The below listing is the main relevant funding opportunities currently open. For opportunities more specific to your discipline as well as scholarships and fellowships, please visit Funding databases and searches page. You can log in to Research Professional system using your ECU sign in.
If you are planning on applying for, or coordinating arrangements for any external research funding please see our Applying for funding web page. The internal deadline for submitting grant applications to Research Services is at least 10 working days prior to the funding scheme submission date.
February | Closing Date |
Department of Health and Aged Care (MRFF – Australian Brain Cancer Mission – 2024 Brain Cancer Discovery and Translation Grant) This supports medical research and medical innovation projects that conduct innovative, interdisciplinary, collaborative and translational preclinical brain cancer research that advances knowledge in at least one of these areas:
Up to $6.0 million of funding is available over 2 years from 2024-25. Minimum data due: 22/1/25. | 5/2/25 |
Department of Health and Aged Care (MRFF – Genomic Health Futures Mission – 2024 Genomics Health Futures Grant) Supports medical research projects that align to one of the following streams:
Grants for Streams 1 and 2 are worth up to $3mil over 5 years. Grants for Streams 3 to 6 are worth between $200,000 and $1mil over 2 years. Minimum data due: 22/1/25. | 5/2/25 |
Department of Home Affairs (Countering Violent Extremism) The Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Branch at the Department of Home Affairs is now seeking to commission up to four research projects to address priority government P/CVE topics. The aim is to deliver operationally relevant research outputs that support future CT and CVE strategy, policy and practice by Australian agencies and practitioners. Projects will be funded up to $200,000. | 5/2/25 |
Department of Health WA FHRIF Fund (WA Near-miss Awards: Ideas Grants (WANMA IG)) This program provides grants for eligible near-miss applications to the 2024 NHMRC Ideas grants program. Applications are open to WA early- and mid-career researchers who were deemed ‘fundable’ but not funded, with a score of 4.5 and above (equivalent to a Category 5 score). Grants are worth up to $100,000 to support a research activity that enhances the areas of the NHMRC Ideas grant near-miss application over a 12 month period. If you think you may be eligible and would like to apply, please contact research-preaward@ecu.edu.au | 7/2/25 |
National Cancer Institute, US (NEW applications - Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities R21) Encourages grant applications from investigators interested in conducting basic research studies into the biological/genetic causes and mechanisms of cancer health disparities. These awards will support pilot and feasibility studies designed to investigate biological/genetic bases of cancer health disparities, such as (1) mechanistic studies of biological factors associated with cancer health disparities, (2) the development and testing of new methodologies and models, and (3) secondary data analyses. $275,000 USD over 2 years. | 16/2/25 |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grant) *NEW* - The ACDGP supports international projects that tell Australian stories, amplify First Nations voices, deepen bilateral partnerships and build cultural understanding and connections overseas. | 17/2/25 |
ARC – Discovery Indigenous Projects 2026 (Expression of Interest) This supports excellent basic and applied research led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers as individuals and as teams. These are intended to expand Australia’s knowledge base, improve research capacity, and develop economic, commercial, environmental, social, and cultural benefits for the country, as well as foster national and international research collaboration and support and retain established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers in higher education institutions. These are worth up to $500,000 per year for over 5 years. | 20/2/25 |
ONI – National Intelligence Postdoctoral Grants Postdoctoral fellowships for early-mid career academics to undertake researcher in relation to NIC Research Topics full time for two years. The intelligence areas of interest include: cover collection; space; identity management; biological science; material science; cyber, protective security and offensive cyber; human behaviour and influence; data-driven and real-time analytics; situational awareness and multi-source assessments. Fellowships are worth up to $365,000. | 21/2/25 |
Department of Health WA FHRIF Fund (Innovation Fellowships 2024-25 Program) Designed to encourage talented Western Australians to enhance their innovation knowledge, skills and experience, in conjunction with experts who will supervise and mentor them, while developing an innovation of significance to the health and/or wellbeing of the WA community. Grants are up to $150,000 to support salary and project costs. | 21/2/25 |
Anika Foundation/Society for Mental Health Research (ECR Seed Grant) *NEW* - Seed Grants aim to support early career researchers (ECRs) to undertake high-quality research projects and pilot studies, strengthen their track record, and build capability in competing for external funding. Three grants will be awarded, one for each of the following research streams: Stream 1: Research in Australian First Nations adolescent depression and/or suicide prevention. Stream 2: Research in adolescent depression and/or suicide prevention. Stream 3: Research on any topic related to mental health. | 28/2/25 |
Department of Defence (2025 Strategic Policy Grants Program) *NEW* - Applications for the 2025 SPGP can address the implications for Australia, as well as possible Australian responses to one of the recommended priority research questions. Applicants may also submit novel project proposals that instead address and align with strategic policy priorities outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy. | 28/2/25 |
March | Closing Date |
