environmental impact of consuming different dietary patterns, protein-rich foods and ultra processed foods in the Australian context 
  • implications of different dietary patterns on socio cultural acceptability, accessibility, equity, cost and affordability of food in the Australian context. 

Potential suppliers interested in conducting one or more of these reviews can apply through Austender.

Applications close on Monday 24 March 2025 at 15:00 AEDT.

Review of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 

NHMRC will be undertaking a review of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, 8th edition (2013, updated 2021). The review will be overseen by NHMRC’s Animal Welfare Committee. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to be involved in the review through a public consultation.

For more information, visit NHMRC's animal ethics webpage. 

NHMRC Impact Case Study: Better treatment for glaucoma

Better treatment for glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting around 80 million people and over 200,000 Australians. It occurs due to damage to the optic nerve, often caused by increased eye pressure from inadequate fluid drainage.

NHMRC-funded researchers developed the XEN® Gel Stent (a tiny tube that is thinner than a human hair) which is surgically implanted to reduce high eye pressure in glaucoma patients. This quick, simple procedure takes less than 30 minutes with only local anaesthetic, requires no stitches, and causes minimal scarring.

Read more about this and other positive impacts arising from NHMRC grant funding in our impact case studies.

NHMRC grant program – grant opportunities key dates

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

Open now:

The Targeted Call for Research (TCR) on Anal Cancer 2025 is now open for applications in Sapphire.

The objectives of this grant opportunity are to improve awareness and to provide further guidance for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of anal cancel for both consumers and healthcare professionals.

  • Minimum data due on Wednesday 30 April 2025 17:00 AEST
  • Applications close on Wednesday 14 May 2025 17:00 AEST.

Further details on this grant opportunity, including the grant guidelines are available on GrantConnect. Contact help@nhmrc.gov.au for further information.


Minimum data due soon:

Synergy Grants 2025 

Minimum data for Synergy Grant applications is due Wednesday 5 March 2025 17:00 AEDT. 

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 D of the Synergy Grants 2025 Guidelines (available on GrantConnect).

Failure to meet the minimum data requirements by the deadline will result in the application not proceeding. New applications cannot be started after the minimum data deadline. 

  • Applications close on Wednesday 2 April 2025 17:00 AEDT.

Please email help@nhmrc.gov.au for further information. 

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.

2025 NHMRC e-ASIA JRP application requirements:
Applicants to the 2025 NHMRC e-ASIA JRP are 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 Peer Review Cycle 1 (PRC1)
Key dates:

  • NHMRC approved Administering Institutions to submit partner waiver requests for applications are due on Wednesday 5 March 2025 17:00 AEDT
  • Minimum data due on Wednesday 19 March 2025 17:00 AEDT
  • Applications close on Wednesday 2 April 2025 17:00 AEDT.


Closing soon:

TCR: Addressing the Needs of People with High Healthcare Service Utilisation 
Key dates: 

  • Applications close on Wednesday 12 March 2025 17:00 AEST. 

Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research (NEURON) 
Key dates: 

  • Applications close on Wednesday 26 June 2025 17:00 AEST.


Opening soon: 

NHMRC Ideas Grants grant opportunity will open on Wednesday 12 March 2025. 

  • Minimum data due on Wednesday 9 April 2025 17:00 AEST 
  • Applications close on Wednesday 7 May 2025 17:00 AEST. 

NHMRC-GACD has forecast anticipated participation in the 10th Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) funding call on ‘strengthening health systems’ on GrantConnect. 
GACD has published intended key dates for this funding call: 

  • Participating funding agencies confirmed: 28 March 2025 
  • Application portal opens: April 2025 
  • First stage proposal deadline: 16 June 2025 (18:00 CET) 
  • First stage proposal outcomes: 10 September 2025 
  • Second stage proposal deadline: 22 October 2025 (18:00 CET) 
  • Awards: January-April 2026.

NHMRC Partnership Projects Peer Review Cycle 2 (PRC2) grant opportunity will open on Thursday 20 March 2025. 

  • Minimum data due on Wednesday 23 July 2025 17:00 AEST 
  • Applications close on Wednesday 6 August 2025 17:00 AEST. 

NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships grant opportunity will open on Wednesday 9 April 2025. 

  • Minimum data due on Wednesday 14 May 2025 17:00 AEST 
  • Applications close on Wednesday 4 June 2025 17:00 AEST.

Medical Research Future Fund – grant opportunities key dates

The following MRFF grant opportunities have opened for applications:

The following opportunities have minimum data due dates approaching:  

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 self-nomination:  

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

Key dates

Refer to Funding schemes and calendar.

Tracker

See previous editions of Tracker.

Do you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter? To register they can visit Newsletter sign up.

Share