Grants to support high-quality clinical trials and cohort studies that address knowledge gaps and provide for improvements in health and well-being, healthcare practice or policy.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
On this page you will find
What is the Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies (CTCS) Grants Scheme?
The Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants 2024 is a funding initiative by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) designed to support high-quality clinical trials and cohort studies. These studies aim to address important gaps in knowledge, leading to relevant and implementable findings that benefit human health.
CTCS level of support
The provisional funding allocation for this grant is $70 million. Grants can be requested for between 1 and 5 years, depending on the proposal’s needs.
CTCS important dates
- This program is closed
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
CTCS objectives and outcomes
The intended outcomes of the scheme are:
- high-quality clinical trials that provide reliable evidence of the effects of health-related interventions on health outcomes (or appropriate surrogates)
- high-quality cohort studies that provide reliable evidence on the relation of important risk factors and other exposures to health-related outcomes
- high quality retrospective cohort studies that provide reliable evidence on the relation of important risk factors and other exposures to health-related outcomes
Projects eligible for CTCS support
Detailed information on eligible projects is as follows:
Clinical trials are research studies involving human participants, designed to evaluate the effects of interventions on health outcomes. Eligible clinical trials must meet the following criteria:
- Human Participants: The study must involve human participants.
- Interventions: Participants are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions.
- Outcome Evaluation: The effects of the intervention(s) on the participants will be examined, with anticipated effects being behavioural and/or health-related outcomes.
Examples of eligible clinical trials include:
- Trials testing new medications, medical devices, or other therapeutic interventions.
- Behavioural intervention trials aimed at improving health outcomes.
- Preventive trials evaluating measures to prevent the onset of diseases.
Prospective cohort studies involve following a group of individuals over a period to evaluate the association between risk factors and health-related outcomes. Eligible prospective cohort studies must meet the following criteria:
- Human Participants: The study must involve human participants.
- Prospective Follow-Up: Participants are prospectively followed over a defined period.
- Outcome Evaluation: The study aims to evaluate associations between one or more factors and behavioural and/or health-related outcomes.
Examples of eligible prospective cohort studies include:
- Studies examining the impact of lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, exercise) on the development of chronic diseases.
- Research assessing the long-term effects of environmental exposures on health outcomes.
Retrospective cohort studies involve collecting and examining existing data to evaluate associations between risk factors and health-related outcomes. Eligible retrospective cohort studies must meet the following criteria:
- Human Participants: The study must involve human participants.
- Retrospective Data Collection: The project will collect and examine retrospective data, which may involve data linkage work.
- Outcome Evaluation: The study aims to evaluate associations between one or more factors in the cohort and behavioural and/or health-related outcomes.
Examples of eligible retrospective cohort studies include:
- Studies using medical records to assess the long-term health impacts of early-life exposures.
- Research linking multiple health databases to evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions.
Certain projects are not eligible for funding under this grant scheme. These include:
- Projects solely focused on infrastructure development.
- Ongoing support for existing projects without a clear new research component.
- Projects not involving human participants.
Expenditure eligible for CTCS support
Funding provided by the NHMRC for a CTCS grant must be spent on costs directly incurred in carrying out the grant activity. Eligible expenditures include:
Personnel Costs
- Salary Support: Funding for personnel directly involved in the research project, such as research assistants, technical staff, and administrative support.
- Chief Investigator Salaries: While CTCS grants are not typically intended for Chief Investigator (CI) salaries, funding can be requested with justification showing how the salary is essential to achieving the project outcomes. CI salaries can only be drawn if the CI is based in Australia for at least 80% of the funding period.
- Research Support Staff: Salaries for research support staff, including those based overseas if their work is critical to the project and not available in Australia.
Research Costs
- Equipment: Purchase or lease of equipment necessary for the research, provided it is not available within the administering institution.
- Consumables: Laboratory and field supplies directly related to the research activities.
- Participant Costs: Expenses related to recruiting and compensating study participants, including travel and accommodation if necessary.
- Data Collection: Costs associated with data collection, such as surveys, questionnaires, and clinical assessments.
Travel and Accommodation
- Field Work: Travel and accommodation expenses for researchers conducting fieldwork or site visits integral to the project.
- Conferences and Meetings: Costs for attending relevant conferences or meetings to present findings, provided these are directly related to the research and occur during the grant period.
Collaborative and Overseas Research
- International Collaboration: Costs for specific grant activities undertaken overseas, including travel and accommodation for collaborating researchers if critical resources or expertise are not available in Australia.
- Overseas Equipment and Resources: Funding for equipment or resources located overseas, where their use is essential for the project.
Miscellaneous Costs
- Publication and Dissemination: Expenses for publishing research findings in open-access journals and disseminating results to stakeholders and the broader community.
