Progress, final and additional reporting

Progress reports

NHMRC scientific progress reports

Scientific progress reports are required for specific grant programs, including NHMRC clinical trials and cohort studies and Targeted Research grants. Refer to the grant schedule and relevant grant guidelines for reporting requirements.

If scientific progress reports are not required, the progress of grants is monitored by researchers' online curricula vitae (CV), grantee variation requests and annual financial expenditure reports.

All Chief Investigators are expected to update their Sapphire CV on an annual basis by end of June each year, including linking outputs and outcomes to the relevant NHMRC grant ID. Sapphire CV information may also be used during peer review to assess a grant applicant's track record, and by NHMRC when reviewing or evaluating funding schemes.

Scientific progress reports are required to be submitted in the timeframes and format specified by NHMRC. Failure to complete and submit reports may impact current and future funding until the report is provided.

Administering Institutions are obliged to ensure that the research activity is carried out as approved and request approval for any variations to the grant. NHMRC may exercise its rights under the Funding Agreement if complete and accurate variation requests are not submitted in a timely manner. See the Grantee Variation Policy and supporting information for when and how to seek approval to vary a grant.

Final reports

The purpose of the end of grant final scientific reports is to collect information about personnel supported by the grant and research outputs, outcomes and impacts generated from the grant. Research outputs, outcomes and impacts may be used by NHMRC for promoting research achievements, performance reporting and reporting to government.

The workforce question, introduced in 2024, is only required to be completed with data from 2024 onwards. For example, if 2024 is year 3 of a 5-year grant then workforce data would be provided for years 3 to 5.

NHMRC recommends CIAs enter the number of people to whom the grant provided a salary (partial or full), including those at collaborating institutions, in a staged manner such as yearly.

The Final Report template is available in Sapphire to all CIAs from applicable schemes at commencement of the grant and can be progressively completed and saved. A sample of the Final Report is provided in the Downloads section.

For more information, read our article introducing the revised Final Report for MREA in 2024.

A final report must be completed within 6 months of completion of the funding period, relinquishment or termination of the grant. The report includes both:

• the completion of a final report with Sapphire – Achievements and Expected Future Outcomes Summary and personnel data included from 2024 onwards
• updating the Sapphire CV by linking the relevant research outputs and outcomes to grant(s).

Chief Investigators and Fellows are encouraged to keep their Sapphire CV up-to-date even after the final report is submitted. This enables NHMRC to evaluate long-term scientific, health and economic impacts of funded research. Grant applicants can also use this information to demonstrate research outcomes from their previously held NHMRC grants.

Exceptions

Final reports are required for all grants except Independent Research Infrastructure Support Scheme (IRIISS) and Postgraduate Scholarship grants.

Additional reporting

Research Fellowship grants, which include either a:

• support enhancement option
• a Trans-Tasman Joint Initiative Award
• a Translation Advancement Incentive,

have an additional requirement to provide a one-page report at the conclusion of the Fellowship by email to postaward.management@nhmrc.gov.au.

Grant guidelines and grant schedules may specify additional reporting requirements.

NHMRC retains the authority under the Funding Agreement to request additional reports about the research activity in the format and within the timeframe specified by NHMRC, including for evaluation purposes.

Guidance on how to submit a report or other milestones in Sapphire is available in the Sapphire Knowledge Base.