GO8415: MRFF – Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission – 2026 Mental Health 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 (Priority areas 2.1 and 2.2, Incubator Grants): Small-scale developmental projects to improve: Topic A: the early detection and response to new trends of substance use Topic B: the understanding of, and how to address the rise of, anxiety disorders in children and young Australians (0 to 25 years) Topic C: the understanding of, and how to address the rise of, depression in children and young Australians (0 to 25 years) Topic D: the understanding of, and how to address the rise of, self-harm in children and young Australians (0 to 25 years) Stream 2 (Priority areas 3.1 and 3.2, Targeted Call for Research): Mid-career researcher (MCR)-led large-scale implementation research projects involving multi-institutional collaborations consisting of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams to bring into practice new evidence-based preventions, interventions, models of care and improvements to workforce capability.

Applicants to this grant opportunity must propose to conduct research that delivers against the above objectives and those of the Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission described in the Roadmap and Implementation Plan.

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 applying organisation must be an MRFF Eligible Organisation approved by NHMRC.

Joint applications are encouraged where there is an eligible lead organisation that is the main driver of the project.

Applicants must nominate a Chief Investigator A (CIA) to lead the application, research and reporting.

A person may be named as a Chief Investigator on no more than one application per Stream; otherwise both applications are ineligible.

Stream 1 applications may include up to 15 Chief Investigators and Stream 2 applications may include up to 50 Chief Investigators.

For Stream 2, the CIA must be a Mid-Career Researcher within 5–10 years of their earliest PhD award date, adjusted for eligible career disruptions, and at least 50% of all Chief Investigators must be Mid-Career Researchers.

The CIA must generally be an Australian citizen or permanent resident at submission; if not, they must hold the required work visa when accepting the grant.

The CIA must be based in Australia for the grant period other than reasonable eligible overseas travel.

Applications must address one Stream only, comply with the relevant funding limits, submit required minimum data and the completed application in Sapphire by the stated deadlines, and propose eligible, new research aligned with the MRFF Act and grant objectives.