Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is a $20 billion investment in the health of Australians. Funds support researchers to make the next big medical discoveries that will benefit all Australians. It represents the single largest boost to research funding in Australia’s history.

MRFF strategies are complementary but separate to those addressed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and are intended to complement other investments by state and territory governments, as well as the private sector.

Following a national consultation process involving community and sector participation, the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB), in conjunction with the federal government, released the 2018-2020 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) priorities, which will guide and inform future government decisions.

MRFF strategic platforms

The MRFF plans to transform health and medical research through 6 strategic platforms:

1. Strategic and International Horizons: support stronger partnerships between researchers, healthcare professionals, governments and the community. This will help position Australia as a leader in significant global research, such as tackling antimicrobial resistance.
2. Data and Infrastructure: make better use of existing data and infrastructure to help improve our health and medical research.
3. Health Services and Systems: strengthen our health services and systems research to make healthcare more efficient and affordable.
4. Capacity and Collaboration: develop the skills of researchers and healthcare professionals and encourage collaboration across health and medical research disciplines and sectors.
5. Trials and Translation: support new and existing clinical trial networks to guide the development of new drugs and devices, new models of care, and improved clinical practice.
6. Commercialisation: Support researchers to find a commercial partner or investor to help turn their discoveries into every day realities.

Some funding disbursements are expected to be made through competitive grants processes and targeted calls administered by the Department of Health, NHMRC, or other independent bodies.

Current funding opportunities

Investigator Grants: Medical Research Future Fund Priority Round
Applications open: 2 October 2019
Minimum data: TBC
Applications close: 27 November 2019
Contact: Nicole Richardson

BioMedTech Horizons Round 3 (BMTH 3.0)
EOI Applications open: 15 October 2019
Minimum data deadline: N/A
EOI Applications close: 16 December 2019
Contact: Duncan MacInnis or Ed Hendriks

International Clinical Trial Collaborations Program
2019 – Peer Review Cycle 3
Minimum data deadline: 20 November 2019
Applications close: 4 December 2019
Contact: Sherridan Blackman

Clinical Trials Activity – Rare Cancers, Rare Disease and Unmet Need Initiative
Applications open: 15 November 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Clinical Trials Activity – Rare Cancers, Rare Disease and Unmet Need Initiative- Childhood Brain Cancer
Applications open: 15 November 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Clinical Trials Activity – Rare Cancers, Rare Disease and Unmet Need Initiative- Neurological Disorders
Applications open: 15 November 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Clinical Trials Activity – Rare Cancers, Rare Disease and Unmet Need Initiative- Reproductive Cancers
Applications open: 15 November 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative – 2019 Ovarian Cancer Research Grant Opportunity
Applications open: 28 November 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative – 2019 Endometriosis Research Grant Opportunity
Applications open: 27 November 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Million Minds Mission – 2019 Suicide Prevention Grant Opportunity
Applications open: 28 November 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Global Health Initiative – 2019 Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance and Drug Resistant Tuberculosis in Pacific Island Countries
Applications open: 13 December 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Cardiovascular Health Mission – 2019 Cardiovascular Health
Applications open: 11 December 2019
Minimum data deadline: 29 January 2020
Applications close: 12 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Indigenous Health Research (Fund)
Applications open: 13 December 2019
Minimum data deadline: 29 January 2020
Applications close: 12 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Preventative and Public Health – Targeted Health Systems and Community Organisation Research
Applications open: 11 December 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Preventative and Public Health Research
Applications open: 11 December 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Primary Health Care Research Initiative
Applications open: 11 December 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research – Mental Health Pharmacogenomics
Applications open: 11 December 2019
Minimum data deadline: 22 January 2020
Applications close: 5 February 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

National Critical Infrastructure – Rural, Regional and Remote Clinical Trial Enabling Infrastructure
Applications open: 11 December 2019
Applications close: 3 March 2020
Contact: Sherridan Blackman or Ed Hendriks

For strategic writing advice, contact Ed Hendriks, MRFF Development Manager.