3 August 2026

Welcome to Tracker, NHMRC’s fortnightly newsletter with the latest information on major activities and funding opportunities.

The future of peer review

Join NHMRC for an insightful panel discussion on the ‘Future of peer review: sustaining quality, fairness and trust in application assessment’. 

This webinar will bring together experts from across the health and medical research sector to explore the challenges and opportunities facing research assessment, share perspectives on emerging reform directions and discuss what should be preserved, improved or redesigned to maintain confidence in peer review. 

The session will also provide an overview of NHMRC's current peer review processes and ongoing work to strengthen quality, transparency and accountability across its funding schemes.

Facilitated by NHMRC’s Chief Executive Officer, Professor Steve Wesselingh, the panel will include representatives with diverse expertise and experience spanning health and medical research, funding, peer review and consumer perspectives.

The Microsoft Teams webinar will be held Thursday 20 August, 1:00PM–2:30PM AEST. 

Registrations are now open through the online registration form. 

 

Speaking of Science - From bench to birth: Building a test and treat program to prevent early preterm birth

Preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks) is the single largest global cause of death and in Australia, around 8% of babies (almost 26,000 in 2019) are born prematurely annually. 

NHMRC’s health advice on diet in pregnancy, lactation and early infant feeding dates back to 1981, where early recommendations were made to those providing direct care to pregnant and lactating women to meet the associated nutrient requirements to optimise the health of both the mother and their baby. What followed was decades of high-quality research led out of Adelaide that would later underpin national health advice, programs and policies. 

Pioneering researcher, Professor Maria Makrides of SAHMRI, will join us for Speaking of Science to recount how a serendipitous finding started a 15-year journey to build the evidence base linking omega-3 fatty acid status with risk of preterm birth. She will also discuss how the risk of early birth varies with omega-3 status, the interventions needed to optimise term birth and how this can be translated into policy and practice. 

There will be a Q&A session at the end, so we encourage you to attend and ask questions!  

This webinar will take place Thursday 20 August, 10:00AM–11:00AM AEST.

Register on Microsoft Teams. 

 

Funding outcomes announced

NHMRC welcomed three recent funding outcomes announcements:

Outcomes for these grant opportunities are no longer under media embargo; however, outcomes of other grant opportunities remain under strict media embargo until announced as advised previously.  

Outcomes data is available on NHMRC’s Outcomes of funding rounds webpage. 
 

Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases capacity-building events 

Annual Implementation Science School

Applications for the 9th GACD Implementation Science School for early- and mid-career researchers will open in August 2026. Delivered online, this competitive GACD event provides training in translating research evidence into policy and practice. Priority registration will be given to eligible applicants from low- and middle-income countries, Indigenous communities, and those working in non-communicable disease research.

Eligibility requirements and application details are available on the GACD Schools website. 

2026 Annual Scientific Meeting 

Funded Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) projects are invited to participate in the GACD Annual Scientific Meeting taking place in London, UK, 3–5 November 2026.

Further information and registration details are available on the GACD ASM 2026 website.

Partnership Projects Peer Review Cycle 2 (PRC2) – closing soon

Applications for the Partnership Projects 2026 PRC2 close Wednesday 5 August 2026 17:00 AEST.

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 5 August 2026, 13:00 AEST
  • only applicants who completed minimum data requirements by the deadline Wednesday 22 July 2026, 17:00 AEST can submit a full application.

Further information can be found on GrantConnect or contact help@nhmrc.gov.au for assistance. 
 

Medical Research Future Fund – grant opportunities key dates

The following MRFF grant opportunity has opened for applications:

Minimum data due Wednesday 7 October 2026, 17:00 (AEDT)
Applications close Wednesday 4 November 2026, 17:00 (AEDT).

The following MRFF grant opportunity has a minimum data due date approaching:

Minimum data due Wednesday 5 August 2026, 17:00 (AEST)
Applications close Wednesday 2 September 2026, 17:00 (AEST).

The following MRFF grant opportunity has a close date approaching:

Applications close Wednesday 5 August 2026, 17:00 (AEST).

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 a MRFF grant assessment committee.

Updated MRFF reporting processes and templates

NHMRC are working with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to implement updated reporting processes and online templates in NHMRC’s grants management system. Read information for scientific reporting and milestones on our website to keep updated on current advice. 
 

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