Cancer Australia established the Cancer Australia Research Initiative (CARI) to reflect the contemporary cancer research landscape and ensure alignment with the Australian Cancer Plan to fund cancer research in areas of unmet and emerging need. CARI is directed by Cancer Australia, jointly funded by Cancer Australia and NHMRC and designed in accordance with the NHMRC’s Targeted Calls for Research (TCR) model.
CARI is delivered annually as a series of one-time grant opportunities, which commenced in 2025–26. Proposals will be asked to demonstrate translational potential and build capacity in the cancer research workforce, including through opportunities for early to mid-career researchers. CARI is a key mechanism for Cancer Australia to meet its legislated requirements, reflecting the current cancer research landscape, and ensuring alignment with the Australian Cancer Plan to fund cancer research in areas of unmet and emerging need.
The Cancer Australia Research Initiative Targeted Call for Research: Liver Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 2026 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.
Proposals should address at least one of the following research areas:
- Identification of people at increased risk of primary liver cancer, which could include improved and/or novel approaches to detecting advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis, MAFLD and/or hepatitis B or C in primary, community and/or specialist care settings.
- Risk stratification and prediction, including development or evaluation of tools and other data driven approaches to better define who is at highest risk and when intervention is warranted.
- Translation of risk identification into intervention, including referral pathways for high-risk cohorts, shared care models, and system level mechanisms that support timely, effective and systematic surveillance and management. This may include research into optimisation of surveillance strategies (for example, frequency, modality, and duration of surveillance) and novel surveillance modalities, including blood-based biomarkers and alternative imaging tools.
- Identification of health system and service level barriers and enablers to effective liver cancer risk identification and risk management (including surveillance), including clinician, service and system constraints.
- Developing equitable, culturally safe, and community-led approaches to identifying, managing, and communicating liver cancer risk among priority population groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people in custodial settings, and people in regional, rural and remote areas, with a focus on reducing stigma and access barriers.
The intended outcomes of the TCR are to reduce the impact of liver cancer in Australia, including through one or more of the following outcomes:
- Earlier and more accurate identification of people at increased risk of primary liver cancer through improved detection of advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis, MAFLD, and hepatitis B or C across primary, community and specialist care settings.
- Earlier and more effective intervention for high-risk individuals through optimised referral pathways, surveillance strategies and models of care.
- Better understanding and reduction of health system, service and workforce barriers that limit effective liver cancer risk identification and management.
- More equitable, culturally safe and accessible approaches to liver cancer risk identification, communication and care, leading to improved outcomes for priority populations and reduced health disparities.
Further information about the TCR, its objectives, outcomes, available funds and timeframe is available on GrantConnect.
