Today

Welcome to Tracker, NHMRC’s fortnightly newsletter with the latest information on major activities and funding opportunities.

Biennial Awards: The force behind consumer involvement in research

NHMRC understands the importance of engaging with consumers and the community on its role and activities. We also understand the value of providing leadership and guidance to the health and medical research sector on the meaningful engagement of consumers throughout all stages of research and health care.

The Consumer Involvement Award recognises an individual or an organisation that has made a long-term contribution to consumer and community involvement in health and medical research.

Nominations for this award, and all otheSleep is essential to good health. When it's disrupted by sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the effects can be serious.r Biennial Awards, are open until Friday 11 December 2026, 5 pm (ASpeaking of Science - From gluing masks on noses to precision pharmacotherapy: revolutionising sleep apnoea treatmentEDT).

Submit your nominations via the form on our website.

Please contact nhmrc.awards@nhmrc.gov.au for assistance.

Speaking of Science - From gluing masks on noses to precision pharmacotherapy: revolutionising sleep apnoea treatment

Sleep is essential to good health. When it's disrupted by sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the effects can be serious.

When sleep apnoea was first described in 1965, treatment options were limited and invasive. That changed in 1981.

NHMRC funded researchers at The University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital found that gently delivering continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) through the nose could keep a patient's airway open, making breathing easier during sleep. Today, CPAP is the most effective treatment for OSA and is used in millions of homes around the world.

Professor Ron Grunstein AM of The University of Sydney will join us for Speaking of Science this November. He will reflect on how this Australian innovation went from the lab to the bedside, revolutionising sleep apnoea treatment.

There will be a Q&A session at the end, so come prepared with your questions for Professor Grunstein!

This webinar will take place on Friday 27 November 2026, 11 am–12 pm (AEDT).

Register on Teams.

Public consultation on the 2025 National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research

Public consultation on the 2025 National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research is now open. The proposed changes address the definition of human research, when ethics review of human research is required and the approach to and criteria for research that is exempt from ethics review.

Further information is available at NHMRC’s consultation website.

For any questions, contact  ethics@nhmrc.gov.au.

Preventing iodine deficiency in pregnancy

Iodine is an essential nutrient required for normal brain development and growth. NHMRC-funded researchers established that iodine deficiency during pregnancy caused irreversible brain damage in children and demonstrated that this damage could be prevented through supplementation. Their work underpinned global public health measures, contributing to the large-scale reduction of iodine deficiency disorders in many countries and protecting millions of children from preventable intellectual disability.

Read more about this and other positive impacts arising from NHMRC grant funding in our Impact Case Studies.

Gender Equity 2025–26 Report Card

As part of our commitment to increased transparency in reporting on grant applications and outcomes by gender, NHMRC has published our Gender Equity 2025–26 Report Card.

To see the progress towards gender equity in the grant program, view the report card on NHMRC’s gender equity webpage.

Annual report published

Last month we published NHMRC’s annual report for 2025–26. It reflects another year of progress against our enduring mission of building a healthy Australia through investment in research, support for translation and innovation, and promotion of the highest standards of ethics and integrity in health and medical research.

You can read the annual report on our website.

Executive Director position vacant

NHMRC is seeking a strategic and collaborative senior leader to join our Leadership team as Executive Director, Research Partnerships Branch.

This SES band 1 role provides an opportunity to lead nationally significant research initiatives, strengthen partnerships across the health and medical research sector and help influence NHMRC’s approach to research translation and engagement.

The role leads work across research partnerships, research translation, international engagement, consumer and community involvement and NHMRC and MRFF grant initiatives.

We’re looking for a values-based leader with excellent judgement, strategic thinking and the ability to build trusted relationships across government, research organisations and the community.

Applications close Sunday 15 November 2026 at 11:30 pm (AEDT).

For more information, visit our Careers page: National Health and Medical Research Council - Executive Director, Research Partnerships.

Partnership Projects – closing soon

Applications for the 2026 Partnership Projects Peer Review Cycle 3 (PRC3) close on Wednesday 11 November 2026, 5 pm (AEDT).

We encourage applicants to work closely with their RAOs well in advance of the application close date to ensure they can submit applications on time.

Applicants are reminded that: 

  • the Research Help Centre will continue to respond to Sapphire-related enquiries until Wednesday 11 November 2026, 1 pm (AEDT) 
  • only applicants who completed minimum data requirements by the deadline on 28 October 2026, 5 pm (AEDT) can submit a full application 
  • applications submitted after close of round will not be accepted. 

Please contact help@nhmrc.gov.au for assistance.

Medical Research Future Fund grant opportunities – key dates

The following MRFF grant opportunities have opened for applications:

The following MRFF grant opportunities have a close date 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 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 an MRFF grant assessment committee.
 

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