GO8270: MRFF – Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative – 2026 Consumer-Led Research Grant Opportunity

The objective of this grant opportunity is to provide grants of financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects that: Stream 1 (Incubator): identify health priorities, develop new approaches and/or methodologies and conduct pilot studies addressing health issues and/or barriers that: are co-led, co-produced and/or co-designed with consumers are in partnership with health services increase consumers’ understanding of, and involvement in, research.

Stream 2 (Targeted Call for Research): develop and/or test scalable and sustainable approaches, in partnership with consumers, that enable self-care interventions or improve quality of life and/or survivorship care.

Approaches are for individuals from one or more priority populations, who have experienced or are experiencing long-term diseases and conditions.

Approaches may, where appropriate, also deliver for the individual’s families, carers and communities.

Topic A: Research projects that focus on cancer Topic B: Research projects that focus on long term physical diseases and conditions other than cancer Topic C: Research projects that focus on mental health challenges, diseases or conditions.

Applicants to this grant opportunity must propose research that delivers against the above objectives and those of the Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative.

This grant opportunity is being administered by NHMRC on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Further information on the Medical Research Future Fund is available from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's website.

A list of Eligible Organisations can be found on the NHMRC List of MRFF Eligible Organisations webpage.

The lead organisation must be an MRFF Eligible Organisation approved by NHMRC.

Joint (consortia) applications are allowed provided there is a lead MRFF Eligible Organisation.

To be considered for an Innovation grant under Stream 2, the applicant must: have applied for a Stream 2 Targeted Call for Research grant, not be awarded that grant, and include a 2-page pitch meeting specified requirements (same CIs in same order etc.).

A Chief Investigator A (CIA) must be nominated to lead the application; a person must not be named as a CI on more than one application submitted to a Stream (a CI may be on a maximum of one application per Stream).

Up to 15 Chief Investigators may be included.

The CIA is generally required to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident at time of application submission; if not, the CIA must have the requisite work visa in place at the time of accepting the grant, and the CIA must be based in Australia for the duration of the grant (excluding reasonable overseas travel).

Applications must meet all other eligibility rules in the guidelines (budget within stream limits, comply with formatting and minimum data requirements, not duplicate existing research funded elsewhere, and be certified and submitted by the MRFF Eligible Organisation's Research Administration Officer by the advertised closing time).