Department of Health WA FHRIF Fund (Enabling Scheme) Aims to increase the scale and excellence of health and medical research and innovation in WA by supporting accessible local infrastructure. This scheme has a 50% co-funding requirement. | 4/3/25 |
Heart Foundation (Future Leader Fellowship – Stage 1) Opens 10 Feb. This fellowship supports emerging, aspiring leaders in cardiovascular research who are developing their own research portfolio and independence as they become leaders of research groups. Only applications successful at stage 1 will be invited to full application in stage 2. Depending on level applied, the salary and project support package is valued between $529,000 and $692,000 over 4 years. | 13/3/25 |
Australian Flora Foundation (Call for Applications for Research Grants) Expression of Interest The Australian Flora Foundation invites applications for funding of research projects from individual researchers and research teams, to support original scientific studies on the biology, ecology, and cultivation of Australian plants. The application process comprises two stages: Preliminary, brief applications should indicate the purpose of the project, the likely costs, and the research protocol, by March 17, 2025. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a full proposal by June 30, 2025. Successful applicants will be notified in September 2025. Three grant programs on offer, 1 – 3 years, from $5,000 - $60,000. | 17/3/25 |
The Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme supports, and creates opportunities for, early-career researchers in both teaching and research, and research-only positions in Australia. The DECRA scheme is an integral part of the ARC’s Discovery Program. The intended outcome of the Discovery Program is to contribute to the growth of Australia’s research and innovation capacity. The DECRA scheme provides funding for up to 200 three-year DECRAs each year, providing a researcher with salary and on-costs, and up to $50,000 per year in project costs. If interested, please contact research-preaward@ecu.edu.au | 18/3/25 |
ARC – Linkage Projects 2024 Round 1 ARC Linkage Project scheme aims to support the development of long-term strategic research alliances between higher education organisations and industry and other research end-users, in order to apply advanced knowledge to problems; provide opportunities for internationally competitive research projects to be conducted in collaboration with organisations outside the higher education sector; and enhance the scale and focus of research in Australian Government priority areas. The scheme provides project funding of between $50,000 and $300,000 per year for two to five years and must include at least one Partner Organisation and satisfy the Australian Research Council's (ARC) contribution requirements. | 26/3/25 |
Department of Health WA FHRIF Fund (Innovative Solutions – Precision Health) This program aims to support the development and advancement of precision health innovations of significance to health and/or wellbeing of the WA community. Funding between $50,000 - $500,000 is available. | 27/3/25 |
iCare Dust Diseases Board (Research Stream Grants Program) Expressions of Interest open 27 March 2025 Dust Diseases Board grants support a wide range of research activities, from pioneering and exploratory studies to the practical application of research findings and preventive interventions. By fostering early-stage innovations, translating research into policy and practice, and identifying and mitigating risks, our grants are designed to improve health outcomes and the quality of life for workers with dust diseases. Application documents for this funding round will be available when the round opens. Please note that documents from the previous round are available for guidance only. The FY26 documents may differ from those used in previous rounds. | 23/4/25 |
Department of Health and Aged Care (MRFF – National Critical Research Infrastructure Initiative – 2024 National Critical Research Infrastructure Grant) This initiative invests in research infrastructure to support Australian researchers with their novel and innovative research projects that addresses complex health problems in areas of unmet medical need. Projects must align to one of four streams: Innovation enablers; Digitisation of health care; Co-investment partnerships; or m-RNA technology enablers. Grants are up to $3mil to $7mil depending on stream, over 5 years. | 31/3/25 |
April | Closing Date |
Department of Health and Aged Care (MRFF – Clinicals Trial Activity GO7146) To improve the health and wellbeing of Australians by investing in new clinical trials that support increased access to high-quality, evidence-based and effective health care. Minimum data due for Round 2: 5/3/25. | 2/4/25 |
Department of Health and Aged Care (MRFF – Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative GO7154) *NEW* - For projects that evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of new or existing models of integrated, multidisciplinary team-based primary care for people who would most benefit from this type of care, including but not limited to First Nations Australians, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability including intellectual, children, older populations (either in residential aged care homes or those ageing at home), or those with social disadvantage or multiple chronic conditions. Minimum data due for Round 2: 5/3/25. | 2/4/25 |
Department of Health WA FHRIF Fund (WA Cohort Studies – Operational Support Program 2024-25 To provide operational funding to eligible cohort studies for 2025-26 to ensure ongoing operations and contributions to the delivery of clinical outcomes, changes to health policy and translational health outcomes. Funding amounts up to $500,000 are available. | 3/4/25 |
Heart Foundation (Postdoctoral Fellowship) Opens 3 March. Aiming to identify and support strong emerging Australian talent, this fellowship supports early career researchers in cardiovascular research (including stroke research) to boost their research career and enhance ability to attract and secure future funding. The total fellowship stipend is worth $151,200 over 2 years. | 17/4/25 |
