Changes to NHMRC Grant Program released.

The eagerly awaited changes to the NHMRC’s grant program have been announced. As Research Australia and many others in our sector have advocated for, the reform is a combination of elements from the models proposed in the consultation paper issued in the middle of last year. Importantly, these changes reflect much of the advice provided to the review panel from the sector.

Some of the important changes are listed below:
 
Investigator Grants will consolidate separate fellowship and research support into one grant scheme that will provide the highest-performing researchers at all career stages with funding for their salary (if required) and a significant research support package (RSP). Investigator Grants without salary support will be available for researchers who, for example, hold non-NHMRC Fellowships or academic positions.
 
Ideas Grants will support innovative and creative research projects, and be available for researchers with bright ideas at all career stages, including early and mid-career researchers.
 
Synergy Grants will provide $5 million per grant for outstanding multidisciplinary teams to work together to answer complex questions.

The stated aims of the changes are to:

  1. Encourage research that is more creative and innovative
  2. Provide opportunities for Australia’s best health and medical researchers at all career stages, and
  3. Minimise the burden on researchers in preparing and reviewing grant applications, allowing them to spend more time on research.

NHMRC Fellowships, Program Grants, and Project Grants are replaced with three new schemes – Investigator Grants, Synergy Grants and Ideas Grants.

Research Australia welcomes the reforms announced and notes that there is never ‘a perfect solution’ but that these changes are a positive step in the right direction and address key issues flagged by the sector. Research Australia also commends the efforts of the NHMRC CEO Anne Kelso AO and the Expert Advisory Group chaired by Professor Steve Wesselingh.

Visit researchaustralia.org to view the full details around the changes to NHMRC's Grant Program. 

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