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Status: Open

This page contains information about the aims, funding, key dates, resources and contacts for the Centres of Research Excellence scheme.

Aim

The objective of the CRE scheme is to improve health outcomes and promote or improve translation of research outcomes into policy and/or practice. The CRE scheme will also support researchers in capacity building activities, including in specific areas of need identified by NHMRC.

The intended outcomes of the CRE scheme are to:

  • support the conduct and development of innovative, high quality, collaborative research
  • promote effective translation of research into knowledge gain, health policy and/or practice
  • foster and build capacity and capability in the health and medical research workforce
  • provide opportunities to expand and improve collaborations between research teams.

Funding will be available across 4 application streams in the 2027 CRE grant opportunity:

  1. Basic Science Research (up to 5 CREs in Basic Science Research)
  2. Clinical Research (up to 5 CREs in Clinical Research)
  3. Health Services Research (up to 5 CREs in Health Services Research)
  4. Public Health Research (up to 5 CREs in Public Health Research)

A CRE may be a single physical entity or institute, or a geographically disparate network linking across more than one institution. Centres are encouraged to collaborate with, and participate in, national and international research studies.


The CRE 2027 grant opportunity will provide support for teams of researchers to pursue collaborative research and develop capacity in basic science research, clinical research, health services research and public health research. Applicants select the application stream that best fits their research proposal. The following definitions are provided to assist applicants to select the appropriate stream.

  • Basic science research seeks to understand the biological processes that underpin health and disease at the molecular, cellular, organ system and whole body levels. It may be conducted in vitro, in vivo and/or in silico. It may use, but is not limited to, cells, tissues or other materials of human origin or from relevant animal models.
  • Clinical research seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human diseases and conditions. It may involve interaction with patients and/or the use of clinical diagnostic materials or patient data.
  • Health services research seeks to understand and improve the effectiveness, quality, safety, social and environmental dimensions of health care including access, distribution, timeliness and efficiency.
  • Public health research seeks to improve the health of a population through the prevention of disease, prolongation of life and promotion of health and wellbeing. It includes research to understand the social, behavioural, environmental and other determinants of health and disease.

Key Changes:

Applicants need to note the following changes for the CRE 2027 grant opportunity:

  • Appendix C Guide to Applicants, section 6.8.1.1 outlines requirements for the use of identifiable images in applications.
  • The Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation in Health and Medical Research is being embedded in application and assessment processes (see Section 7.6), including:
    • The CRE 2027 application form in Sapphire includes a new mandatory question about the integration of sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and/or sexual orientation in the proposed research (see Appendix C Guide to Applicants, section 6.2).
    • The score descriptors for the ‘generate new knowledge’ assessment criterion 1 include an additional component on the appropriateness of how sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and/or sexual orientation are integrated in the proposed research and/or the strength of the justification for why any of these Variables are not integrated (see Appendix B).
  • Appendix A Chief Investigators must retain evidence, consistent with AIATSIS guidance, of their identification as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and must provide this evidence to NHMRC, if requested.
  • Appendices B and C (Guide to Applicants, section 6.8.2) have been updated to reflect the new NHMRC Research Translation Strategy 2026-2030

A CRE 2027 grant in the Basic Science Research, Clinical Research, Health Services Research and Public Health Research streams provides a fixed budget of $3 million per grant, paid evenly over the grant period (no budget required by the NHMRC).

Changes to DVCR Co-Funding

For NHMRC grants, applicants will now be required to submit a formal DVCR Co-funding request. The formal DVCR Co-funding request replaces the previous support of the Strategic Research Fund (SRF), which was managed directly between your Faculty Research Office and the DVCR Office and was not directly visible to academics as internal co-funding for their successful grants.

The DVCR Co-funding is to support MQ researchers to successfully complete their proposed NHMRC projects by providing up to 20% co-funding on funds to remain at Macquarie. The goal is for the DVCR Co-funding is to facilitate MQ applicants in providing a ‘top-up’ of NHMRC salary costs (PSP’s), which are lower than MQ equivalent salary rates.

These changes align the principles of DVCR Co-funding with other external funding schemes and assist the University in rationalising the allocation of internal funding used to leverage competitive external funding opportunities. As Macquarie researchers continue to excel in the NHMRC funding scheme, we need to find a mechanism to ensure all successful NHMRC grants can be supported.  As context, since 2015, our application volume for NHMRC funding has nearly doubled year on year. We know that health and medical researchers at Macquarie will be more active than ever in the coming years in applying for NHMRC funding to support their research, hence the need to make changes to meet the growing volume of awards.
  • NHMRC opening date in Sapphire: Wednesday,16-Sep-2026
  • Strategic review (optional): On or before Wednesday, 4-Oct-2026. Book via the Strategic Review Booking calendar
  • NHMRC minimum data deadline: Wednesday, 17:00 ACT local time on14-Oct-2026
  • Compliance and Eligibility check (mandatory): On or before Wednesday, 21-Oct-2026. Book via the C&E booking calendar
  • Applicant submits a final application in Sapphire: 11:59 pm Sunday, 1-Nov-2026
  • Research Services submission to NHMRC: Wednesday, 4-Nov-2026 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)

Note: NHMRC uploads all their scheme documentation in GrantConnect. You will be required to set up a username and password to access.