Progress, final and additional reporting

Progress reports

NHMRC scientific progress reports

Scientific progress reports are required for specific grant programs, including National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) clinical trials and cohort studies and some Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Research Grants. Refer to the grant schedule and relevant grant guidelines for reporting requirements.

If scientific progress reports are not required, the progress of grants is monitored by researchers' online curricula vitae (CV) and grantee variation applications.

All Chief Investigators are expected to update their Sapphire CV on an annual basis by end of June each year, including linking outputs and outcomes to the relevant NHMRC grant ID. Sapphire CV information may also be used during peer review to assess a grant applicant's track record, and by NHMRC when reviewing or evaluating funding schemes.

Scientific progress reports are required to be submitted in the timeframes and format specified by NHMRC. Failure to complete and submit reports may impact current and future funding until the report is provided.

Administering Institutions are obliged to ensure that the research activity is carried out as approved and request approval for any variations to the grant. NHMRC may exercise its rights under the funding agreement if complete and accurate variation requests are not submitted in a timely manner. See the Grantee Variation Policy and supporting information for when and how to seek approval to vary a grant.

MRFF progress reports

MRFF grantees are required to submit progress reports for most MRFF grant opportunities administered by NHMRC. The frequency of progress reporting is outlined in each grant schedule.

MRFF grants have standardised progress reporting due dates as follows:

• MRFF grants with annual progress reporting requirements are required to submit reports by 30 September of each year for the duration of the grant
• MRFF grants with bi-annual (6 monthly) progress reporting requirements are required to submit reports by 30 September and 31 March each year for the duration of the grant.

MRFF grants have standardised progress reporting periods as follows:

• Annual progress reports (due 30 September) will report on the previous financial year – for example:
  • Annual reports due 30 September 2022 will report on the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
• Bi-annual progress reports (due 31 March and 30 September) will report on the following periods – for example:
  • Bi-annual reports due 31 March 2023 will report on the period 1 July 2022 to 31 December 2022
  • Bi-annual reports due 30 September 2023 will report on the period 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2023.

Progress reports must be completed using the MRFF progress report template (see download section below). The MRFF Eligible Organisation (MRFF EO) is required to submit completed progress reports to mrff.postaward@nhmrc.gov.au by the due date, which is specified in Sapphire.

If MRFF progress reports are not submitted to NHMRC by the due date, this may affect outstanding grant payments.

The Commonwealth reserves the right to amend or adjust the requirements of progress reports as necessary.

Grantees must note that the MRFF progress report template may be amended or adjusted from time to time. It is the responsibility of the EO to ensure the correct and most up to date template is used when completing a progress report.

Final reports

NHMRC final reports

The purpose of the end of grant final scientific reports is to collect information about grant outcomes. Research outcomes may be used by NHMRC for promoting research achievements, performance reporting and reporting to government.

A final report must be completed within six months of completion of the Funding Period or termination of the award. The report includes both:

• the completion of a final report – Achievements and Expected Future Outcomes Summary within Sapphire
• updating the Sapphire CV by linking the relevant research outputs and outcomes to grant(s).

Chief Investigators and Fellows are encouraged to keep their Sapphire CV up-to-date even after the final report is submitted. This enables NHMRC to evaluate long-term scientific, health and economic impacts of funded research. Grant applicants can also use this information to demonstrate research outcomes from their previously held NHMRC grants.

MRFF final reports

A final report must be completed within six months of completion of the Funding Period or termination of the award. The due date for this report is specified in NHMRC's grant management system.

Final reports must be completed using the MRFF final report template (see download section below). EOs are required to submit progress reports to mrff.postaward@nhmrc.gov.au

The Commonwealth reserves the right to amend or adjust the requirements of final reports as necessary.

The final report template may be amended or adjusted from time to time. It is the responsibility of the EOs to ensure the correct reporting template is used when submitting a final report.

Exceptions

Final reports are required for all grants except equipment, Independent Research Infrastructure Support Scheme (IRIISS) and postgraduate scholarship grants.

Additional reporting

Research Fellowship grants, which include either a:

• support enhancement option
• a Trans-Tasman Joint Initiative Award
• a Translation Advancement Incentive,

have an additional requirement to provide a one-page report at the conclusion of the Fellowship by email to postaward.management@nhmrc.gov.au

Grant guidelines and grant schedules may specify additional reporting requirements.

NHMRC retains the authority under the Funding Agreement to request additional reports about the Research Activity in the format and within the timeframe specified by NHMRC.

Guidance on how to submit a report or other milestones in Sapphire is available in the Sapphire Knowledge Base.

MRFF additional reporting

The Commonwealth may ask the Grantee for ad-hoc reports on the project. The Grantee must provide these reports in the timeframes notified by the Commonwealth. The Grantee might also be asked to participate and provide information about the activity as part of the overarching evaluation of the MRFF.