Applying for Support

About our funding

NFMRI seeks to support the translation of biomedical research projects that have strong potential in addressing unmet community needs. Funding provided by NFMRI is very different from other foundations and traditional funding sources, which is why we recommend that applicants read more about the Foundation prior to submitting an expression of interest. Particularly, applicants should review their application’s strategic fit with the mission of the Foundation, the three research portfolios and consider how their research advances innovation, noting any nominated areas of priority. We have developed this short video to assist researchers and their institutions who are considering submitting an EOI.

Around the beginning of each calendar year, NFMRI opens its general grant round nationally, which seeks to support innovative biomedical research projects covering all diseases and conditions. From time to time, via our partnerships, we may offer targeted funding rounds based around our partners’ mission and objectives.

Funding Opportunities

Researchers interested in applying for funding should read about our strategy and portfolios prior to making a submission. We also have a short video for researchers and their institutions outlining considerations to keep in mind when applying for NFMRI support. If after going through the information available on our website applicants still have questions, they are encouraged to attend one of our online grant round Q&A sessions. Our success stories and current grants also provide a good indication as to the types of projects we normally support.

Every year, we hold online Q&A sessions for our grant rounds. Future Q&A sessions will be announced on our website and in our newsletter. Please note that these are not presentations, but are designed to clarify and answer any questions relating to the information available online. It is expected that the researchers who attend our Q&A session will have read information available on our website. Before the session time, participation details will be emailed directly to participants. Q&A sessions are not recorded.

Institutions wishing to host a more detailed presentation/meetings should complete a speaker request form.

Eligibility

The Foundation supports biomedical, lab-based research projects that will lead to innovations such as drugs, devices, tools, therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics etc.
Funding requests under portfolios 2 and 3 should predominantly be to support expenses relating to the external collaborator.
The researcher who will be managing the project day-to-day and spending the largest proportion of their time on the project should be listed as the Chief Investigator, including mid-career researchers. The Foundation considers many other relevant factors apart from established track record when making funding decisions.
Institutions must provide strong, demonstrable support for commercialisation and translation.
Only one application will be considered from each principal researcher per year.
Funding is to be provided only for research activities associated with this project.
Grants are provided to Australian research institutions.
Only one EOI or application or grant can be active at any time for a researcher.

Funding exclusions:

The Foundation does not offer top-up grants to NHMRC or ARC projects, scholarships or support students.
The Foundation will only provide funding for specific research projects rather than salaries. Project costs may include a component for support staff salaries, but not the salary of the chief investigator.
The Foundation does not support general university overheads, patent costs, publication costs, travel, consultants (eg marketing or regulatory) and associated expenses.
The Foundation does not support travel or conference expenses.
The Foundation does not support companies or projects where the IP is encumbered.
The Foundation supports pre-clinical research activities including research activities required to enable clinical trials that comply with ICH Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice. We are however unable to support the conduct of clinical trials themselves.

Assessment process and timeline

NFMRI recognises the valuable time researchers and reviewers spend preparing and assessing applications for support. To assist in managing time, we ask that all applicants firstly complete and submit an expression of interest form (EOI). Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a more detailed application relevant to the portfolio selected in their EOI.

Our review process and timeline can be found below as a guide for our general grant round. Please note that special purpose grant rounds may have a different process and timeline.

EOIs are initially reviewed by members of our RAC;
An initial shortlist is made. Full applications are requested from those shortlisted and all EOI applicants are notified in late May to early June;
Full applications for shortlisted individuals are due around the end of July, with three independent referee reports due around mid-August;
Full applications are reviewed by our RAC and recommendations are put forward to our Board;
Our Board makes funding decisions at its October or November meeting, with announcements to be made in late November.
Funding will commence once the standard grant agreements have been executed.

Assessment criteria

The Foundation awards grants that align with its mission and strategy. It considers community need and likelihood of success when making funding decisions. The suitability of all funding requests is reviewed by our Research Advisory Committee and approvals are made by our Board.

NFMRI strategically supports research activities along the innovation pathway. If you are thinking about applying, the decision tree may assist you in preparing your EOI.

Alzheimer’s Disease Grant Round – CLOSED

Through our partnership with The Mason Foundation (managed by Equity Trustees), NFMRI is seeking EOIs for Alzheimer’s disease research projects. All three portfolios are open, with preference for projects that fall within portfolios 2 and 3. A key aspect of portfolios 2 and 3 is accessing external capability to undertake critical research with high translational value. Please note that we have an ongoing grant round with set closing dates throughout the year where EOIs are reviewed.

