International collaborative health research funding

We engage strategically with international funding agencies and participate in funding schemes that align with the NHMRC International Engagement Strategy 2023-2026.

To participate in these schemes, your personal information may need to be disclosed by NHMRC to overseas recipients, generally for the purposes of peer review of your grant application. You will be advised of this possibility at the time of making your application.

For further information on open calls for research with NHMRC's international partners, refer to Find Funding.

Bilateral arrangements

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is Canada's federal funding agency for health research. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system.

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development

The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) is Japan's national body to promote integrated research and development in the field of medicine, from basic research to clinical trials.

Current status

NHMRC and AMED renewed a Memorandum of Cooperation in November 2022. NHMRC is working with AMED to advance the development of research cooperation in health and medical research between Japan and Australia.

AMED's Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for an Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE) program is designed to foster the exchange of information and to encourage collaboration between Japan and partner countries.

NHMRC-AMED 2024 ASPIRE Collaborative Research Scheme

This bilateral grant opportunity will provide new funding for up to 3 large-scale collaborative joint research projects which will strengthen networks and relationships between Japan and Australia, promote international mobility and circulation, and contribute to long-term collaborative networks.

ASPIRE Alignment Call

AMED will accept research proposals in which Japan-based research teams collaborate with already-funded researchers from partner countries where the research aligns with the aims of ASPIRE.

NHMRC grant recipients are encouraged to contact their RAO directly upon their research partner applying for this opportunity.

Further information is available from the AMED website.

National Institute for Health and Care Research

The mission of the United Kingdom's (UK) National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to maintain a health research system in which the UK National Health Service supports outstanding individuals, working in world class facilities, conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public.

Current status

NHMRC funded 2 Australian research projects through the joint NHMRC-NIHR Collaborative Research Grant Scheme 2023 Grant Opportunity.

For further information on the NIHR-HTA Programme visit the NIHR website.

Multilateral arrangements

e-ASIA Joint Research Program

The e-ASIA Joint Research Program (e-ASIA JRP) was established in 2012 to promote innovation and contribute to economic development in the East Asian region. e-ASIA aims to achieve this by supporting international joint research projects, through multilateral processes, as well as promoting researcher interaction through workshops.

NHMRC became a member organisation of the e-ASIA JRP on 2 November 2016.

Current status

NHMRC funded 4 Australian research projects through the NHMRC e-ASIA 2023 Joint Research Program Grant Opportunity.

NHMRC is participating in the 13th e-ASIA Joint Research Program call in 2 streams – Food and Health on the topic of Personalised Nutrition, and Health Research on the topic of Infectious Disease and Immunology (including antimicrobial resistance).

For more information, visit the e-ASIA website.

European Research Council

The European Research Council (ERC) is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. ERC's mission is to encourage the highest quality research in Europe through competitive funding and to support investigator-driven frontier research across all fields, on the basis of scientific excellence.

NHMRC and ERC signed an Implementing Arrangement in October 2018. The arrangement aims to help NHMRC-funded researchers join ERC supported research teams in Europe (for a period when possible) or work remotely during their grant and enables the exchange of ideas and experiences in cutting-edge science.

Current status

Project abstracts are now available for the ERC Implementing Arrangements call for Expression of Interest 2022. NHMRC-funded researchers can apply to work with European research teams. For a list of the latest ERC opportunities available, email international@nhmrc.gov.au or contact ERC for further details.

For further information on the implementation Arrangement, see the FAQs.

If you take up this opportunity let us know by emailing the following details to international@nhmrc.gov.au

• ERC team you are collaborating with
• Project name
• Length of collaboration.

European Union Framework Programme – Horizon Europe

In 2021, the EU implemented its new funding instrument for funding research and development, Horizon Europe, succeeding Horizon 2020 as the EU Framework Programme. Horizon Europe facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation while tackling global challenges. The NHMRC‒European Union Collaborative Research Grants scheme supports Australian participation in leading international collaborative research under the EU Framework Programme.

Current status

NHMRC funded 3 Australian research projects through the NHMRC-EU Collaborative Research Grant Scheme 2023 Grant Opportunity.

NHMRC is supporting a number of Horizon Europe 2024 topics to enable Australian researchers to form collaborations with EU partners.

European Union Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research

The European Union Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) is a large global research initiative aimed at tackling the challenge of neurodegenerative diseases. JPND aims to increase coordinated investment between participating countries in research aimed at finding causes, developing cures, and identifying appropriate ways to care for those with neurodegenerative diseases.

The ultimate goal of JPND is to find cures for neurodegenerative diseases and to enable early diagnosis for early targeted treatments.

NHMRC is a Third Country member (non voting) of the JPND Management Board.

Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases

NHMRC is part of the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD), a collaboration of major international research funding agencies that support joint funding calls and research capacity building activities to address chronic, non-communicable diseases. NHMRC's CEO is a member of the Strategy Board and served as Chair in 2019 and 2020.

The GACD funds, develops and facilitates innovative research collaborations between low-, middle- and high-income countries in the fight against chronic diseases. The alliance focuses on implementation research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and in vulnerable and Indigenous populations in high-income countries (HICs).

Current status

NHMRC is supporting Australian researchers to participate in the 9th GACD Funding Call: Management of Multiple Long-Term Conditions. The objective of this grant opportunity is to fund implementation research addressing the management of multiple long-term conditions in the context of non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries, or among disadvantaged populations in high-income countries (HICs). Find out more about NHMRC’s participation in the GACD Management of Multiple Long-Term Conditions funding call on the 2024 Grant page and the GACD website. 

The GACD has launched the Implementation Science e-Hub. The e-Hub is a free, virtual platform for knowledge and skill development in implementation research. For further information visit the GACD website.

UK Research and Innovation

The UK's Fund for International Collaboration aims to enhance excellence in research and innovation through global engagement. It focuses on bilateral and multilateral partnerships with global research and development leaders and is administered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which includes the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

NHMRC and the MRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2019 to promote and encourage collaboration between Australia and the UK in world-leading prevention research seeking to address the shared burden of non-communicable diseases influenced by the built environment. This led to a joint funding call in 2019: UKRI-NHMRC Built Environment and Prevention Research 2019.

Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance

The Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR) is a global collaborative organisation and platform, engaging 29 nations to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with a One Health approach.

Current status

NHMRC funded 3 Australian research projects through the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance 2023 Grant Opportunity.

NHMRC is participating in JPIAMR’s 17^th transnational funding call on ‘Interventions Moving forward to Promote ACTion to counteract the emergence and spread of bacterial and fungal resistance and to improve treatments’. This call will fund projects that aim to improve, compare and evaluate the effectiveness, cost effectiveness, and uptake of existing interventions against bacterial or fungal infections and/or to design new interventions against fungal infections.

For further information, visit the JPIAMR website.

Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research

Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research (NEURON) was established under the European Research Area Networks (ERA-NET) scheme of the European Commission. The ERA-NET NEURON aims to coordinate and optimise research efforts and funding programmes of its partner countries in the field of mental, neurological, and sensory disorders. There are currently 25 research funding organisations and ministries from 28 countries that participate in this network to support basic, clinical and translational research.

Current status

NHMRC funded 3 Australian research projects successful through the Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research 2023 Grant Opportunity.

For further information, visit the ERA-NET NEURON website.