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MRFF 2025 Childhood Mental Health Research

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Key dates

  • Applications open in Sapphire: 5 September 2025
  • UQ R&I NOI close: 18 February 2026
  • Minimum data requirements in Sapphire: 5pm ACT time 25 February 2026
  • Applications due to UQ R&I: 4 March 2026
  • Applications close: 5pm ACT time 25 March 2026

Overview

This MRFF 2025 Childhood Mental Health Research grant opportunity will provide financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects that conduct large-scale implementation research projects to bring evidence-based preventions and treatments, including those that are technologically enabled, into practice that:

  • are in partnership with local health and community service providers
  • are co-produced and/or co-designed with children and their families, carers, and the community
  • support the integration of mental health services for children and their families and carers
  • build clinical research workforce capacity
  • address mental health issues that are a priority for the community
  • measure the impact of the interventions
  • address barriers and build upon enablers to support and scale implementation.

Applications to this grant opportunity must propose research that addresses one of the three Topics of research. An application may only be submitted to one of the following topics:

  • Topic A (Aim 2 of Research Plan; Targeted Call for Research): improving the mental health of First Nations children through research led by First Nations researchers that includes meaningful involvement of First Nations communities.
  • Topic B (Aim 2 of Research Plan; Targeted Call for Research): the organisation undertaking the majority of the research is based in any area according to the Modified Monash Model locator (MM1–7).
  • Topic C (Aim 2 of Research Plan; Targeted Call for Research): the organisation undertaking the majority of the research, the Chief Investigator A and 50% or more of all Chief Investigators, and all research participants are primarily based in a regional, rural or remote area according to the Modified Monash Model locator (MM2–7).

There is no minimum grant amount and the maximum amount available for a single grant is $5.0 million.

Eligibility

For applications to all Topics (Topic A, Topic B, Topic C), 50% or more of the Chief Investigator team must be early to mid-career researchers and/or peer researchers.

For applications to Topic A, the proposed research is either led by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researcher or conducted by a research team comprised of Chief Investigators of which 50% or more are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers.

For applications to Topic C, the Chief Investigator A and 50% or more of all Chief Investigators, and all research participants must be primarily based in a regional, rural or remote area according to the Modified Monash Model locator (MM2-7)

How to Apply

Step 1: Internal Notice of Intent (NOI) 

All researchers intending to submit an MRFF application are required to submit an internal Notice of Intent. NOIs will be collated centrally and distributed to Faculties and Institutes in order to provide maximum support to the UQ research community.

Submit UQ Notice of Intent

Step 2. Sapphire updates and scheme reading

  • Register for Sapphire and update your full profile 'My Profile and CV'. All Chief Investigators (CI) and Associate Investigators (AI) will need to have an active Sapphire account. Any team members without a Sapphire account should request one as early as possible. The NHMRC require at least three working days to create new Sapphire accounts. 
  • Download guidelines and application templates from GrantConnect. Familiarise yourself with the key MRFF, NHMRC and UQ documentation (see below). 

Step 3. Completing the application

  • Log into Sapphire and complete the application. Sections of the application will validate as they are completed.
  • Ensure all required data is entered into the application before the Minimum Data deadline (see Key dates above). Applications that do not meet this deadline will not be able to proceed.

Step 4. UQ R&I internal review and feedback

  • Ahead of internal review, ensure all online components are complete and valid in Sapphire and CIA has initiated the Certification process. Application errors will be signalled and can be corrected during the Certification stage.
  • To initiate internal review, email the UQ Research Office at mrffgrants@research.uq.edu.au with your completed MRFF Funding Application Certification form (below).
  • UQ Research Office will review your application and provide you with feedback as requested in NOI (eligibility & compliance; refinement; or content grantscraft).

Step 5. Final submission

  • When your application is complete and fully compliant, the UQ Research Office will submit the application to the NHMRC through Sapphire.

Letters of Support

UQ Letters

Most MRFF applications administered in Sapphire will not require a letter of support from UQ. This is usually only necessary if UQ is committing cash to the project.

We ask that UQ researchers submit draft letters for signing to us no later than two weeks before the external closing date. We strongly recommend working with your local school/institute research professionals to complete this process.

Partner Letters

We encourage applicants to provide drafts of partner letters of support for review by the Research office before organising their final signature to ensure eligibility and compliance. A template partner letter of support is provided below.

Non-UQ Lead Applications

  • The administering organisation should provide you with a draft letter of support. We recommend you work with your local research support to complete the letter. 
  • Complete and sign an MRFF Funding Application Certification form (see below), and get it countersigned by your Head of School/Institute.
  • Submit both to mrffgrants@research.uq.edu.au, along with evidence for any additional co-contributions.

Readership and research support

Before applying, we recommend you:

If offered, attend UQ R&I information sessions and access PowerPoint presentations from presentations and slides.

Key documents

MRFF 

Before applying, please review the full suite of documents available from GrantConnect, the Australian Government grants information system and:

NHMRC

UQ forms and resources

 

Scheme queries

Round coordination
Pre-Award Health Team