We strongly encourage women to apply and for the researcher leading the project day-to-day to be listed as the chief investigator, including mid-career researchers. The focus of our reviews will be on the innovation and its potential of successfully securing the relevant next-step partner.

Researchers interested in applying should firstly watch this short 5-minute video and then consider attending an online Q&A session. Institutions wishing to host a more detailed presentation/meetings should complete a speaker request form.

Draft EOIs are not visible or accessible to NFMRI and are automatically deleted after 30 days.

Our Alzheimer’s disease grant round is now CLOSED.

Open the EOI form here

NFMRI General Grant Round (Portfolios 2 & 3 only) – CLOSED

We seek expressions of interest for biomedical research projects across ALL diseases/conditions that fall within portfolios 2 and 3 only. The grant round is open nationally. In 2025, we would like to receive more EOIs for Asthma and Allergy research projects in the general grant round.

Our 2025 general grant round is now CLOSED. Any potential future rounds outside of our annual cycle will be announced on this page and in our newsletter.

Draft EOIs are not visible or accessible to NFMRI and are automatically deleted after 30 days.

Open the EOI form here

Please subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed of future funding opportunities. The general grant round form will be available here as soon as the grant round opens.

How to apply

Review the available information to ensure eligibility and relevance of the project before applying. If after reviewing this information, including our FAQ section you still have unanswered questions, please register to attend an online Q&A session.
A sample expression of interest form is available as a PDF to assist applicants prepare to complete the EOI.
You may save and complete the online EOI for completion at a later date. Please copy and keep the link secure. Draft EOIs are not visible or accessible to NFMRI and are automatically deleted after 30 days. We are not able to assist with accessing or recovering draft EOIs and recommend that you also export a copy of the form as a PDF from your browser as a backup.
You must complete all relevant fields in the space provided. One seperate attachment for supporting information such as charts, graphs etc is allowed. Attachments cannot be ‘saved for later’ and must be uploaded when submitting in the final step.
All EOIs must be submitted via our online EOI submission form.
Once submitted, applicants will see an on screen confirmation notice and receive an email confirming receipt of their submission. Please check your junk email. Some organisations may also block auto-responder emails from websites.
Please note that closer to our closing date, the volume of researchers submitting their EOIs can lead to slower submission processing and delays in confirmation emails going through.

EOIs submitted without using our online submission process may not be considered for support.

Next steps

All applicants can expect to be notified of the outcome of their EOI as soon as possible after being reviewed by the Research Advisory Committee. The committee normally meets in February, June and September.

Those who are shortlisted to submit a full application will be contacted directly by the Foundation and provided with feedback and any questions raised by the Research Advisory Committee that should be addressed in the full application. The applicant will be provided with the full application for their relevant portfolio, as well as a copy of our standard grant agreement for reference and our referee report form. Three independent referees are required for each shortlisted application.

Those with an unsuccessful EOI will be notified by email. Due to limited resources, the Foundation is unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants. However, applicants are welcome to attend a future online grant round Q&A session or submit another EOI in a future grant round.

Funding agreement

If you are successful, you will be required to enter into a common funding agreement with NFMRI that sets out the terms and conditions along with reporting requirements of the grant.

The project must be completed within the timeframe specified in the funding agreement. Any milestone variation or extension to an approved project must be requested in writing and submitted to NFMRI prior to implementation.

Funds must be spent on the project as described in the approved full application and any unspent funding must be returned to NFMRI.

A final report and financial acquittal are required to acquit the grant.

Reporting

Successful applicants will be required to complete a progress report by 30 June and 31 December each year while their grant is active using NFMRI’s online progressive reporting system. A financial statement for the previous calendar year is also required by 1 February each year throughout the duration of the grant. Upon completion, a final report and financial acquittal are required to acquit the grant.

NFMRI utilises an online progressive reporting system, whereby each chief investigator has their own personal profile listing their current and past grants. Only a top-up of information for relevant sections where there have been updates in the previous reporting period is required while completing the progress report, thereby saving applicant’s valuable time.

Feedback

We welcome feedback from applicants through our online feedback form

Contact Us

Those with additional questions should first review the Frequently Asked Questions section prior to contacting the Foundation.

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