The MRFF CTA and NHMRC – 2025 Australia-UK Platform Studies in Areas of Unmet Clinical Need Grant Opportunity supports collaborative research in shared areas of clinical interest between Australia and the United Kingdom.

Overview

This grant opportunity is administered by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, in co-sponsorship with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The purpose of the collaboration is to support joint Australia-UK platform trials, where the Australian-based component is funded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Clinical Trials Activity (CTA) Initiative or the NHMRC, and the UK-based component is funded through the NIHR UK.

Research Areas and Activities

The objective is to support new, adaptive platform trials (Phase 2 or 3) in areas of unmet clinical need. The platform must be internationally collaborative, with joint project leads based in Australia (for the Australian-based component of the trial) and the UK (for the UK-based component of the trial). The intended outcome is to invest in new, ambitious platform trials that support increased access to high-quality, evidence-based and effective health care.

Funding and Benefits

• Total Amount Available (AUD): $15,000,000.00
• Estimated Grant Value (AUD): From $0.00 to $5,000,000.00

Eligibility

Applications will only be accepted from invited applicants via an approved MRFF Eligible Organisation or NHMRC Administering Institution. To apply for MRFF or NHMRC funding, applicants must have applied for funding to the NIHR UK as required under their official call specification. Applicants with Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications assessed as fundable by the NIHR UK must be invited to apply for either MRFF or NHMRC funding.

A list of approved MRFF Eligible Organisations and NHMRC Administering Institutions is available on the NHMRC website.

Applications must satisfy all requirements set out in the MRFF CTA and NHMRC 2025 Australia UK Platform Studies in Areas of Unmet Clinical Need Grant Guidelines.

Application Process

Applicants who have been invited to apply are advised to read the Grant Guidelines and associated supplementary materials thoroughly and liaise with the MRFF Eligible Organisation or NHMRC Administering Institution that will submit the application to identify any specific requirements. Applications must be submitted electronically using NHMRC’s online granting system (Sapphire). Applicants must be invited to apply for either MRFF or NHMRC funding.

Deadline and Timeline

• Close Date and Time: 26-Aug-2026 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
• Questions should be submitted no later than: 1:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 19 August 2026

Contact Information

NHMRC Research Help Centre
Phone: 1800 500 983
Email: help@nhmrc.gov.au
Web: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/funding/find-funding/mrff-and-nhmrc-2025-australia-uk-platform-studies-areas-unmet-clinical-need-grant-opportunity