GO8338: MRFF – Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative – 2026 Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19

The objective of this grant opportunity (GO) is to provide grants of financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects that: Stream 1: (Incubator): investigate biological pathways and mechanistic drivers of PASC subtypes to optimise intervention design and improve clinical outcomes Stream 2 (Incubator): conduct novel pre-clinical and/or early-phase clinical research to improve the understanding of PASC subtypes to inform pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments Stream 3 (Incubator): conduct small scale projects that investigate the similarities and differences of biological drivers and pathological mechanisms between PASC and Topic A OR Topic B (see Guidelines) Stream 4: (Targeted Call for Research): conduct a large-scale project to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of scalable and sustainable approaches for integrated care pathways for people with PASC.

For all Streams, applications must reflect the complexity, variability and heterogeneity of PASC, and demonstrate meaningful co-design with consumers across all stages of research.

To be competitive for funding, applicants must propose to conduct research that delivers against the above objectives and those of the Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative.

Applications to this grant opportunity must propose research that addresses one of the 4 Streams of research.

An application may only be submitted to one of the above 4 Streams.

Applicants must specify the Stream to which they are applying in their application.

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

Further information on MRFF is available from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's website.

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

Joint/consortia applications are allowed but must have a lead MRFF Eligible Organisation.

Applicants must nominate a Chief Investigator A (CIA) who will lead the application and conduct the research.

A person must not be named as a Chief Investigator on more than one application submitted to a Stream of this grant opportunity (a person may be named as a CI 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 the time of application; where the CIA is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident they must have the requisite work visa in place at the time of accepting the grant.

The CIA must be based in Australia for the duration of the grant (excluding reasonable overseas travel).

Applications must meet formatting, minimum data and submission/certification requirements in Sapphire and must request funding within the minimum and maximum amounts for the selected Stream.

Budgets must comply with eligible expenditure rules.

Applications that duplicate existing research, fail to disclose other funding, or include incomplete/false/misleading information may be deemed ineligible.