International Collaborative Health Research Funding

We engage strategically with international funding agencies and participates in funding schemes that align with the NHMRC International Engagement Strategy 2023-2026.

To participate in these schemes, your personal information may need to be disclosed by NHMRC to overseas recipients, generally for the purposes of peer review of the application. You will be advised of this possibility at the time of making your application.

For further information on open calls for research with NHMRC's international partners, refer to Find Funding.

Bilateral arrangements

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is Canada's federal funding agency for health research. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system.

NHMRC is partnering with CIHR to support research aiming to improve the understanding of how to design, implement and promote systematic and equitable uptake of evidence-based interventions, to improve population health and well-being in multiple urban environments in Canada and Australia.

Current status

NHMRC funded four Australian research projects successful through the joint NHMRC-CIHR Healthy Cities Implementation Science Team Grant Scheme 2021 Grant Opportunity.

For further information, refer to the CIHR website.

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development

The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) is Japan's national body to promote integrated research and development in the field of medicine, from basic research to clinical trials.

Current status

NHMRC and AMED renewed a Memorandum of Cooperation in November 2022. NHMRC is working with AMED to advance the development of research cooperation in health and medical research between Japan and Australia.

National Institute for Health and Care Research

The mission of the United Kingdom's (UK) National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to maintain a health research system in which the UK National Health Service supports outstanding individuals, working in world class facilities, conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public.

In August 2013, NHMRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the NIHR to co-fund collaborative clinical trials with both an Australian and UK component.

Current status

The NHMRC-NIHR Collaborative Research Grant Scheme regularly supports Australian participation in international collaborative research through the United Kingdom's NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme. There are multiple rounds per year and topics that NHMRC supports vary each round.

For further information on the NIHR-HTA Programme visit NIHR.

Multilateral arrangements

e-ASIA Joint Research Program

The e-ASIA Joint Research Program (e-ASIA JRP) was established in 2012 to promote innovation and contribute to economic development in the East Asian region. e-ASIA aims to achieve this by supporting international joint research projects, through multilateral processes, as well as promoting researcher interaction through workshops.

NHMRC became a member organisation of the e-ASIA JRP on 2 November 2016.

Current status

NHMRC is participating in the 12th e-ASIA Joint Research Program Health Research call on Climate Change and Health. To be eligible to apply for NHMRC funding, a research project must consist of Australian researchers partnering with at least two research teams from participating e-ASIA member organisations.

Find out more about NHMRC's participation in the 12th e-ASIA Joint Research Program Health Research call. Details on the Health Research call are available on the e-ASIA websites.

European Research Council

The European Research Council (ERC) is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. ERC's mission is to encourage the highest quality research in Europe through competitive funding and to support investigator-driven frontier research across all fields, on the basis of scientific excellence.

NHMRC and ERC signed an Implementing Arrangement in October 2018. The arrangement aims to help NHMRC-funded researchers join ERC supported research teams in Europe (for a period when possible) or work remotely during their grant and enables the exchange of ideas and experiences in cutting-edge science.

Current status

Project abstracts are now available for the ERC Implementing Arrangements call for Expression of Interest 2022. NHMRC-funded researchers can apply to work with European research teams. For a list of the latest ERC opportunities available, email international@nhmrc.gov.au contact ERC for further details.

For further information on the implementation Arrangement, see the FAQs.

If you take up this opportunity let us know by emailing the following details to international@nhmrc.gov.au

• ERC team you are collaborating with
• Project name
• Length of collaboration.

European Union Framework Programme – Horizon Europe

In 2021, the EU implemented its new funding instrument for funding research and development, Horizon Europe, succeeding Horizon 2020 as the EU Framework Programme. Horizon Europe facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation while tackling global challenges.The NHMRC‒European Union Collaborative Research Grants scheme supports Australian participation in leading international collaborative research under the EU Framework Programme.

Current status

NHMRC supported a number of Horizon Europe 2021 topics to enable Australian researchers to form collaborations with EU partners.

European Union Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research

The European Union Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) is a large global research initiative aimed at tackling the challenge of neurodegenerative diseases. JPND aims to increase coordinated investment between participating countries in research aimed at finding causes, developing cures, and identifying appropriate ways to care for those with neurodegenerative diseases.

The ultimate goal of JPND is to find cures for neurodegenerative diseases and to enable early diagnosis for early targeted treatments.

Current status

NHMRC will provide merit-based funding for the Australian-based components of research, where the transnational consortium has been recommended for funding by the JPND under the JPND Call for proposals: Linking pre-diagnosis disturbances of physiological systems to Neurodegenerative Diseases 2021.

For further information, please refer to the JPND website.

Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases

NHMRC is part of the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD), a collaboration of major international research funding agencies that support joint funding calls and research capacity building activities to address chronic, non-communicable diseases. NHMRC's CEO is a member of the Board and served as Chair in 2019 and 2020.

The GACD funds, develops and facilitates innovative research collaborations between low, middle and high income countries in the fight against chronic diseases. The alliance focuses on implementation research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and in vulnerable and indigenous populations in high-income countries (HICs).

Current status

NHMRC is supporting Australian researchers to participate in the GACD: Non-communicable disease prevention in cities funding call. The objective of this scheme is to fund implementation research focused on addressing non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors associated with city environments and related health inequities.  Find out more about NHMRC’s participation in the GACD: Non-communicable disease prevention in cities funding call 2023.

The GACD has launched the Implementation Science e-Hub. The e-Hub is a free, virtual platform for knowledge and skill development in implementation research. For further information visit GACD.

UK Research and Innovation

The UK's Fund for International Collaboration aims to enhance excellence in research and innovation through global engagement. It focuses on bilateral and multilateral partnerships with global research and development leaders and is administered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which includes the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

NHMRC and the MRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2019 to promote and encourage collaboration between Australia and the UK in world-leading prevention research seeking to address the shared burden of non-communicable diseases influenced by the built environment. This led to a joint funding call in 2019: UKRI-NHMRC Built Environment and Prevention Research 2019.

Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance

The Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR) is a global collaborative organisation and platform, engaging 29 nations to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with a One Health approach.

Current status

NHMRC is participating in JPIAMR's 16th transnational funding call on 'Development of innovative strategies, tools, technologies, and methods for diagnostics and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)'. This call aims to fund research projects developing novel or improving existing strategies, tools, technologies and methods for diagnosis and/or One Health AMR surveillance.

NHMRC will invite Australian researchers who are listed on the successful applications submitted to JPIAMR during Stage 1 to apply for NHMRC support of the Australian component of the research during Stage 2.

Find out more about NHMRC's participation on this funding call. Further information is also available on JPIAMR and by viewing the webinar.

Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research

Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research (NEURON) was established under the European Research Area Networks (ERA-NET) scheme of the European Commission. The ERA-NET NEURON aims to coordinate and optimise research efforts and funding programmes of its partner countries in the field of mental, neurological, and sensory disorders. There are currently 25 research funding organisations and ministries from 28 countries that participate in this network to support basic, clinical and translational research.

Current status

NHMRC is supporting Australian participation and collaboration in transnational research projects through the NEURON Call for Proposals for Multinational Research Projects on Mechanisms of Resilience and Vulnerability to Environmental Challenges in Mental Health.  

Find out more about NHMRC's participation in this funding call. Further information can also be found on NEURON.