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.
Upcoming TCRs
About:
The objectives of this TCR are to facilitate research that:
- Improves the quality of sex- and gender- sensitive research design and reporting.
- Addresses priority health issues that disproportionately or differentially affect women.
- Builds researcher capability and shifts research culture.
- Mobilises collaboration and strengthen research ecosystems.
- Enhances translation into policy, education, and practice.
Key Changes:
Applicants need to note the following changes for the TCR: Reframing Women’s Health 2026.
Stemming from the Indigenous Research Excellence Criteria Review, all applicants must describe how their proposed research could benefit Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health (Appendix C Guide to Applicants). The response will be considered by peer reviewers in the overall assessment of the application, using the assessment criteria (Section 6).
Further information about this TCR, its objectives, outcomes, available funds and timeframes is available on GrantConnect.
Key Dates:
- Applications open: 10-June-2026
- Minimum data due date:
- Applications close: 5-Aug-2026 5:00
The proposed objectives of this TCR are to:
- Develop rapid diagnostic pathways to improve screening and diagnosis. This includes improving clinician awareness, creating standardised protocols, and enabling timely access to treatment and support through rapid diagnostic approaches.
- Design and evaluate evidence-based multidisciplinary care frameworks for children diagnosed with dementia. This should include rehabilitation therapies, symptom management strategies for pain, sleep, communication, mobility and behavioural issues, as well as integrated palliative care approaches. Education for healthcare professionals and carers on managing complex symptoms should also be considered.
- Advance therapeutic development and health system readiness through translational research that will uncover disease mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic targets. This should also include building capacity in the healthcare sector to increase access to disease modifying treatments for affected children. The research should also address systemic barriers such as education, referral pathways and care coordination with the aim to develop evidence-based guidelines to standardise and reduce variation in care.
- Improve psychosocial and family support by developing and testing interventions that address the mental health, grief and wellbeing of families and carers. Research should focus on scalable models for psychological support and care coordination to reduce caregiver burden and strengthen family resilience.
The expected outcomes of this TCR are:
- Improved awareness and diagnostic pathways/tools that reduce the average time for childhood dementia diagnosis through implementation of rapid diagnostic protocols and clinician education.
- Implementation of evidence-based multidisciplinary care frameworks and guidelines to reduce variation in care nationally, ensuring better access to treatment, rehabilitation and integrated palliative care.
- Enhanced healthcare system readiness through translational research, improved referral pathways, workforce training and education, and integrated care coordination supported by health policy.
- Development and implementation of scalable mental health and grief support interventions, resulting in measurable improvements to family and carer psychological wellbeing and overall psychosocial support.
- Equitable access to timely diagnosis, care and support services for children and families across diverse geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, reducing disparities in outcomes.
This TCR will not support:
- Research based entirely overseas (outside of Australia). International collaboration should show local context and demonstrate relevance.
- Research that is purely observational and doesn't specifically lead to an intervention that can be tested.
Key Dates:
- Applications open: 8 April 2026
- Minimum data due date:
- Applications close:
Process
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.
- 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.