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MRFF 2026 Indigenous Health Research - Empowering Community-Controlled Research

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Key Dates

  • Proposals open in Sapphire: 15 April 2026
  • UQ R&I Notice of Intent due: 7 October 2026
  • Minimum data requirements in Sapphire: 5pm ACT time, 14 October 2026
  • Applications due to UQ R&I: 30 October 2026
  • Applications close: 5pm ACT time, 11 November 2026

Overview

The Indigenous Health Research Fund aims to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through:

  • Indigenous-led research practice and governance
  • knowledge translation
  • evidence-based structural change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice
  • building on the unique knowledge, strengths and endurance of our communities, with particular reference to Country, culture and spirituality.

The objective of this grant opportunity is to provide a grant of financial assistance to an organisation or consortium to run an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled program to support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander led health and medical research projects.

The lead organisation applying to this grant opportunity can be an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Organisation. Alternatively, if the lead organisation is not a Community-Controlled Organisation, the application must detail how the lead organisation has had a long relationship with, and will partner with, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Organisation or Organisations to deliver this program, and how the program will incorporate the principles of Community-Control and genuine leadership by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The program is to have a national approach that works with organisations with a national remit and  Indigenous-owned businesses, and utilises existing national governance structures, to build on the evidence base to accelerate positive impact on health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and implement the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The successful applicant is required to:

  • undertake a review of the Indigenous Health Research Fund
  • develop a Strategic Priorities Investment Plan, and
  • partner with and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research projects and researchers.

Eligibility

The program lead (Chief Investigator A) must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. The majority (50%+) of the team must comprise Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals.

Chief investigators do not require a postgraduate qualification (e.g., PhD).

The amount of funding requested must be $28.55 million as specified in section 3.1 of the Guidelines.

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 researcher support

Before applying, we recommend you:

Key documents

MRFF

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

UQ forms and resources

 

Contact UQ R&I