MRFF – EMCR Initiative – 2026 Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant Opportunity

Overview

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Early to Mid-Career Researchers (EMCR) Initiative aims to build and grow research capacity and capability in Australia by supporting EMCRs to continue their health and medical research careers. The objective of this grant opportunity is to provide grants of financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects that: - Stream 1 (Incubator): conduct early stage, small scale research, led by early career researchers, that seeks to assess the potential and feasibility of novel strategies to address a critical or intractable health issue in one or more Priority Populations. - Stream 2 (Accelerator): establish a large-scale interdisciplinary research program, led by mid-career researchers, that drives implementation of substantial improvements to health care and/or health system effectiveness for one or more Priority Populations. - Stream 3 (Targeted Call for Research): utilise co-funding to accelerate the translation of research led by early or mid-career researchers into policy and practice. (Note: a priority population focus is not required). Applicants to this grant opportunity must propose research that addresses one of the three Streams of research. An application may only be submitted to one of the above three Streams. This grant opportunity is being administered by NHMRC on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Further information on the Medical Research Future Fund is available from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's website. A list of Eligible Organisations can be found on the NHMRC List of MRFF Eligible Organisations webpage.