Around the beginning of each calendar year, NFMRI opens its general grant round nationally, which seeks to support innovative biomedical research projects covering all diseases and conditions.

We seek expressions of interest for biomedical research projects across ALL diseases/conditions that fall within portfolios 2 and 3 only. The grant round is open nationally. In 2025, they would like to receive more EOIs for Asthma and Allergy research projects in the general grant round.

Researchers interested in applying should firstly watch this short 5-minute video and then consider attending an online Q&A session.  Institutions wishing to host a more detailed presentation/meetings should complete a speaker request form.

Eligibility

• The Foundation supports biomedical, lab-based research projects that will lead to innovations such as drugs, devices, tools, therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics etc.
• Funding requests under portfolios 2 and 3 should predominantly be to support expenses relating to the external collaborator.
• The researcher who will be managing the project day-to-day and spending the largest proportion of their time on the project should be listed as the Chief Investigator, including mid-career researchers. The Foundation considers many other relevant factors apart from established track record when making funding decisions.
• Institutions must provide strong, demonstrable support for commercialisation and translation.
• Only one application will be considered from each principal researcher per year.
• Funding is to be provided only for research activities associated with this project. 
• Grants are provided to Australian research institutions.
• Only one EOI or application can be active at any time.

Funding exclusions

• The Foundation does not offer top-up grants to NHMRC or ARC projects, scholarships or support students.
• The Foundation will only provide funding for specific research projects rather than salaries. Project costs may include a component for support staff salaries, but not the salary of the chief investigator.
• The Foundation does not support general university overheads, patent costs, publication costs, travel and associated expenses.
• The Foundation does not support travel or conference expenses.
• The Foundation does not support companies or projects where the IP is encumbered.
• The Foundation supports pre-clinical research activities including research activities required to enable clinical trials that comply with ICH Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice.  We are however unable to support the conduct of clinical trials themselves.

• Phone: 0413 922 370
• Email: grants@nfmri.org.au