- Ethics and Regulatory Approvals: Fees for obtaining necessary ethics approvals and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Exclusions and Restrictions
Certain expenditures are not eligible under the CTCS Grants 2024. These include:
- Infrastructure Costs: General infrastructure costs, including building maintenance and utility costs, are not covered.
- Duplicate Funding: NHMRC will not fund research activities that duplicate work already funded by NHMRC or other agencies. Applicants must ensure no overlapping funding sources for the same project activities.
Funding Conditions
All expenditures must comply with NHMRC’s Direct Research Costs Guidelines and other relevant policies. It is the responsibility of the administering institution and the CI to ensure that all funds are used appropriately and in accordance with these guidelines.
By adhering to these eligible expenditure guidelines, applicants can ensure their budgets are accurately prepared and aligned with the requirements of the CTCS Grants 2024.
Other CTCS important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for CTCS support
Applications for the CTCS Grants 2024 will only be accepted from NHMRC Administering Institutions. These institutions must meet specific criteria and be approved by the NHMRC. Eligible organisations typically include:
Universities and Higher Education Institutions
- Accredited universities and higher education institutions that conduct research in health and medical fields.
- Institutions must have the necessary facilities and infrastructure to support the proposed research activities.
Medical Research Institutes
- Dedicated medical research institutes that focus on clinical trials, cohort studies, and other health-related research.
- Institutes must demonstrate a strong track record in conducting high-quality research.
Hospitals and Health Services
- Hospitals and health services with research departments capable of managing and conducting clinical trials and cohort studies.
- These organisations must have the required ethical and regulatory approvals to conduct human research.
Public Health Organisations
- Public health organisations involved in large-scale health research and population studies.
- Organisations must have the expertise and infrastructure to manage complex research projects.
Administering Institutions
The NHMRC maintains a list of approved Administering Institutions that are eligible to apply for and manage CTCS Grants. Administering Institutions are responsible for:
- Grant Administration: Overseeing the administration and financial management of the grant.
- Compliance: Ensuring all research activities comply with NHMRC guidelines, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Reporting: Submitting progress reports, financial reports, and final reports as required by the NHMRC.
A list of NHMRC Administering Institutions can be found on the NHMRC website.
CTCS assessment criteria
Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Significance (40%): The extent to which the research will advance knowledge and improve health outcomes.
- Research Quality (40%): The quality and feasibility of the proposed research.
- Team Quality and Capability (20%): The expertise and experience of the research team.
How do I get the CTCS?
You should read and understand the guidelines.
You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
Successful applicants will demonstrate:
- an evidence-based rationale for a project that will address important gaps in knowledge and improve health outcomes, practice or policy
- a sound and feasible project design and methodology, including recruitment strategy, risk management and appropriate milestones and performance indicators
- meaningful consumer involvement and diversity considerations
- a budget appropriate to the scope and scale of the trial/study
- a CI team with the capacity, capability and experience to deliver the project in full within the agreed timeframe
Information to prepare for the CTCS application
- Grant Proposal: Detailed description of the research project.
- Attachments: Supporting documentation as specified in the guidelines.
- Consumer and Community Involvement: Outline the involvement of consumers in the research process.
Applying for the CTCS
Register and activate a Sapphire account at least 72 hours before the application deadline. Ensure all minimum data fields are completed by the deadline. Complete the application form, attach all required documents, and submit through Sapphire by the closing date.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
CTCS resources
I need help applying for grants
Our Insights showcase some of the grant-winning methods we employ at GrantHelper, and they will help you create a stronger grant application. But no matter how well prepared you are, winning grants takes time—something we know many business owners and directors just don’t have. And that’s why we’re here to help.
- Check out our How to Prepare Before You Apply insight to help you reduce the stress levels when you apply for a grant.
- Check out How to write a successful grant application to learn some time-saving tips to make the grant writing process easier.
GrantHelper can assist with your organisation’s next grant application, no matter what stage of the funding journey you’re at.
Our in-depth eBook is the single most valuable resource you will find that helps organisations to truly understand how to win government grants.
Download our eBook to discover grant-winning secrets
Our free eBook features 10 chapters of expert advice, professional tips and more to help you do better with grants, whether you’re new to the process or you’ve applied before.
Get your copy of the Guide to Winning Grants now.
Is your business eligible for this government grant?
Or perhaps you’re not sure and want to know more?
GrantHelper offers a range of government grant services, helping businesses of all sizes to discover, apply for, and win the best grant opportunities. We can help you with anything from finding the right grants, to writing your application, formulating an ongoing grant strategy, and more.
Get started now by filling in the form below, or tap the ‘Book a Discovery Call’ button to schedule a no-obligation virtual meeting with an experienced government grants consultant.
Prefer to talk? Call 0409 478 850 now for a no-obligation discussion. We’re here to help your business better understand grants, submit your best possible application, and get you in the winners’ circle.
Check out some of the clients we’ve helped and what they had to say about us.
