The datasets on this page are updated annually to include each year’s new awards and to refresh the data for continuing grants.

These data represent a snapshot of the NHMRC‘s research funding activity at the time that the data was extracted from our systems. These data were last updated 28 April 2025.

NHMRC Funding for major diseases, conditions or health areas

The majority of NHMRC funding is investigator-initiated and is not directed by NHMRC to any specific disease, health or research topic. The subject matter of each application is determined by the applicants. Additionally, a proportion of NHMRC funds is directed to specific topics primarily through the Targeted Calls for Research and International Collaboration schemes, or priorities identified in the NHMRC Corporate Plan.

Funding decisions are the outcome of a competitive process that relies on the collective judgement of independent peer reviewers. There is strong demand for NHMRC funding and the process is very competitive, so not all high quality research proposals are able to be funded.

For reporting purposes, NHMRC classifies applications against disease, health and research topics based on information provided at the time of application including an application’s title, keywords, media summaries and other research classifications where appropriate.

This process results in the classification of applications to more than one topic. NHMRC does not apportion funding when more than one topic is indicated and the full value of the grant is attributed.

Relevance to the topic may be either a direct focus or a broader focus such as a longer term potential benefit. The resulting datasets may include a broad range of research from discovery science through to clinical research, health services and public health research.

If the below tables do not provide the information you seek, please contact nhmrc.statistics@nhmrc.gov.au.

NHMRC and other Australian Government priorities

The following table summarises our expenditure into the research area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s health and the Australian Government’s former National Health Priority Areas.

NHMRC expenditure by Former National Health Priority Areas 2015 to 2024

Former National Health Priority Areas

2015

$ million

2016

$ million

2017

$ million

2018

$ million

2019

$ million

2020

$ million

2021

$ million

2022

$ million

2023

$ million

2024

$ million

Arthritis and Osteoporosis24.719.318.917.518.316.114.81616.917.8
Asthma22.715.313.315.713.813.314.112.511.89.2
Cancer191.4170.6175.8178.9181.6170.2153.7158.9165.6164.7
Cardiovascular Disease130114.9111.4105.3112.6107.6102.597.593.188.8
Dementia133.445.650.260.971.264.155.351.544.238.8
Diabetes70.365.057.750.746.545.642.642.341.434.1
Injury61.545.844.249.951.149.846.649.849.248.8
Mental Health210091.193.4104.9110.2103.9102.3100.8105.5102.8
Obesity39.028.127.623.023.524.323.12018.416

1 Funding for Dementia excludes research activities that are outside the Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA) such as the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research and the Dementia Collaborative Research Centres.

2 Includes research into addiction.

Other disease, research and health areas

The following table provides summary expenditure by a range of different disease, health and research areas.

NHMRC expenditure for Disease, research and health areas 2015 to 2024

Disease, research and health areas3

2015

$ million

2016

$ million

2017

$ million

2018

$ million

2019

$ million

2020

$ million

2021

$ million

2022

$ million

2023

$ million

2024

$ million

Balance, Eye and Hearing Diseases28.926.322.221.821.322.322.724.124.823.7
Blood Diseases24.623.824.82023.32421.924.126.227.0
Cancer191.4170.6175.8178.9181.6170.2153.7158.9165.6164.7
Cardiovascular Disease130114.9111.4105.3112.6107.6102.597.593.188.8
Congenital and Genetic Diseases117.9112.6102.1104.3112.610490.190.1101.1113.7
Endocrine, Metabolic and Nutritional Diseases139.9120.2111.5104.3117.5115.2109.5111107.891.6
Environmental and Occupational Health18.217.815.217.216.919.119.324.724.521.0
Gastrointestinal Diseases41.735.734.937.542.244.744.342.842.535.3
Genitourinary Diseases4138.6394041.442.135.038.536.434.8
Immunological Diseases499.285.171.179.58179.170.971.282.476.0
Infectious Diseases167.4148.7148.7159.4159.4165.3161.6165.1173.3167.2
Injury61.545.844.249.949.949.846.649.849.248.8
Mental Health510091.193.4104.9110.2103.9102.3100.8105.5102.8
Musculoskeletal Diseases61.949.349.251.949.746.141.742.643.140.9
Neurological Diseases214198.8190.1204.3214.6210.2196.1191.7183.3181.9
Orofacial Diseases6.83.93.43.33.42.32.62.62.92.9
Reproductive Health83.666.662.865.269.571.168.368.871.165.9
Respiratory Diseases68.351.246.450.855.856.657.753.454.446.1
Skin Diseases16.612.89.510.911.210.411.111.110.18.5

3 These disease, health and research topics are based on the International Classification of Disease (ICD) produced by the World Health Organisation. For further information about these Disease, Health or Research Topics please email NHMRC.Statistics@NHMRC.gov.au

4 The figures in the table above for Immunological Diseases have been modified to exclude immunological research specifically related to cancer. These figures relate to research relevant to allergy, autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiency.

5 Includes research into addiction.

NHMRC expenditure for research relevant to specific populations 2015 to 2024

Population

2015

$ million

2016

$ million

2017

$ million

2018

$ million

2019

$ million

2020

$ million

2021

$ million

2022

$ million

2023

$ million

2024

$ million

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health55.851.749.65054.457.258.1676966.9
Adolescent Health26.220.318.920.221.924.523.424.326.526.2
Aged Health40.736.236.639.545.945.740.23939.533.2
Child Health112.298.396.7103.3111.3111104.6108113105.8
Maternal Health6047.245.44648.249.450.053.457.654
Men’s Health20.5171718.618.714.913.014.115.314
Women’s Health100.784.48383.486.583.581.292.398.290.6

Outcomes of NHMRC Grant Application Rounds

A full list of grants awarded each year is available.

Governance Reporting

In accordance with our reporting obligations, further data on our grants is available at Government reporting requirements