NHMRC Ideas Grants 2026

NHMRC Ideas Grants 2026 is sponsored by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The Ideas Grant scheme supports innovative research projects addressing specific questions, promoting innovative and creative research across all career stages and any area of health and medical research from discovery to implementation.

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nhmrc. gov.au/funding/find-funding/ideas-grants) The objective of the Ideas Grant scheme is to support innovative research projects addressing a specific question(s). The expected outcomes are: * innovative and creative research * funding of researchers at all career stages * funding any area of health and medical research from discovery to implementation.

It is expected that the Chief Investigator A (CIA) will have the capability to lead the team in achieving the project aims. The Ideas Grant scheme is not intended to support research where a clinical trial or cohort study is the primary objective.

Applicants conducting projects which incorporate elements of clinical trial and/or cohort study must consider whether the project goals are more applicable to the Ideas Grant or Clinical Trials and Cohort Grant schemes. Ideas Grants may be funded by or in conjunction with other organisations.

These grants offer opportunities to researchers whose work is particularly relevant to the priorities and research interests of the partner organisations. Information on how organisations and individuals can support NHMRC to fund health and medical research is available on Working together to support health and medical research.

## Peer review of Ideas Grants For details regarding the peer review process, refer to the _Ideas Grants 2026 Peer Review Guidelines_ on GrantConnect. ### [](https://www. nhmrc.

gov.au/funding/find-funding/ideas-grants)Ideas Grants peer reviewer briefing webinar View the 2025 transcript of the above Ideas Grants peer reviewer briefing webinar. A de-identified transcript of the 2025 Question and Answer session is also available. The 2024 transcript of the Ideas Grants peer reviewer briefing webinar is also available, and a de-identified transcript of the 2024 Question and Answer session.

The amount of funding for an Ideas Grant is based on assessment of the requested budget. * Section 13. 1.

Information about fraud and corruption has been added. * Appendix E Guide to Applicants, section 6. 9, has been updated to clarify increased scrutiny at the application budget review stage.

* Appendix E Guide to Applicants, section 8, has been updated to include an additional check that any images of people are appropriately de-identified or informed consent has been given. * The Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation in Health and Medical Research is being embedded in application and assessment processes (see Section 7.

5) including: * The Ideas Grant 2026 application form in Sapphire includes a new mandatory question about the integration of sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and/or sexual orientation in the proposed research (see Appendix E Guide to Applicants).

* The score descriptor for the ‘Research Quality’ assessment criterion includes an additional component on the appropriateness of how sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and/or sexual orientation are integrated in the proposed research and/or the strength of the justification for why any of these Variables are not integrated. * The Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has been added as an additional funding partner.

As this funder is not listed in the 2026 Ideas Grants application form, applicants are required to email ideas. grants@nhmrc. gov.au to formally confirm their intention to apply for this funding.

By doing so, they provide consent for their application details to be shared with the funding partner upon completion of the assessment process. * Changes are detailed in Section 2. 3 of the _Ideas Grants 2026 Guidelines_ on GrantConnect.

### Outcomes of funding rounds Ideas Grants Applications for Funding Commencing in 2026377. 3 KB Ideas Grants 2025 Outcomes data tables75. 15 KB Ideas Grants 2025 Outcomes fact sheet227.

52 KB Ideas Grants Applications for Funding Commencing in 2025422. 8 KB Ideas Grants 2024 Outcomes data tables74. 63 KB Ideas Grants 2024 Outcomes fact sheet267.

96 KB Before you submit an application, please make sure you have: ### Grant submission advice Read all relevant reference material GrantConnect GO Documents ### Liaise with your Administering Institution to identify any specific requirements that the institution may have ### Ensure your application is complete and correct. You will need to use Sapphire to access or enter your CV and profile, and submit your application.

Sapphire has training material to help with system tasks. Applications for grants can be made by registering. RAOs have been contacted directly with instructions on how to establish an RAO account.

If you have any questions please contact theResearch Help Centre. ## Contact research admin office If you need more information, contact your Research Administration Office in the first instance. If you need help and are unable to satisfy your concern through your Administering Institution (or MRFF Eligible Organisation), contact the Research Help Centre.

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