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NHMRC Ideas Grants

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 Key dates for NHMRC Ideas Grants 2026 (for funding in 2027)

  • Release of Guidelines: 11 March 2026
  • Applications open in Sapphire: 11 March 2026
  • UQ Research and Innovation (UQ R&I) information session: 2:30 PM Friday 13 March 2026
  • UQ R&I Notice of Intent (NOI) close: 1 April 2026
  • Minimum data requirements in Sapphire: 8 April 2026
  • Applications due to UQ R&I: 8 April 2026*
  • Applications close with NHMRC: 6 May 2026
  • Anticipated notification of outcomes: November 2026

* Applications must be submitted by this date to receive content review from UQ R&I 

Overview

Ideas grants are the main project grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The objective of the Ideas Grant scheme is to support focused, innovative research projects.

The expected outcomes are:

  • innovative and creative research
  • funding of researchers at all career stages
  • funding any area of health and medical research from discovery to implementation.

The scheme fosters creative research for teams of 1-10 Chief Investigators at all career stages to address specific question/s in any area of health and medical research, from discovery to implementation (except where an NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies is the primary objective).

    UQ R&I Information Session

    To assist applicants in preparing their applications, the Research Office will be hosting an Information Session. A recording of this session will be made available on the UQ R&I presentations and slides webpage for those who are unable to attend. The session will feature a scheme overview, key findings from past rounds, the application and submission process, and a Q&A session with an expert panel. 

    Date: Friday 13 March 2026
    Time: 2:30pm - 3:30pm
    Location: 50-N201 – St Lucia – Learning Theatre – Hawken Engineering
    Zoom:     https://uqz.zoom.us/j/86591270921  

    How to apply

    Step 1. Internal Notice of Intent (NOI)

    All researchers intending to submit an NHMRC Ideas Grant 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 Notice of Intent

    Step 2. Sapphire updates and scheme reading

    • Familiarise yourself with the key National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), External Funding Organisations and UQ documentation (see Key Documents below).
    • Applications are submitted via Sapphire. 
    • NOTE: Submission of a registration form and activation of a Sapphire account must occur at least 72 hours before application close. Requests for Sapphire accounts/activations after this time cannot be guaranteed.

    Step 3. Completing the application

    • Log into Sapphire create an application and make sure UQ is listed as the Administering institution.  
    • Upload all relevant attachments and ensure all investigators have accepted their invitations. 

    Step 4. UQR&I internal review and feedback

    1. Sapphire application completion: Ahead of internal review, ensure all online components are complete and valid in Sapphire and supporting documents have been uploaded.
    2. Sapphire Certification/Submit to RAO: Select 'Certification' from the left-hand menu within your Ideas Grant application and follow the instructions to submit the application to the RAO.
    3. UQR&I Review Request: Email your completed UQ Application Certification Form (with signatures) along with the completed Pending and Newly Funded Grants Form to UQ R&I at nhmrc@research.uq.edu.au to initiate your review. 
    4. UQ R&I will review your application and feedback provided as selected in your NOI (content/refinement/eligibilty and compliance). Please note that applications must meet the UQ R&I internal deadline to receive content review. 
    5. Review cycles will continue until the application is compliant with NHMRC and UQ requirements.

    Step 5. Final submission

    • Certify your application to RAO in Sapphire. This can only be completed by the CIA. 
    • With your approval, UQ R&I will submit your application to the NHMRC.

    Readership and researcher support

    Before applying, we recommend you:

    Key documents

    The below documents and information are for the closed 2025 round. Information, templates and resources for the 2026 round will be updated when guidelines are available.

    NHMRC

    The NHMRC documentation are available from GrantConnect, the Australian Government grants information system. You need to be a GrantConnect registered user to download the NHMRC Ideas Grants documentation prior to starting your application in Sapphire. To register, you will need to complete the New User Registration on the GrantConnect website.

    Additional information on the NHMRC Ideas Grants scheme can be found on the NHMRC Ideas Grants website.

    Funding Partners

    The following organisations are expected to partner with NHMRC in funding grants under the Ideas Grants scheme:

    Cancer Council New South Wales (CCNSW)

    • Before considering applying for CCNSW funding, please review their guidelines from their website.
    • CCNSW applications will close on 5 pm (AEST) 29 May 2025.
    • Please contact NHMRC@research.uq.edu.au if you are intending to apply for CCNSW funding. 

    McCusker Charitable Foundations

    • The McCusker Charitable Foundation will consider applications for research funding in the areas of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, Colitis, Tourette syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue.
    • Before considering applying for funding from the McCusker Charitable Foundation, please review their guidelines from their website.
    • Please contact NHMRC@research.uq.edu.au if you are intending to apply for funding from the McCusker Charitable Foundation. 

    UQ

    Contact UQ R&I

    Round coordinator
    Health Pre-Award Team

    If you are applying through UQ but you are not a current UQ staff member, please contact the round coordinator so that you can be added to a mailing list for updates.