Welcome to Tracker, the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) fortnightly newsletter with the latest information on major activities and funding opportunities.
Health and medical research funders highlight importance of sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation in science
NHMRC and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing - responsible for the MRFF are working on implementing our joint Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation in Health and Medical Research (the Statement). The Statement reflects our commitment to health equity, acknowledging that every person in Australia has the right to be included in safe, high quality research that informs our health care.
Read our item on NHMRC’s news centre from NHMRC and MRFF leadership about the importance of sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation in science and the ongoing work to implement the Statement across both the grant programs. Research teams and their organisations are encouraged to review the Statement and start improving consideration of sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation in their research.
NHMRC-CIHR Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging: Indigenous Health Research funding announced
The Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Indigenous Health and Women, the Hon Rebecca White MP announced the funding outcomes for the 2024 NHMRC-CIHR Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA): Indigenous Health Research Grant Opportunity on 27 July 2025.
Recipients include a project led by the University of Western Australia, to collaboratively develop community informed resources for culturally responsive and respectful health communication along the dementia journey. These resources will enable better health and quality of life outcomes for Indigenous peoples internationally.
Find out more in the media release, available on NHMRC’s news centre. Outcome data can be downloaded from the outcomes page.
NHMRC’s Animal Welfare Committee
We are pleased to announce the establishment of NHMRC’s Animal Welfare Committee for the period from July 2025 - June 2028. The committee will provide advice to NHMRC about the review of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (the Code), along with other animal welfare and ethics matters.
Membership of the Animal Welfare Committee include people with experience and expertise relevant to the scope of the Code, as well as representatives from animal welfare advocacy groups.
Further details, including the committee’s membership and terms of reference, are available on the Animal Welfare Committee webpage.
Public call for submissions: research priority areas in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
We want to hear from you! NHMRC has opened a public call asking for research priority areas in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, specifically where is there a significant research knowledge gap or unmet need?
Further details and submissions can be made on NHMRC’s consultation webpage.
Submissions close on Monday 15 September 2025.
Dietary Guidelines evidence reviews - public call for evidence
NHMRC is reviewing evidence for the revision of the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
We invite all stakeholders and members of the public to submit high quality primary studies on the topics of dietary protein intake and sarcopenia or neurocognitive conditions, and diet and sustainability.
The primary studies will support the development of evidence scoping reviews, which aim to determine if sufficient reliable evidence is available to address gaps in the evidence.
Submissions are open until Monday 18 August at 15:00 (AEST).
For more information or to make a submission, visit the Dietary Guidelines evidence reviews section on NHMRC’s website.
Have your say - draft Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research
NHMRC and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) published a draft revised Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research in June 2025. You can participate in the review by submitting an EOI for an online or in person roundtable via the Kids Research Institute Australia website.
Places are still available in the following sessions:
- Burnie, TAS: Saturday 9 August 2025. EOIs close today, Monday 4 August 11:59PM (AEST).
- Canberra, ACT: Tuesday 12 August 2025. EOIs close on Tuesday 5 August 11:59PM (AEST).
- Wagga Wagga, NSW: Wednesday 13 August 2025. EOIs close on Sunday 10 August 11:59PM (AEST).
Can’t attend a roundtable? Share your thoughts on the draft Statement via NHMRC’s consultation hub. Submissions close on Sunday 21 September 2025.
NHMRC and CHF are promoting excellence in consumer and community involvement through a series of videos and case studies. If you have a case study on consumer and community involvement you would like to share with us, please email priorities@nhmrc.gov.au.
NHMRC approved guideline: Guideline for newborn screening in spinal muscular atrophy in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
On 22 April 2025 NHMRC’s CEO approved the recommendations of the Guideline for newborn screening in spinal muscular atrophy in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand under section 14A of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992.
The guideline provides a set of recommendations to inform the processes of screening, diagnostic and immediate post-diagnostic clinical management for all newborns and infants undertaking newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Speaking of Science - the Artificial Heart Frontiers Program: engineering the next generation of artificial hearts
30,000+ Australians are diagnosed with heart failure each year and yet, an estimated 144 heart donations are made annually.
But what if we could develop a durable artificial heart implant that could eventually negate the need for human heart donors entirely?
In celebration of National Science Week, join us as we host the innovative Co-Director of The Artificial Heart Frontiers Program, Professor Shaun Gregory on Tuesday 12 August 2025 from 10:00–11:00 AEST as part of our Speaking of Science series. Professor Gregory will discuss how the program is engineering the next generation of artificial hearts, with the end goal of saving countless lives now and in the future.
As always, there will be a Q&A discussion at the end, so come prepared with your questions.
Please note that this webinar will be recorded and published to NHMRC’s website afterwards as part of our ‘Speaking of Science’ series.
If you have any questions for the event organisers you can reach us at media@nhmrc.gov.au.
Key NHMRC grant program dates
NHMRC grant opportunities are funded through the Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA).
Minimum data due soon:
Targeted Call for Research: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health – Addressing violence for safer families and communities
- Minimum data due by Wednesday 6 August 2025 at 17:00 (AEST).
Applications must complete the required fields with the correct information. Use of placeholder text in applications will be ineligible. For more information on minimum data requirements, refer to Appendix B available on GrantConnect.
Failure to meet the minimum data requirements by the deadline will result in the application not proceeding. New applications cannot be started after the minimum data deadline.
Applications will close on Wednesday 20 August 2025 at 17:00 (AEST).
Please contact help@nhmrc.gov.au for further information.
Closing soon:
Partnership Projects 2025 Peer Review Cycle 2
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 August 2025 at 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 6 August 2025 13:00 (AEST).
- Only applicants who completed minimum data requirements by the deadline of 23 July 2025 17:00 (AEST) can submit a full application.
Further information is available on GrantConnect. Please contact help@nhmrc.gov.au for any further assistance.
Medical Research Future Fund – grant opportunities key dates
The following MRFF grant opportunity has its close due date approaching:
MRFF – 2025 Cardiovascular Health Grant Opportunity (GO7554)
- Applications close on 13 August 2025 at 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:
- their Sapphire account is active or access to Sapphire has been requested,
- their organisation is an approved MRFF Eligible Organisation before the close date, and
- any intended participating institutions are listed in Sapphire or request that a new participating institution be added by emailing help@nhmrc.gov.au, including the institution's website and ABN (if applicable).
MRFF grant assessment committee self nomination
Register your interest to become a member of a MRFF grant assessment committee.
Key dates
Refer to Funding schemes and calendar.
Tracker
See previous editions of Tracker.
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