Ideas Grants

Overview

The Ideas Grant scheme is to support innovative research projects addressing a specific question(s). The expected outcomes are:

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

Ideas Grants 2026 priorities:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researchers
• Gender equity – female and non-binary lead investigators
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research.

The Ideas Grant scheme is not intended to support research where a clinical trial or cohort study is the primary objective. Applicants seeking funding to conduct a clinical trial or a cohort study should instead apply to NHMRC’s Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grant scheme.

An Ideas Grant 2026 grant can be requested for between one and five years depending on the proposal. The maximum number of Chief Investigators (CIs) allowed on an Ideas Grant application is 10 (CIA-CIJ).

Please note that all NHMRC documentation relating to this scheme can be found via Grant Connect (GO8295). If you don't already have one, you will need to create log in details for Grant Connect.

Further information on the Ideas Grant scheme can be found on the NHMRC website.

New NHMRC Requirement

The NHMRC has introduced a new requirement to account for sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation as part of application and assessment processes. Refer to the NHMRC Policies section below and the MDHS Faculty's Sex and Gender Inclusion in Research Guidelines.

https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/research-policy/gender-equity/statement-sex-and-gender-health-and-medical-research#download

Eligibility

Key Changes as outlined in the Guidelines

• Section 13.1 Fraud and corruption has been added – please see https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/resources/fraud-and-corruption-control-framework-2024-26
• Section 6.9 of Appendix E Guide to Applicants has been updated to clarify increased scrutiny at the application budget review stage
• Section 8 of Appendix E Guide to Applicants has been updated to include an additional check that images of people are appropriately de-identified or informed consent has been given
• Consideration of Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation have been embedded in the application and assessment processes – new mandatory question in Sapphire with score descriptor for ‘Research Quality’ updated accordingly

Any queries regarding Ideas Grants, please email nhmrc-project@unimelb.edu.au.

How to apply

Steps to be completed by Chief Investigator A (CIA):

1. Submit a Notice of Intent (NOI)

The Cayuse NOI should be completed early to provide RIC with CIA contact details.  For further information see: Cayuse Guides : Research Gateway

2. Complete/update Sapphire Profile and CV details

Each CI will need to obtain access to the Sapphire to complete this step. Applicants (including all Chief Investigators and Associate Investigators) are required to submit a registration form available on the Sapphire Landing Page.

3. Review the funding documents

The CIA should read the NHMRC Guidelines to Applicants available from Grant Connect (GO8295).

4.  Commence application in Sapphire by 10am Wednesday 1 April

To ensure your application is checked by RIC for Minimum Data compliance.

5. Email a draft application to RIC by 10am Thursday  9 April

Send a draft Grant Proposal and application preview documents (Application Report and Application Summary) to RIC via email nhmrc-project@unimelb.edu.au for review by 10am Thursday 9 April 2026. A hardcopy is not required. To obtain your Sapphire application preview documents, click the "Preview" button on the top right corner and a zip folder consisting of the preview documents will be downloaded automatically.

Your feedback will be provided via a Task in your Cayuse record. Instructions for how to access this Task and your feedback will be provided when we receipt your draft application via email.

If you are intending to  apply for Cancer Council NSW partner funding, please forward your Supplementary Questions and Customer Review Form to RIC at the same time as your Ideas Grant application.

6. Complete your application after feedback

After taking feedback from RIC into consideration, complete the application in Sapphire. Upload all documents  (Grant Proposal plus Third Party Research Facilities, if required) paying special attention to formatting requirements. It is suggested to seek advice from colleagues, Faculty Mentors, etc. before finalising the application.

7. Certify your application in Sapphire by 10am  Friday 1 May

Certify the application via the ‘Certification’ function in the left panel of your Sapphire application. The applicant will be given the opportunity to download their application and attachments prior to the two-stage confirmation prompt before submission. The application will be locked once certified and status then will be Submitted to RAO.

RIC will undertake a Final Compliance Check of your application and contact you if amendments are required.

Please note that we have observed delays within Sapphire where the approvals tab to submit applications is taking ~15 minutes to load, as such there is a risk to the timely submission of your application if it is received after the RIC Final Submission Deadline. To minimise any delays or issues with the submission of your application we advise adhering to the RIC final submission deadline for this scheme.

8. RIC will submit your application by 5pm Wednesday  6 May

RIC will submit the application to NHMRC and the CIA will receive a Sapphire notification when this has been done.

NON-LEAD Applications (not led by a UoM CIA)

1. Create a Cayuse Proposal Record (leave it In Development for now so you can update it)

• You are the Lead UoM CI, the CIA is the Lead External CI in the Research Team
• Tick  'View hidden sections for ARC, NHMRC or MRFF Grants' tickbox -at the bottom of the NOI tab

2. Discuss and agree with the CIA, any funds coming to UoM, preferably in writing prior to submission

3. Obtain HoD/HoS approval in writing

• Noting there will likely be a gap between the NHMRC's Personnel Support Package rates and what UoM pays.

