MRFF 2024 Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity

Funding for researchers to support projects using existing data infrastructure types to create or apply new approaches for an unmet medical need.
Open
Closes in 104 days

Closing date: Monday 28 October 2024 5:00pm AEDT Mon 28 Oct 2024 5:00pm AEDT

What do you get?

Grants of up to $2.5 million, to cover up to 100% of eligible project costs.

Who is this for?

Eligible organisations seeking to develop better data health intelligence to improve health care delivery.

Overview

This grant opportunity is part of the Medical Research Future Fund and the Research Data Infrastructure Initiative. It looks to fund the creation or extension of national research data infrastructure to support world-class health and medical research in Australia.

Research proposals should incorporate:

  • new linkage and/or use of data from multiple (at least two) existing research data infrastructure sources of different types (e.g. administrative and biobank data, registry and biobank data, wearables and use artificial intelligence); and/or
  • novel methodologies and approaches that leverage and enhance existing linked research data infrastructure of at least two different types (e.g. administrative and biobank data, registry and biobank data, wearables and use artificial intelligence); and
  • a clear outline of how the proposed project will produce knowledge and outcomes that address and area of unmet medical need.

Check if you can apply

You can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria are a set of rules that describe who we can consider for this grant. You can apply if you:

  • are an eligible entity
  • have an eligible project
  • have eligible expenditure.

The rules are in the grant opportunity guidelines.

You can apply if you:

  • have an Australian business number (ABN)
  • are incorporated in Australia

You must also be one of the following entities:

  • a medical research institute
  • a university
  • a corporate Commonwealth entity
  • a corporation (including businesses and not for profits)

You can’t 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
  • any organisation not listed in the eligible entity list
  • an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s 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)

Partner with other organisations

Joint applications are encouraged.

You can partner with one or more other organisations, provided you have a lead organisation who is the main driver of the project and is eligible to apply. The lead organisation must fill out the application form.

If we give your group the grant, the lead organisation:

  • signs the grant agreement
  • receives grant payments
  • is responsible for making sure your group follows the rules in the grant agreement, including all reporting requirements.

We can only accept applications that provide:

  • evidence from your board (or equivalent) that the project is supported and that you can complete the project and meet the costs of the project not covered by grant funding
  • a list of up to 15 (maximum) Chief Investigators using the mandatory template
  • a detailed project plan (max 12 pages)
  • a detailed and itemised project budget
  • a one-page statement of how your project will contribute to the Measures of Success for the MRFF
  • a detailed risk management plan (max 2 pages)
  • details of IP arrangements (if applicable)
  • letters of support from each project partner (if applicable)
  • a trust deed (if applicable).

How to apply

Check if you’re ready to apply for a grant

Finding a suitable grant opportunity is just the start of the process to get funding. The application process can take time and effort. Understanding the entire process will help you be grant ready and may improve your chances of getting funding.

Use our checklist to find out what it takes to apply for a grant.

When you're ready to apply

Apply using our online portal:

  1. Create or log into your portal account.
  2. Follow the instructions to complete your application.
  3. Submit your application before the close date.

Make sure you include enough detail and supporting evidence in your application to help us decide whether to award you the grant.

Don’t submit the application until it’s complete. You can’t correct a mistake.

First we check that you meet the eligibility criteria. Eligible applications are then assessed against the assessment criteria by an independent committee of experts.

The amount of detail and supporting evidence you provide should be relative to the project size, complexity and grant amount requested. You should define, quantify and provide evidence to support your answers. The sample application form displays character limits.

The program delegate will make the final decision taking into consideration the recommendations from the independent committee of experts.

We will only award funding to applications that score satisfactorily against all criteria.

  • Assessment criterion 1: Project impact (40% weighting)
  • Assessment criterion 2: Project methodology (30% weighting)
  • Assessment criterion 3: Capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project (30% weighting)
  • Assessment criterion 4: Overall Value and Risk of the Project (non-weighted)

Scoring information for all assessment criteria can be found at Appendix C and Appendix D of the grant opportunity guidelines.

Apply now

Apply for the MRFF 2024 Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity now

Before you apply, make sure you:

  • read and understand the grant opportunity guidelines
  • read the sample application form
  • read the sample grant agreement.
Apply now

Sample applications

The best way to understand what information you need to provide is to start an application. We have also provided a version to download at the bottom of this page.

Technical help

See our customer portal's frequently asked questions to help with your queries. If you can't find your answer, contact us for assistance.

Contact

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Key documents

Grant opportunity guidelines

pdf · 0.36 MB docx · 1.90 MB

Sample application form

pdf · 0.23 MB docx · 0.22 MB

Sample grant agreement

pdf · 0.26 MB docx · 1.18 MB

Board or CEO letter template

pdf · 0.01 MB docx · 0.03 MB

Chief investigator template

xlsx · 0.21 MB

Independent audit report template

pdf · 0.35 MB docx · 0.05 MB

MRFF grant management resources

Reporting templates are available from the MRFF grants management webpage. The page also provides other resources for MRFF grant administration, including current policies and relevant forms and templates.

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