NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence

The Centres of Research Excellence 2025 round is now closed. Applications are under assessment and outcomes are anticipated in June - August 2025.

The next round is expected to open in Q4 of 2025, and the information below will be updated for the 2026 round in due course.

Key dates for NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence 2026

Register Interest for Major Initiatives support closes: 15 August 2025
DETSI Science into Industry Co-Investment Program* applications close: 22 August 2025
Release of NHMRC Guidelines: Anticipated Q4 2025
UQ R&I Notice of Intent (NOI): TBD
Minimum data requirements in Sapphire: Anticipated Q4 2025
Applications due to UQ R&I: Anticipated Q4 2025
Applications close with NHMRC: Anticipated Q4 2025

*please contact industrygrants@research.uq.edu.au for inquiries regarding DETSI schemes

Overview

The objective of the Centres of Research Excellence (CRE) scheme is to improve health outcomes, promote or improve translation of research outcomes and support capacity building. The intended outcomes of the CRE scheme are to:

support the conduct and development of innovative, high quality, collaborative research.
promote effective translation of research into knowledge gain, health policy and/or practice.
foster and build capacity and capability in the health and medical research workforce.
provide opportunities to expand and improve collaborations between research teams.

How to apply

Step 1. UQ strategic review and development

To help researchers best position their CRE application, the UQ R&I Major Initiatives Team will be supporting early conversations with potential UQ-led CRE applicants.
Researchers considering applying to the CRE scheme should complete the Register Interest form.
If you have questions about strategic review and development, please contact majorinitiatives@research.uq.edu.au.
Researchers intending to apply to the CRE scheme must complete the UQ R&I NOI (link to be provided).
If you have questions about proposal review and development, please contact nhmrc@research.uq.edu.au.

Step 2. Creating an application in Sapphire

Log in to Sapphire and review/update your profile, ensuring all sections are current. If you do not yet have a Sapphire account, please register for Sapphire. Note that requests for Sapphire accounts/activations have experienced considerable delays, so it is recommended that all investigators register as soon as possible.
Create an application in Sapphire. Invite collaborating investigators to be participants by adding them to the Research Team on Sapphire; aim to do this early to avoid delays if new researcher accounts need to be created

Step 3. Completing the application

Log into Sapphire and complete the application sections. Upload all relevant supporting documents and ensure all investigators have accepted their invitations.

Step 4. UQ R&I internal review and feedback

Once the application is complete, the CIA should initiate the Certification process in Sapphire. To do this, select 'Certification' from the left-hand menu within the application and follow the steps to submit the application to the Research Office. Application errors will be signalled and can be corrected at this stage.
To initiate internal review, email your completed UQ Application Certification Form (see UQ Resources below) to UQ R&I at nhmrc@research.uq.edu.au.
An internal review will be completed by UQ R&I at the level requested in the NOI and feedback will be provided.

Step 5. Final submission

Final submission by UQ R&I to NHMRC.

Resources and support for application development

UQ R&I Information Session

The Research Office hosted an information session discussing the scheme and expertise from UQ Library to support you in benchmarking and mapping your CI team’s collaborations on Monday 28 October 2024. The session included a Q&A panel with experts sharing insights into the assessment process and CRE proposals and realities.

The session recording and slides are now available on the UQ R&I presentations and slides page.

Readership and researcher support

Before applying, we recommend you:

Contact your faculty or institute research manager for advice on peer readership programs.
Join the UQ R&I Mailer to stay up to date with round developments.
Access the UQ R&I Grants Library, a helpful resource of past successful proposals.
Attend UQ R&I information sessions and access PowerPoint presentations from presentations and slides.

Key documents

These documents are from the previous round of CRE and will be updated upon the release of 2026 Guidelines.