May | Closing Date |
Heart Foundation (Vanguard Grants) Opens 17 March. This provides funding to test the feasibility of innovative concepts in clinical, public health and/or health services (including clinical service delivery) or biomedical research which may lead to larger, more rigorous studies in the future. Two timeframes available: one-year or two-year program. One-year programs are worth up to $75,000. Two-year programs are worth up to $150,000. | 2/5/25 |
Heart Foundation (Postgraduate Scholarship) Opens 31 March. This aims to support outstanding graduates to conduct internationally competitive cardiovascular health and medical research, and working towards a research based postgraduate degree (PhD or Research Master’s degree). Scholarships are worth $122,100 for up to 3yrs for PhD Scholarships or up to 2yrs for Master’s Degree Scholarship. Top-up funding is also available. | 16/5/25 |
Heart Foundation (First Nations CVD Grant) Opens 15 April. This supports future building within our First Nations Cardiovascular Health Research Community. Embedded within this opportunity is the provision for an introductory research role for a First Nations person, with mentoring and guidance provided by the project’s Chief Investigator, with the purpose of encouraging and maintaining our First Nations researchers. Projects should aim to produce tangible outcomes with the potential of creating high-impact change for First Nations cardiovascular health. Capacity building stipend and project support packages are worth $362,100 over 3yrs. | 30/5/25 |
June | Closing Date |
Australian Academy of Science (Thomas Davies Research Grant for early and mid-career grant) *NEW* - The fund offers annual science grants of up to $20,000 each to early-and mid-career researchers in the field of marine, soil and plant biology. The work should lead to publication in high quality scientific journals. | 1/6/25 |
FHRI Fund (Distinguished Fellows 2024-25) Provides a fellowship package to attract outstanding research leaders to WA to build capacity and lead high quality, globally recognised research in WA. Program of research must align with at least one of the strategic areas of the WA Health and Medical Research Strategy 2023-2033. Fellowship package consists of salary and related project support valued up to $5mil over 5 years (75% provided by FHRIF). | 25/6/25 |
July | Closing Date |
Department of Health and Aged Care (MRFF Rapid Applied Research Translation) *NEW* -Applications open 10 Feb 2025. This supports the translation of research evidence into clinical practice and better quality of care for patients by encouraging collaborations between academic researchers, health service providers, consumers and other end users on projects to improve health care delivery, service and systems sustainability. | 7/7/25 |
*NEW* - Applications open 20 May 2025. This grant round will offer a range of opportunities for stroke research teams across Australia to test their ideas in stroke prevention, treatment and recovery. Our grants aim to build capacity in areas of need in stroke research and support the next generation of researchers to become leaders in their field. | 16/7/25 |
2026 | Closing Date |
Department of Health and Aged Care (MRFF – Frontier Health and Medical Research Initiative) Supporting ambitious, exploratory, and ground-breaking programs of research that use health technologies to develop a novel treatment for, or means of prevention of, a current or predictable future serious and incurable health condition, through a series of linked projects. Valued at $25mil per program of research with a 10-year time horizon, with each project under the program up to five years. EOIs can be submitted at any time and are assessed in six monthly batches until closing date (31/3/2026). | 31/3/26 |
No closing date |
|
Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries (Arts U-15k) This grant can support a period of research and development projects involving WA artists or creatives for the benefit of practicing WA artists, creatives, or arts or cultural workers. Funding categories are: Aboriginal Arts; Commercial Development; and Creative Development. | None |
FHRI Fund (Co-Funding Partnerships Program) Opportunities to establish collaborations and funding partnerships to bring genuinely new non-government funding for health and medical research and innovation to WA, and to build a culture that supports co-operation and interconnectedness. Grants worth between $500,000 and $1 million per year noting funding must be matched in cash by the Funding Partner. | None |
Lotterywest funding is available throughout the year and applications are managed by Development and Alumni Relations (DAR). Due to the limited number of applications a university can submit, an internal vetting procedure is necessary. Please contact DAR directly at philanthropicfunding@ecu.edu.au if you are interested in applying. Lotterywest WILL NOT accept any applications unless submitted by DAR. | None |
Stan Perron Charitable Foundation (Health Research Grants: Programs & Partnerships) EOIs welcome year-round. Supports WA research that aims to deliver tangible outcomes benefiting children, adolescent and/or young adult's health (inclusive of antenatal). Innovative and transformative applications from basic, clinical, population health or health services research are encouraged. Must include community and consumer engagement and prioritises research that has impact, tackles the causes of health problems, and builds research capacity within WA. Must align to one of three specific areas at this time:
Interested applicants please contact Development and Alumni Relations at philanthropicfunding@ecu.edu.au | None |
Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation (Collaborative Research Requests – Rolling EOI) To foster a culture of cross-system collaboration, RHRF will consider requests to financially support and be involved in collaborative research projects towards grants such as NHMRC, MRFF, ARC, etc. Max $400,000 available per project for up to 5 years. Interested applicants must first make an appointment with RHRR to discuss collaboration request. | None |