Grants up to $25 million to support research to explore and deliver novel, technology-driven treatments for a current or future serious and incurable health condition.
On this page you will find
What is Frontier Health and Medical Research Initiative (FHMR)?
The Frontier Health and Medical Research (FHMR) Grant Opportunity is part of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) initiative by the Australian Government. This grant aims to support innovative health and medical research projects that have the potential to transform clinical practice and improve health outcomes for Australians.
The funding application process has two stages:
- Expression of interest (EOI)
- Full application (for invited applicants)
FHMR level of support
- Maximum $25 million per program of research
- Maximum 100% of total project costs
- Maximum 5 years funding per project within the program of research*
*Funding can be sought, if invited, for subsequent projects that continue to progress the technology to full implementation.
FHMR important dates
- Applications close 31 March 2026 at 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
- Applications may be submitted at any time over the life of the grant opportunity
- The program will batch expressions of interest for assessment every 6 months for those submitted by 31 March and 30 September each year.
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
FHMR objectives and outcomes
The main objective of the Frontier Health and Medical Research Grant Opportunity is to support ambitious research programs that aim to create groundbreaking treatments for serious and incurable health conditions. The program encourages the development of novel health technologies and the repurposing of existing technologies in innovative ways.
Projects and activities eligible for FHMR support
The FHMR intends to support programs of research comprising a series of linked projects that cumulatively address the objective and intended outcome. The program of research can propose to develop novel health technologies and/or re-purpose existing health technologies in a novel way.
Applicants can propose projects to commence research at any stage in the research pipeline from proof-of-concept, with the intention of achieving full implementation of the proposed technology in 10 years.
Eligible activities must directly relate to the project and can include:
- equipment
- employment of personnel
- other direct research costs
The expectation is the majority of the research activities and funding expenditure will occur in Australia. You may request funding for a component of the research to be undertaken overseas if the equipment/resources required for that component are not available in Australia and the component is critical to the successful completion of the research project.
See the guidelines for full details of eligible projects.
Expenditure eligible for FHMR support
Eligible expenditure must:
- be a direct cost of the project
- be incurred for required project audit activities
- be incurred between the grant start and end dates, unless stated otherwise
Eligible expenditure items are:
- equipment costing over $10,000 and not exceeding $80,000 in total that is essential to the research
- direct labour costs of employees directly employed on the core elements of the project, with a maximum of $175,000 per financial year per employee, director or shareholder
- labour on-costs
- contract expenditure
- travel and overseas expenditure, generally limited to 10% of total eligible project expenditure
- staff training that supports project outcomes
- financial auditing of project expenditure
- planning, environmental or other regulatory approvals, excluding associated fees to Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments
- insurances specifically required for the grant activity
- IP expertise and protection
Ineligible expenditure items include:
- activities, equipment or supplies that are already being supported through other sources or where other Commonwealth, state or territory governments have primary responsibility
- conference attendance and associated travel
- health insurance, travel insurance, foreign currency, airport and related travel taxes, passports and visas, airline club memberships
- computers, computer networks, peripherals and software for communicating, writing and undertaking simple analyses
- communications costs (mobiles, telephone calls)
- entertainment and hospitality costs
- institutional/organisational overheads and administrative costs
- major or minor capital works projects
- maintenance or upgrades on buildings or structures
- patent costs
- physical space and all associated administrative, laboratory and office services
- reimbursement of activities that have commenced prior to the execution of a grant agreement
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible expenditure.
Other FHMR important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for FHMR support
To be eligible your organisation must:
- have an ABN
- be incorporated in Australia
and in accordance with s24 of the MRFF Act 2015, be one of the following entities:
- a medical research institute
- a university
- a corporate Commonwealth entity
- a corporation (including businesses and not for profits)
Joint applications are encouraged, provided you have a Lead Organisation who is the main driver of the project and is eligible to apply.
Applicants must display evidence of strategic partnerships involving organisations whose decisions and actions affect Australians’ health, health policy and health care delivery in ways that improve the health of Australians.
Partner organisations may include:
- those working in federal, state, territory or local government in the health portfolio or in other areas affecting health, such as economic policy, urban planning, education or transport
- those working in the private sector such as employers, private health insurance providers or private hospitals
- those commercial entities with an interest in this area, for example biotechnology companies
- non-government organisations and charities
- education institutions
- state education departments
- community organisations such as consumer groups
- healthcare providers
- professional groups
You are not eligible to apply if you are:
- an individual
- a partnership
- an unincorporated association
- a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
- a non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- an organisation, or a participating organisation on your application, is included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’
- an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible applicants.
FHMR assessment criteria
The assessment process involves two stages:
Expression of Interest (EOI) Stage:
- Vision and Novelty (50% weighting)
- Team Capability (50% weighting)
Full Application Stage (by invitation only):
- Project Impact (40% weighting)
- Project Methodology (30% weighting)
- Capacity, Capability, and Resources to Deliver the Project (30% weighting)
- Overall Value and Risk of the Project (non-weighted)
See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.
How do I get the FHMR?
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:
- a bold and innovative program of research that meets the funding objectives of creating a novel treatment for a current or predictable future serious and incurable health condition
- a technological solution to an unmet need that can be applied nationally and internationally to become ‘best practice’
- an innovative project methodology that adopts a multidisciplinary approach
- evidence of strategic partnerships and the involvement of consumers and other end users
- a research team with the capacity, capability and experience to deliver the project in full within the agreed timeframe
Information to prepare for the FHMR application
The following documentation is required for EOI applications:
- a list of all Chief Investigators (CIs) (template provided) who have shared authority and responsibility for leading and directing the design, conduct and reporting of the research as outlined in the EOI, including the affiliations of each person listed
- CVs for each CI, including:
- a summary of their expertise and/or research achievements relevant to the proposed research
- top 5 publications relevant to the proposed research
- details of successful grants for the last 10 years that are relevant to the proposed research, including: grant title, short description, funding organisation, dollar value
- details of 10 individuals that do not have a perceived or actual conflict of interest with the proposed program of research and could be approached to assist in the assessment of its scientific merits, should you be invited to submit a full application
The following additional documentation is required for full applications:
- a detailed project plan, including project methodology and a project feasibility analysis
- a detailed and itemised project budget (template provided)
- a statement of how your research proposal will contribute to the Measures of Success for the MRFF as described in the MRFF Evaluation, Monitoring and Learning Strategy
- a detailed risk management plan, and any supporting documentation
- a Declaration of Applicant Interests
- letter/s of support from your board, CEO or equivalent and (where relevant) from partner organisation/s
- letter/s from research facilities (where relevant)
- audited financial statements or annual reports for the Lead Organisation from the last 3 years or, if this is not possible, the parent company/organisation of the Lead Organisation
- details of intellectual property (IP) arrangements as an attachment if this is not included within the written content of the application
- trust deed (where applicable)
- a plain English media summary that can be used to describe your research proposal to the general public
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for FHMR
Applications are submitted online via the business.gov.au portal.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
FHMR resources
- Source – DHAC
- Source – biz.gov.au
- Register your interest
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