4. Complete all mandatory fields of all tabs of your Cayuse record, uploading a copy of the submitted application and your HoD approval

• Financial tab - will this project result in income, expenditure only, or is it non-financial
  • If you are receiving funding,select 'income' and complete fields
  • If you are not receiving funding, select 'non-financial'
• Route for Review

Good luck!

Supporting documents

NHMRC Documentation

Download all NHMRC documentation relating to this scheme (including the proposal template) from Grant Connect (GO8295).

Use the NHMRC scheme eligibility tool.

RIC Documents

View past applications in the Successful Grants Library.

Seminars and Workshops

General Scheme Information Session - 2026 for 2027 funding

Access the slides of the RIC Info Session for this round - PDF Slide Deck

Budget Information Session - 2025 for funding 2026

RIC conducted a budget information session at 12pm-1pm on Thursday the 27^th of March 2025 to provide applicants with an overview of the NHMRC Ideas Grant budget and budget guidelines. The video recording and slides are now available on RIC's NHMRC scheme seminars webpage.

NHMRC Policies

New NHMRC requirement to consider sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation

NHMRC and MRFF grant opportunities opening from January 2026 include a new requirement to account for sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation as part of application and assessment processes.

The Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation in Health and Medical Research provides a guide for researchers to consider the Variables at all stages of their research project, including key definitions and better practice prompts.

Applicants may choose to include or exclude the Variables in their application, provided they offer a sound, evidence-based justification for their decision.

Applicants will need to respond to a new question in the Sapphire application form on the integration of the Variables. The question is not a Minimum Data requirement. For each of the Variables, applicants will need to either summarise how the Variable is being integrated in the proposed research or justify why it is not being integrated. When a Variable is being integrated in the research, the incorporation of the Variable into the research question setting, design, conduct, analysis, reporting and/or implementation/translation must also be described in the grant proposal.

The Variables are being incorporated into assessment criteria. Assessors will need to take the information applicants provide about the Variables into account when scoring applications against the relevant criteria. Assessors should focus on the strength and validity of the rationale provided rather than the presence or absence of the Variables.

For further information, see the NHMRC resources webpage and the MDHS Faculty's Sex and Gender Inclusion in Research Guidelines.

NHMRC Open Access Policy

From 1 January 2024, all NHMRC grant holders must comply with NHMRC’s Open Access Policy. The policy requires full and immediate open access for NHMRC-funded research outputs. For more information on how to comply refer to the UoM webpage on funder open access policies.

NHMRC Policy on Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Grant Applications

NHMRC has released some key advice regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in grant application and peer review. Refer to the NHMRC policy page and note the following:

Application drafting
Information provided to generative artificial intelligence (such as natural language processing models and artificial intelligence technology tools) becomes part of a public database and may be accessed by unspecified third parties. If you use generative artificial intelligence to assist with the drafting of your application, you must ensure you are aware of the potential risks involved, such as those related to security, confidentiality, intellectual property, privacy, the accuracy of information generated and possible plagiarism.

Peer review
Use of generative artificial intelligence in peer review Information provided to generative artificial intelligence (such as natural language processing models and artificial intelligence technology tools) becomes part of a public database and may be accessed by third parties. Peer reviewers must not input any part of a grant application, or any information from a grant application, into a natural language processing and/or artificial intelligence technology system to assist them in the assessment of applications. Use of generative artificial intelligence may compromise the integrity of NHMRC’s peer review process and be in breach of its Principles of Peer Review, the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and the confidentiality undertaking of peer reviewers.

Funding Partners

Cancer Council New South Wales (CCNSW) - Guidelines

CCNSW Project Grants are open to all Australian cancer researchers. Applications for funding are aligned with the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Ideas Grants submission and review processes.

Cancer Council NSW Project Grants are:

• open to research projects on any aspect of cancer, including its causes, mechanisms, prevention, treatment and care, and the organisation and performance of cancer control services
• awarded for up to three years, commencing in 2027
• valued up to $600,000 over three years
• open to all Australian cancer researchers

Researchers wishing to apply for Cancer Council NSW Project Grants must complete:

1. NHMRC Ideas Grant application. In the Sapphire application, applicants must select ‘Cancer Council’ as a funding option
2. Complete the application in the CCNSW portal

Download the Guidelines from the Cancer Council Project Grants webpage.

For further information on consumer involvement in research and where to find a qualified consumer, refer to the Cancer Council Involving community members in research webpage.

McCusker Charitable Foundation

The McCusker Charitable Foundation will consider applications for research funding the areas of
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, Colitis, Tourette syndrome, Fibromyalgia
and Chronic Fatigue.

Further information can be obtained from https://mccuskercharitable.com.au/

The Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

If you are interested in partner funding from this funder please email the NHMRC via ideas.grants@nhmrc.gov.au  (CC nhmrc-project@unimelb.edu.au), quoting your Sapphire Application Number and your request for your application to be considered for funding from The Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Contacts