MRFF and NHMRC – Clinical Trials Activity Initiative – 2025 Australia-UK Platform Studies in Areas of Unmet Clinical Need Grant Opportunity

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) – Clinical Trials Activity (CTA) Initiative – 2025 Australia-UK Platform Studies in Areas of Unmet Clinical Need Grant Opportunity will support new, adaptive platform trials (Phase 2 or 3) in areas of unmet clinical need. The platform must be internationally collaborative, with joint project leads based in Australia (for the Australian-based component of the trial) and the UK (for the UK-based component of the trial).

The anticipated outcome of the research is to invest in new, ambitious platform trials in areas of unmet clinical need that support increased access to high-quality, evidence-based and effective health care.

This grant opportunity is a collaboration between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) UK, the MRFF and the NHMRC to support research in shared areas of interest in Australia and the UK. MRFF and NHMRC funding is available to support the Australian-based arm of the proposed trial.

Application Process

To apply to MRFF or NHMRC, applicants must have applied for funding to the NIHR UK as required under their official call specification. Applicants with Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications assessed as fundable by the NIHR UK must be invited to apply for either MRFF or NHMRC funding as described in the overview of the process below:

  1. Applications open for submission, that are jointly led by Australian and UK researchers through the NIHR’s UK electronic online system REALMS
  2. Applications are assessed by NIHR UK, and top ranked applicants are invited to the next stage to provide a full application to the NIHR UK electronic submission system (REALMS)
  3. Full applications are assessed and recommendation on applications considered fundable for the UK component proceeds
  4. NIHR UK provides a list of recommended applications to the Department of Health and Aged Care and the NHMRC
  5. Applicants are invited to apply for MRFF or NHMRC funding through the NHMRCs online electronic system Sapphire
  6. Applications are reviewed and grant recommendations will be made
  7. Final outcomes will be notified to the UK and Australian joint leads of all applications.

Further information on the grant opportunity is available from the NIHR website. Register or log in to REALMS from the REALMS log in page.

Link to GrantConnect