Tracker - 31 August 2026

Landmark joint meeting of the ARC Board and NHMRC Council

In August, the ARC and NHMRC brought together for the first time the ARC Board, NHMRC Council, the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board and senior agency officials, to discuss shared challenges and opportunities facing Australia's research system. 

The workshop focused on 3 key themes:

• strengthening trust in research
• supporting fair and sustainable research assessment
• increasing collaboration to tackle complex national challenges. 

To support future collaboration, ARC and NHMRC announced a joint commitment of $50 million over 5 years to develop collaborative funding opportunities that maximise the impact of Australian research for the community. 

Read more on our website. 
 

Search begins for NHMRC’s next CEO

NHMRC is seeking a highly respected leader with demonstrated achievement in health and medical research, healthcare, research funding, public policy, innovation, academia or a related field for the role of CEO, to:

• shape the future of health and medical research in Australia
• lead Australia’s largest health and medical research funding organisation
• support the ambition of Australia’s first National Health and Medical Research Strategy
• set national standards, including for the conduct of research, ethics in health, and providing trusted, evidence-based health advice to improve the health and lives of all Australians.

Applications close Thursday 17 September 2026, 11:59PM (AEST).

For more information, see our Careers webpage on NHMRC’s website. 
 

National Artificial Intelligence in Research Survey – now open

Australian researchers are invited to participate in the National AI in Research Survey, led by Science & Technology Australia and the MetaMelb Research Group at the University of Melbourne. The survey will help build an evidence base on how AI is being used across research and inform future policy discussions.

The initiative is supported by NHMRC, ARC and the Office of AI within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Researchers are encouraged to share their experiences and perspectives. 

The survey closes on Friday 25 September 2026. Complete the survey via the Science & Technology Australia webpage. 
 

Speaking of Science - From early detection to impact: improving outcomes of children with leukaemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common cancer in children. While almost all patients enter remission after initial chemotherapy, for around one in 6, a small residue of leukaemia cells survives and drives relapse.

Beginning in 1996, NHMRC funding has underpinned research into the development of minimal residual (MRD) testing, which is capable of detecting one leukaemia cell among a million healthy cells. MRD testing has led to a doubling in survival for high-risk children while sparing lower risk children from overly intensive treatment.

Professor Murray Norris AM of the Children’s Cancer Institute will join us for Speaking of Science this September, in acknowledgement of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, to discuss improving outcomes in childhood leukemia.

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 Friday 25 September 2026, 10:00AM–11:00AM AEST.

Register on Teams here. 

Refreshed Indigenous research excellence criteria

NHMRC are pleased to release the refreshed Indigenous research excellence criteria (IREC). To qualify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, at least 20% of the research effort and/or capacity building must relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. 

The refreshed IREC strengthen expectations for high-quality, culturally appropriate research and comprise the following criteria:

• community engagement
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leadership
• benefit
• sustainability and transferability
• building two-way capability
• data sovereignty and governance
• valuing Indigenous knowledges.

The refreshed criteria were developed following national consultation and advice from the NHMRC-MRFF Indigenous Advisory Group.

Guidance and further advice are being developed to assist with implementation.  
 

Building Capacity and Broadening Capability grant program evaluation report published

NHMRC has published the Building Capacity and Broadening Capability grant program evaluation report. 

The report analyses more than 3 decades of NHMRC grant data to examine trends in the researchers, institutions and research areas receiving funding. The findings identify opportunities for further analysis, future evaluation and improved data collection to support evidence-informed decision making and ongoing improvement of NHMRC's grant program. 

The findings highlight growing participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait researchers, increasing gender equity and an expanding breadth of research capability, while identifying opportunities to strengthen the future research workforce.

For more information, visit the Building Capacity and Broadening Capability grant program evaluation report page. 
 

Public consultation: Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) sodium and vitamin B6 recommendations

NHMRC’s public consultations on revised NRV recommendations for sodium and vitamin B6 are now open. 

NRVs are guidelines that describe how much of each nutrient, like sodium and vitamin B6, people need to stay healthy. They help people in Australia and New Zealand meet their nutritional needs and aim to reduce the risk of health issues from nutrient deficiency or excess.

Public consultation closes Wednesday 30 September 2026, 11:59PM (AEST). 

For more information or to make a submission, use the following links to our website: 

• Sodium
• Vitamin B6

Invitation for public submissions: Australian pregnancy care and postnatal care guidelines

The Living Evidence for Australian Pregnancy and Postnatal Care (LEAPP) consortium is seeking NHMRC approval. for its Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines and Australian Postnatal Care Guidelines.

Consultation on draft living recommendations from both guidelines is now open until Monday 28 September 2026. 

To view these recommendations and make a submission, please follow the links below.

Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines:

• A new section on assessment and prevention for pelvic floor health
• An updated section on screening for gestational diabetes
• A new section on vaccines
• Minor updates to wording in the sections on smoking, tobacco use and vaping and substance use.

Australian Postnatal Care Guidelines:

• A new section on caesarean wound healing
• A new section on assessment and prevention for pelvic floor health
• A new section on vaccines.

Find out more about the 5-year Australian Pregnancy and Postnatal Care Living Guidelines project on the LEAPP Guidelines’ website. 

NHMRC’s Centres of Research Excellence grant opportunity

The Centres of Research Excellence 2027 grant opportunity is scheduled to open for applications on Wednesday 16 September 2026, 2 weeks earlier than last year. 

Further information on the 2027 grant opportunity is available on the NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence webpage. Resources, including Grant Guidelines and Peer Review Guidelines, will be published on GrantConnect on the application open date.  
 

Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies grant scheme – opening soon

The following resources will be available on GrantConnect once the scheme opens: 

• 2026 Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grant Guidelines
• 2026 Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Peer Review Guidelines
• 2026 Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grant Proposal Template.

Key dates:

• Applications open Wednesday 9 September 2026
• Minimum data due Wednesday 7 October 2026 5:00PM AEDT
• Applications close Wednesday 4 November 2026 5:00PM AEDT.

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

Medical Research Future Fund – grant opportunities key dates

The following MRFF grant opportunity has opened for applications: 

• 2026 Clinician Researchers: Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Grant Opportunity (GO8568)
  Minimum data due Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 5:00PM (AEDT)
  Applications close Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 5:00PM (AEDT).

The following MRFF grant opportunity has a close date approaching:

• 2026 Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Grant Opportunity (GO8338)
  Applications close Wednesday 2 September at 5:00PM (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
• 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.