Research and Medical Grant Program (Strategic Grant Opportunities)

Research and Medical Grant Program (Strategic Grant Opportunities) is sponsored by Mito Foundation. The Mito Foundation's Research and Medical Grant Program funds high-impact research and clinical work to improve outcomes for people with primary mitochondrial disease (mito). Strategic grant opportunities are offered ad hoc.

Research and Medical Grant Program - Mito Foundation Research and Medical Grant Program The Mito Foundation Research and Medical Grant Program funds high-impact research and clinical work to improve outcomes for people with primary mitochondrial disease (mito). Since 2010, we have invested over A$9 million in mito research worldwide. Today, Mito Foundation is the largest philanthropic funder of mito research in Australia.

Learn more about our research impact . Our research strategy , updated in 2024, guides how we fund, facilitate, and influence research to drive meaningful progress. We support projects across all research areas, including discovery, clinical medicine and science, health services and public health.

We welcome high-quality proposals directly relevant to mito from research scientists, clinicians, and allied health professionals.

The objective of the Mito Foundation Research and Medical Grant Program is to achieve the maximum possible impact by funding the world’s best research into primary mito across 4 priority areas: Understanding disease mechanisms Improving our understanding of the complex biological mechanisms involved in mito is key to advancing diagnostics and prevention, developing effective treatments and ultimately, cures for mito.

Mito Foundation is committed to supporting research that increases knowledge of the genetics of mito, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis and progression of mito. Patients often spend years on the ‘diagnostic odyssey’, searching for answers; many remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Mito Foundation is committed to improving the speed and accuracy of diagnosis of mito through genetic testing and other pioneering techniques. A timely diagnosis enables patients earlier access to specialised care and management, support services, family planning and reproductive options, and provides greater opportunity for patients to access emerging therapies through participation in clinical trials.

Improving clinical care and management The Mito Foundation is committed to advancing research that improves current treatments, care and best practice management.

This includes research initiatives that help: inform and implement improved standards of care enhance equitable and timely access to mito-specific healthcare services and medical professionals improve patient and family support practices, including those that improve quality of life, psychosocial impacts and palliative care.

Advancing emerging treatments, prevention strategies, and cures Current therapies for mito are very limited, primarily revolving around supportive, symptomatic treatment only. Mito Foundation is committed to investing in the best research to advance the discovery and development of potential new treatments, including gene-based therapies such as gene replacement and gene editing.

In addition, advancement in preventative strategies including mitochondrial donation, which may reduce the incidence of mito and improve reproductive confidence in families, is a Mito Foundation funding priority. Working with the mito community Mito Foundation can support you in understanding more about the experience of the Australian mito community and ways to work collaboratively with them.

We encourage researchers to read about our work to amplify the mito community's voice and be familiar with key aspects of mito for any projects directly involving community members. Mito Foundation funds high quality and impactful research into primary mitochondrial disease (mito). All applications are subject to expert peer review.

Mito Foundation takes a permissive approach and encourages applicants to contact us if their intended proposal aligns with our research priority areas but does not fit a prescribed Mito Foundation funding mechanism. All successful applications are subject to reporting and compliance requirements as indicated in the funding agreement. Mito Foundation funding cannot be used to cover on-costs, infrastructure or other indirect costs.

Mito Foundation recognises the impact of research within and beyond the academic environment. Read our Impact Areas and Indicators Guideline for more information. For any application to be eligible, research must be focused on primary mitochondrial disease and all required information must be properly submitted.

Annual funding opportunity Train Australian clinicians to provide the best possible care for individuals with primary mitochondrial disease Travel and Collaboration Grants One-off grants that support clinician researchers, nurses, and allied health professionals to attend mito conferences, visit trial sites, or take part in activities that build skills and strengthen Australia’s clinical trial capacity.

Applications for the 2026 Mito Foundation and United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation Major Research Grant Program are now closed. View the 2026 grant recipients. Project start date: As early as September 2026, pending grant award agreement execution.

Learn about the Major Annual Grant Round Bi-annual grant opportunity Outcomes for the first Bi-annual Grant Round will be announced in May 2026.

Incubator Grants* Now closed Learn more Facilitate preliminary research to enable researchers to apply for subsequent funding from external/independent bodies to complete the project *overseas-based applications welcome Strategic grant opportunities (ad hoc) Boost high-quality research into primary mitochondrial disease that does not fit into one of our prescribed funding mechanisms Funding available is variable.

For more information and how to apply, contact grants@mito. org. au or call 02 8033 4113.

Please contact us to discuss your project before applying to ensure it aligns with Mito Foundation’s research strategy. Enable highly experienced national and international researchers and medical professionals to conduct ground-breaking research and medical projects into Mito Foundation’s research priority areas Funding available is variable. For more information and how to apply, contact grants@mito.

org. au or call 02 8033 4113.

*overseas-based applications welcome Four innovative research projects awarded Mito Foundation Incubator Grants Mito Foundation and UMDF reach US$1 million milestone for mitochondrial disease research funding Researcher Spotlight: Dr Daisy Shu Send us feedback about this resource At the Mito Foundation we strive for continuous improvement and want to ensure the online resources we provide continue to help improve the lives of people impacted by mitochondrial disease (mito).

When we discuss 'you' or 'your' in this survey, we are including your child, family member, or friend living with or impacted by mito. By sharing your experience and answering the questions below, you contribute to shaping better resources for yourself and others. Thank you.

Relating to the online resource you have just viewed, please rate the following: 1. On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor knowledge, and 5 is all the knowledge you feel you need), how would you rate your knowledge? Before you viewed the resource Knowledge (Before resource) After you viewed the resource Knowledge (After resource) 2.

On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor confidence and 5 is all the confidence you feel you need), how would you rate your confidence? Before you viewed the resource Confidence (Before resource) After you contacted the Helpline Confidence (After resource) 3. On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor wellbeing, and 5 is what you feel your wellbeing should be), how would you rate your wellbeing?

Before you viewed the resource Wellbeing (Before resource) After you viewed the resource Wellbeing (After resource) 4.

On a scale from 0 to 5 (where 0 is very poor access to the services you need, and 5 is you have access to the services you feel you need), how would you rate your access to services: Before you viewed the resource Your understanding to access services you may need after you viewed the resource Do you have any suggestions or feedback for improving our online resources?