The MRFF–NHMRC Clinical Trials Activity Grant Opportunity 2026 supports research that strengthens clinical evidence and improves access to effective healthcare in Australia. Funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund and administered by NHMRC, the opportunity offers four funding streams covering pilot studies, treatment trials, evidence gaps in care and prevention.
Melanoma and skin cancer research may fit where the proposed trial addresses a stream’s objectives, such as an unmet treatment need or disease prevention. The program supports broader health research and is not restricted to cancer.
Eligibility and Project Requirements
- Applications must be submitted through an approved MRFF Eligible Organisation.
- Eligible administering organisations include qualifying Australian universities, medical research institutes, corporations and corporate Commonwealth entities.
- Other organisations may participate through partnerships with an approved administering organisation.
- Projects must address the objectives of one of the four funding streams.
- Stream 1 supports pilot studies assessing the feasibility of trials for rare cancers, rare diseases or unmet needs.
- Streams 2–4 support treatment or management trials, trials addressing Australian health technology assessment evidence gaps, or prevention trials.
- Chief and Associate Investigators require active Sapphire accounts.
- Mandatory minimum data must be submitted on time for an application to proceed.
Funding Details
- Stream 1 — Incubator: Up to AUD $1 million over a maximum of two years.
- Streams 2, 3 and 4: Up to AUD $5 million per grant over a maximum of seven years.
- Minimum funding: No minimum grant amount.
Deadline
- Mandatory minimum data: March 10, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. ACT local time.
- Full application: April 7, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. ACT local time.
- Applications missing the minimum-data deadline cannot proceed.