NHMRC remains committed to supporting its administering institutions, and the health and medical research sector more broadly, to address the multiple challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Varying a grant
NHMRC recognises that there may be ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that impact the research of current grant holders. If you have received a grant and circumstances have changed and you have been or continue to be affected by COVID-19 pandemic circumstances, you can apply to vary your grant. More information is available on our Vary your grant page.
Please work with your administering institution’s Research Administration Officers (RAOs) as your first point of contact for all grant administration matters. More details are available on our Vary your grant page.
If Administering Institutions are unable to complete and submit grant reports or grant variation requests within the timeframe please contact Postaward.management@nhmrc.gov.au.
For more information see our Frequently Asked Questions regarding the effect of the pandemic on NHMRC grant processes.
Decision-making for pandemics: an ethics framework
Decision-making for pandemics: an ethics framework was developed by the Australian Health Ethics Committee in response to a request from the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer and is designed to be used by those developing policy and making decisions during a pandemic. It is intended to facilitate good decision-making, rather than to be used as a prescriptive guideline.
This ethics framework was developed in partnership with consumer groups and others with expertise in pandemic management and clinical, public health and research ethics. It includes sections on values and procedural principles, decision-making considerations and examples with implementation analysis. It also includes 2 appendices addressing ethical issues arising during pandemics and additional resources.
The framework will add to the guidance already in place to support the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and any future pandemics.
This framework is published below in the download section.
Clinical trials in the context of COVID-19
COVID-19: Guidance on clinical trials for institutions, HRECs, researchers and sponsors is a joint statement by all state and territory departments of health, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), NHMRC and the Clinical Trials Project Reference Group (CTPRG), of which all of these entities are members.
This guidance is published on the Department of Health’s website.
It provides general information and advice to institutions conducting or overseeing research, Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs), researchers and sponsors in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is directed towards those involved in clinical trial research and other relevant clinical research, but also may be of use to institutions, HRECs and researchers in other fields.
The advice represents current thinking and best practice at the government level and will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in government policy, public health advice and the needs of those conducting and participating in clinical research in Australia.
Research involving animals
NHMRC recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic may be affecting research involving animals, including delays to existing research projects, or new research relating to the pandemic that proposes to use animals. For advice about research involving animals, see our resource COVID-19 pandemic and animal research.
