Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grant 2026

Total program funding: $75 million.
No minimum or maximin funding request limit.
Matched funding requirement: No matched funding requirement or in-kind contribution requirement.
Grant duration: Between 1 and 5 years.
Expected project commencement: 01 October 2027.
Applications close: November 04, 2026.

The Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grant 2026 supports high-quality clinical trials and cohort studies that address important gaps in health and medical knowledge and generate findings that can improve human health outcomes. The program funds research involving human participants across a broad range of health and medical disciplines. Eligible projects may include prospective clinical trials, prospective cohort studies, and retrospective cohort studies. Research is expected to provide reliable evidence that improves prevention, diagnosis, treatment, health care delivery, public health outcomes, or health policy. Funding is available through the National Health and Medical Research Council to support projects of varying scale and duration.

Successful projects must demonstrate scientific excellence, research quality, strong investigator capability, meaningful consumer and community involvement, and potential for significant health impact. The program encourages research that supports Australian health priorities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes and gender equity in health research

Key Requirements

Support high-quality clinical trials and cohort studies that address important gaps in health and medical knowledge and generate implementable outcomes that improve human health.
Deliver reliable evidence regarding the effectiveness of health interventions, treatments, prevention approaches, risk factors and exposures affecting health outcomes.
Demonstrate scientific significance through a strong evidence base, clear research rationale, robust methodology and meaningful health impact potential.
Include effective consumer and community involvement during project design, delivery, governance and dissemination of findings.
Show project feasibility through appropriate expertise, resources, milestones, implementation planning and risk management strategies.
Consider how research may benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and support Closing the Gap priorities where relevant

What is eligible for funding?

Clinical trials involving human participants and health-related interventions.
Prospective cohort studies examining relationships between risk factors, exposures and health outcomes.
Retrospective cohort studies using historical datasets and data linkage approaches.
Collection, management and analysis of research data directly related to the study.
Salary support for eligible research personnel where appropriately justified.
Research support staff and direct research costs required to undertake approved research activities.
Essential research equipment and project-specific expenditure that complies with NHMRC direct research cost requirements.
Overseas research activities where clearly justified and critical to project success

What companies are eligible for funding?

NHMRC Administering Institutions. Applications are only accepted through eligible NHMRC Administering Institutions.
Chief Investigator A must be an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent resident, or hold an appropriate work visa at grant commencement.
Chief Investigator A must be based in Australia for at least 80% of the funding period.
Up to 10 Chief Investigators and up to 10 Associate Investigators may be included per application.
There is no limit on the number of applications an eligible Chief Investigator may submit.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Targeted Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging a professional government grant writer consultant. Avant Group is Australia’s largest independent grants advisory firm. Find out more about our government grant writing and consulting service here.

How can I get help understanding if I’m eligible for this grant? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

This grant is open

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