MRFF 2025 Genomics Health Futures
Key dates
- Proposals open in Sapphire: 14 August 2025
- Funding Application Certification opens in MyResearch: 12 January 2026
- UQ R&I NOI Close: 21 January 2026
- Minimum data requirements in Sapphire: 5pm ACT time 21 January 2026
- Applications due to UQ R&I: 21 January 2026
- Applications close: 5pm ACT time 4 February 2026
Please note, this round is part of a MyResearch pilot. Role based instructions, guides and videos for all participants are available on the MyResearch website at MyResearch Latest Updates. Email my-research-help@uq.edu.au for system troubleshooting.
Overview
This grant opportunity will provide financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects that:
- Stream 1 (Targeted Call for Research): develop and implement pharmacogenomic approaches to identify new medicines and enhance medication efficacy.
Funding under Stream 1 is available as follows:
- Topic A: Cancer therapies
- Topic B: Antimicrobials
- Topic C: Medicines for other infectious or chronic diseases
- Stream 2 (Targeted Call for Research): conduct genomics research to optimise the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and prevention of high-priority and high-burden diseases among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The amount available for a single grant in each Stream are as follows:
- Stream 1 – the minimum amount for a single grant is $1.0 million, and the maximum amount available for a single grant is $4.5 million.
- Stream 2 – the minimum amount for a single grant is $5.0 million and the maximum amount available or a single grant is $10.0 million.
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.
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
- Please ensure you have completed your Funding Application Certification in MyResearch
- 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:
- Familiarise yourself with the framework for Applying for Competitive Research Grants at UQ.
- Contact your faculty or institute research manager for advice on peer readership programs.
- Subscribe to 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.
- Read the UQ R&I Grant writing advice and strategy website for tips on preparing your application
Key documents
Before applying, please review the full suite of documents available from GrantConnect, the Australian Government grants information system and:
- Grant Connect GO7833 (Guidelines and application templates should be downloaded from here before commencing application)
- MRFF Webpage
- MRFF Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Strategy 2020-21 to 2023-24