Today

Welcome to Tracker, the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) fortnightly newsletter with the latest information on major activities and funding opportunities.

Nominations now open – NHMRC Council, Principal Committees and Joint NHMRC-MRFF Advisory Committees

Nominations are invited from interested individuals to serve on advisory committees that provide expert advice to the NHMRC and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing on health and medical research in Australia for the 2027–30 triennium.

We are seeking nominations from individuals interested in the role of research in improving social, economic and health outcomes for the Australian community, including but not limited to:

•    consumers and community members
•    industry representatives
•    philanthropy representatives
•    physicians and other clinicians and 
•    researchers across a broad range of disciplines (primarily focused on health and medicine) and at all career stages. 

To nominate, please complete the online nomination form.

Refer to the FAQs available on the nomination form webpage for common questions or contact NHMRC.appointments@nhmrc.gov.au for further information.

A new name and look for NHMRC's grant management platform

NHMRC's grant management platform, Sapphire, will progressively become known as NHMRC Grant Management System over the coming months.

The change introduces a new name for the platform. How you use the platform and current grant processes and requirements are not changing as part of the rebrand.

During the transition, you may see both Sapphire and NHMRC Grant Management System referenced across NHMRC systems, webpages, guidance and communications while updates are rolled out.

There is nothing users need to do at this stage. Continue using the platform as normal.

Find out more about the change and read the FAQs.

Biennial Awards: the intersection of science and art

The health and medical research sector is a place where scientific discoveries are made. When these breakthroughs are accompanied by artistic imagery they can hold both aesthetic power and a promise for further breakthroughs.

NHMRC's Science to Art Award recognises outstanding imagery that has arisen from research funded by the NHMRC.

Nominations for this award, and all other Biennial Awards, are open until Friday 11 December 2026, 5 pm (AEDT).

Submit your entries via the form on our website.

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

Help us test our new guidelines landing page and directory

NHMRC is looking for participants to test our new guidelines landing page and directory.

Participants will join an online interview (30-60 minutes) and will be asked to complete a few tasks and share feedback.

Interviews will take place on 2–13 November.

Interested in participating? Email webrequest@nhmrc.gov.au to register.

Improving health through body chemistry

A new NHMRC impact case study highlights how researchers at the University of Melbourne and the Florey Institute advanced understanding of the body's water and electrolyte balance. Their work introduced practical ways to measure and manage these processes in patients, helping establish modern intensive care and supporting the development of medicines for hypertension, heart and kidney disease.

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

Open Science at the ABS

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has launched the Open Science at the ABS program, a new initiative to expand access to integrated data research infrastructure, build researcher capability and strengthen open science collaboration across Australia.

Researchers will have the opportunity to access ABS DataLab and join a growing national community of practice.

Applications close on 31 October 2026.

Learn more: Open Science at the ABS.

Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies – closing soon

Applications for the 2026 Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies grant scheme will close Wednesday 4 November 2026, 5 pm (AEDT).

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

Researchers listed on applications must have a Sapphire account. New account registrations must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to application close. The Research Help Centre will continue to respond to Sapphire-related enquiries until Wednesday 4 November 2026, 1 pm (AEDT).

Further details are available on GrantConnect and NHMRC’s website.

Please email help@nhmrc.gov.au for further information.

Centres of Research Excellence – closing soon

Applications for the 2027 Centres of Research Excellence grant opportunity close Wednesday 4 November 2026, 5 pm (AEDT).

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

Applicants are reminded that:

  • Researchers listed on applications must have a Sapphire account. New account registrations must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to application close. The Research Help Centre will continue to respond to Sapphire-related enquiries until Wednesday 4 November 2026, 1 pm (AEDT).
  • Only applicants who completed minimum data requirements by the deadline can submit a full application.
  • Applications submitted after close of round will not be accepted.

Further information can be found on GrantConnect.

Please email help@nhmrc.gov.au for any assistance.

Forecast opportunity: NHMRC-European Partnership on One Health Antimicrobial Resistance

NHMRC is considering participating in the 2027 NHMRC-European Partnership on One Health Antimicrobial Resistance (EUP OHAMR) grant opportunity supporting 3 topics:

  • Topic 1 – Model AMR transmission dynamics to predict the risk of AMR emergence and spread to support decision making of public authorities. 
  • Topic 2 – Understand and characterise the role of host commensal micro-organisms (including fungi) in AMR dynamics and develop solutions aiming at selective decolonising of resistant organisms in the host (human and animals) to prevent transmission. 
  • Topic 3 – Develop or improve tools and methods to reduce resistant bacteria, fungi, and resistance genes in environmental hotspots, and investigate the impact of these tools and methods on AMR transmission.

For details, refer to GrantConnect, OHAMR’s pre-announcement and the EUP OHAMR website.

Partnership Projects – key dates

2026 Partnership Projects Peer Review Cycle 3 (PRC3) minimum data is due Wednesday 28 October 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 researchers listed on applications must have a Sapphire account. New account registrations must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to application close.

Enquiries can be emailed to help@nhmrc.gov.au.

Cancer Australia Research Initiative Targeted Call for Research: Liver Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 2026 – open for applications

The Cancer Australia Research Initiative Targeted Call for Research: Liver Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 2026 is now open for applications in Sapphire.

This grant opportunity aims to support research that improves early identification of people at increased risk of liver cancer and effectively translates that risk identification into timely, equitable and evidence-based care pathways, to reduce the incidence and impact of liver cancer in Australia.

•    Minimum data due Wednesday 2 December 2026, 5 pm (AEDT).
•    Applications close Wednesday 16 December 2026, 5 pm (AEDT).

Further details are available on GrantConnect.

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

Synergy Grants 2027 

Changes are planned for the upcoming Synergy Grant round that is expected to open in early 2027. These changes seek to reduce applicant and peer reviewer burden and align Synergy Grants with NHMRC’s other team-based, multidisciplinary funding schemes:

  • Individual Chief Investigator track record assessment replaced by a new ‘Team capability’ sub-criterion. 
  • A new ‘Consumer and community involvement’ assessment criterion, assessed by expert consumer and community reviewers.
  • Shortlisted applications considered by grant review panels.

Further details of the assessment framework for the Synergy Grant 2027 funding opportunity, including a ‘Key changes fact sheet’ and a draft score descriptor appendix, have been published with a forecast opportunity on GrantConnect.

Queries can be directed to synergy.grants@nhmrc.gov.au.

Medical Research Future Fund grant opportunities – key dates

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:

MRFF grant assessment committee self-nomination

Register your interest to become a member of an MRFF grant assessment committee.

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