Targeted Call for Research
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Status: Open

Find out information about the aims, funding, key dates, resources and contacts for the NHMRC Targeted Call for Research(TCR) Grants.

Aim

A Targeted Call for Research (TCR) is a one-time solicitation for grant applications to address a specific health issue. A TCR specifies the scope and objectives of the research to be proposed, application requirements and procedures, and the review criteria to be applied in the evaluation of applications submitted in response to the TCR. In alignment with the overarching goals of NHMRC's Strategic Plan, a TCR will stimulate or greatly advance research in a particular area of health and medical science that will benefit the health of Australians.

TCRs complement NHMRC's existing suite of funding schemes by funding priority research in defined areas of need and when urgent research needs emerge.

It is important for any Targeted Call for Research (TCR) that you consult the NHMRC Statement on consumer and community involvement in health and medical research. In a TCR, strong working relationship and consultation with the community, consumers and end-users is a requirement.

Open Targeted Call for Research

About:

This TCR aims to address the health and wellbeing needs of families and communities to be safe through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led, and multidisciplinary approach. A multidisciplinary approach may include embedding culturally safe, trauma-informed, and community-driven approaches across all areas of health and associated support systems. It may also include a holistic understanding of health and wellbeing and include broad issues such as social justice, equity and rights as well as traditional knowledge, traditional healing and connection to country.

The proposed objectives of this TCR are to facilitate research that:

  • Values community led partnerships. Ensure that governance, research processes and health outcomes are culturally responsive, meaningful, and ethical from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
  • Applies a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach. Build a strong evidence base for targeted interventions addressing current and future risks to family and community health systems.
  • Expands research capacity. Strengthen the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and the research team to partner with community and organisations to deliver meaningful positive impact on communities. The focus should be on transformative exchange of skills and knowledge to create safer family and community health service delivery programs in relation to family and community violence in Australia.
  • Cultivates strength and resilience. Empower individuals, families, and communities to address violence to foster safer and flourishing families and communities.
  • Understands challenges. Gain in-depth understanding into the violence-related health and wellbeing challenges faced by families, communities and clinicians and meeting the needs of at-risk populations.
  • Generates community-driven data. Focus on achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander data sovereignty at all stages of the health project from research design to research translation and implementation while building the capacity to support this objective.
  • Investigates the effectiveness of existing services. Provide evidence to support the widespread adoption of effective models of care that are proven to improve outcomes and healthcare journeys in relation to family and community violence.

    • Further information about this TCR, its objectives, outcomes, available funds and timeframes is available on GrantConnect.

Key Dates:
  • Applications open: 25 June 2025
  • Minimum data due date:
  • Applications close:
About:

This first Cancer Australia Research Initiative (CARI) TCR grant opportunity aims to:

  • Enhance understanding of EOC and develop novel clinical approaches for earlier diagnosis and innovative models of care to ensure effective management for those affected by EOC
  • Support programs that leverage existing, multidisciplinary, collaborative activities, and that are designed to link to enduring broader research initiatives, to inform policy and large scale, novel research for EOC in future. The first CARI TCR grant opportunity will be guided by strategic, long-term approaches to address the possible causes, pathogenesis, early recognition and diagnosis, as well as complexities of management and survivorship associated with EOC.

Applications may focus on a single tumour sub-type or multiple tumour types. Proposals addressing cancers that have a greater burden of disease are encouraged. Through that approach, the programs must demonstrate they are multi-institutional, collaborative, multi-modal initiatives with a long-term vision to enable further investment beyond the term of this initial funding round.

The provisional funding allocation for the CARI TCR: Early-Onset Cancer 2025 is $7 million.

Further information about this TCR, its objectives, outcomes, available funds and timeframes is available on GrantConnect.

Key Dates:
  • Applications open:16 July 2025
  • Minimum data due date: 17.00 ACT local time 27 August 2025
  • Applications close: 17.00 ACT local time 10 September 2025

Upcoming TCRs

    Funding varies per Targeted Call for Research.

    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.

    Eligibility for DVCR Co-Funding

    Eligibility for the DVCR Co-Funding Scheme is now contingent upon on-time submission of grant applications by your mandatory compliance and eligibility check. Many applications for external funding require cash and in-kind contributions from the host institution in order to be considered for funding. This funding includes project support funds, funding for research associates, scholarships, and major equipment and in most cases is processed via the DVCR Co-Funding scheme. View further information on deadlines, processes and FAQs

  • Applications led by Macquarie University researchers must be submitted to the Research Services Grant Development Team 4 weeks prior to the external deadline if requesting an optional strategic review and 2 weeks prior for a mandatory compliance and eligibility check. Please refer to the fellowships and grant opportunities webpage for information on deadlines and processes.
  • Applications that do not have a Pure record and/or do not have all the appropriate approvals in Pure (Head of Department/School [HoD/HoS] and Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation [DDRI]) will not be submitted to the external funding body. It is the lead applicant’s responsibility to ensure the approvals in Pure are complete prior to submission.
  • Strategic review (optional): select your date and time 4 weeks prior to the grant deadline in the booking calendar.
  • NHMRC minimum data deadline: As per the Grant guidelines
  • Compliance and Eligibility check (mandatory): select your date and time in the 2 weeks prior to the grant deadline compliance and eligibility booking calendar.
    By the date and time you select you must also have a penultimate draft of your application in Sapphire and DVCR Co-Funding requests must be submitted via Pure.
  • Applicant submits final application in Sapphire: As per the Grant guidelines
  • Research Services submission to NHMRC: As per the Grant guidelines
Notification Of Intent (NOI)

Complete a Notification of Intent to inform your Faculty and the University Research Services teams of your intention to submit an application. After completing this NOI, you will be provided with regular updates about your funding scheme and sent valuable resources that will assist you in developing a highly competitive research grant application.

MQ Resources