National Health and Medical Research Council

Program Overview

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is Australia’s primary funding body for health and medical research. The NHMRC Grant Program aims to support the most promising health and medical research and researchers across Australia. Its overarching purpose is to build a stronger evidence base for health policies and practices, ultimately improving Australians’ health outcomes.

The program funds a diverse portfolio of schemes. These schemes cover various stages of research, from discovery to implementation, and support individual researchers, teams, and collaborations. The NHMRC prioritises research that addresses national health priorities and fosters innovation.

The total funding available for NHMRC grants varies by financial year and specific scheme. Information on projected funding allocations is typically released as part of the Australian Government’s budget processes and individual grant opportunity guidelines.

Key Details

• Funding Amount or Range: Funding varies significantly by scheme. For instance, Synergy Grants provide fixed funding of $5 million over 5 years. Centres of Research Excellence (CRE) offer up to $3 million over 5 years. Individual grants like Investigator Grants and Ideas Grants have varying salary components and research support packages.
• Application Open and Close Dates: Application dates are specific to each grant scheme and round. For example, some upcoming dates in 2025 include:
  • Investigator Grants: Applications open on 4 June 2025 and close on 30 July 2025.
  • Development Grants: Applications open on 16 April 2025 and close on 11 June 2025.
  • Ideas Grants: Applications open on 12 March 2025 and close on 7 May 2025.
  • Detailed schedules are available on the NHMRC Funding Calendar and GrantConnect.
• Eligible Industries and Business Types: NHMRC grants primarily fund research conducted by medical research institutes, universities, and health and hospital networks. Not-for-profit organisations and research centres are also eligible. While direct grants to commercial “businesses” in the typical sense are less common, certain schemes like Development Grants support research at the proof-of-concept stage, driving towards a commercial outcome. Collaboration with eligible administering institutions is often the pathway for commercial entities to engage with NHMRC funding.
• Co-contribution or Matching Fund Requirements: Co-contribution requirements depend on the specific grant scheme. For some schemes, no co-contribution is explicitly required. However, matching contributions may be a condition for others, particularly those involving collaborations or leveraging external funds. Project budgets must be realistic and align with proposed aims.
• Location/State/Territory Applicability: NHMRC is a national Australian government agency. Its grants are available to eligible organisations and researchers across all Australian states and territories.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility to apply for NHMRC grants rests primarily with “Administering Institutions,” which are typically universities, medical research institutes, or health organisations accredited by NHMRC. Individual researchers apply through these institutions.

General eligibility requirements include:

• The applying organisation must be an NHMRC-accredited Administering Institution.
• Chief Investigators (CIs) and other key researchers must meet scheme-specific criteria, including limits on the number of grants held or applied for concurrently.
• Research must address health and medical research in Australia.
• Projects must demonstrate scientific merit and alignment with the objectives of the specific grant scheme.
• Schemes like development grants must have a clear pathway to a commercial outcome.
• Some schemes may require a minimum percentage of research effort related to Indigenous health or specific Indigenous Research Excellence Criteria.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

NHMRC grants can fund various activities and expenses directly related to health and medical research. These include:

• Personnel Salaries: Salaries for Chief Investigators, postdoctoral researchers, research and technical assistants, and higher degree candidates.
• Direct Research Costs (DRCs): Consumables, reagents, animal costs, and other direct costs necessary for the research project.
• Equipment: Purchase of essential equipment. Items costing more than $10,000 are typically eligible, with a total limit often around $80,000 per project.
• Travel: Costs associated with research-related travel, including international travel, if critical to the project.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Expenses related to data acquisition, management, and analysis.
• Intellectual Property (IP) Costs: While patent application fees are generally not eligible, costs related to research at the proof-of-concept stage driving towards commercialisation (e.g., in Development Grants) may be supported.
• Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies: Specific schemes support high-quality clinical trials and cohort studies.

Funds can generally not be used for indirect costs, facility costs, administrative overheads, teaching relief, entertainment, or standard computer equipment unless they are integral to a piece of lab equipment.

Assessment Process

NHMRC grants are awarded through competitive peer review processes. Applications are assessed by scientific and other experts against published assessment criteria specific to each scheme. Reviewers assign scores, and the highest-scoring applications are recommended for funding.

The assessment criteria typically include:

• Research Quality: This consists of the aims, research plan, underlying hypothesis, study design, and management of scientific and technical risks.
• Innovation and Creativity: The novelty and originality of the research approach.
• Significance: The importance of the research and its potential to advance the field or influence health policy and practice.
• Feasibility: The likelihood of successful completion, considering resources, infrastructure, and personnel.
• Track Record: The expertise and past contributions of the Chief Investigators, including publications, research impacts, and leadership.
• Translational Potential: For schemes like Development Grants, there is potential for commercial outcomes and a clear commercialisation plan.
• Consumer and Community Involvement: The extent of engagement with consumers and the community throughout the research lifecycle.

Application Tips

• Understand the Scheme Guidelines: Read the specific grant opportunity guidelines thoroughly, as schemes’ eligibility and assessment criteria differ.
• Engage Your Administering Institution: Work closely with your institution’s research administration office (RAO) for guidance on internal processes, eligibility checks, and submission requirements.
• Craft a Strong Research Plan: Develop a clear, well-justified research plan with specific aims, robust methodology, and expected outcomes.
• Highlight Innovation and Significance: Clearly articulate the novel aspects of your research and its potential impact on health and medical knowledge or practice.
• Demonstrate Feasibility: Outline available resources, infrastructure, and the expertise of your research team to ensure the project can be completed successfully.
• Address All Assessment Criteria: Ensure every aspect of your application directly addresses the assessment criteria for the specific scheme.
• Adhere to Formatting and Page Limits: Strict adherence to formatting guidelines and page limits is crucial for a compliant application.
• Seek Feedback: Have colleagues or mentors review your application before submission.

Further Support

Applying for NHMRC grants needs detailed preparation and a comprehensive understanding of the funds that can be applied for. Over the past 30 years, Pattens Group has helped Australian businesses with grant applications. Contact us if you want guidance on utilising NHMRC opportunities and fortifying your grant proposals through the same route.