New Grant Opportunity for Stroke Researchers in Australia

This funding scheme aims to support new innovative stroke trial research across Australia (maximum funding request $50,000) for researchers based in Australia. The grant funding term is 18 months.

To be ELIGIBLE, the CIA must be:

1. A CRE affiliate (details below to become an affiliate if you are not already).
2. Proposing an innovative new clinical trial (including pilot trials) for stroke, or research activity that directly informs the design or methodology of an innovative new stroke trial.
3. Using this funding support to further develop a research question with a view to obtaining subsequent substantive Category I funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council or Medical Research Future Fund (or similar).
4. Based at an NHMRC administering institution that can act as the trial sponsor for your proposal.

Where relevant, PRIORITY will be given to projects that:

• Demonstrate consumer co-design.
• Demonstrate diversity (e.g. multidisciplinary teams with career stage and gender) and inclusion (e.g. ensuring those with aphasia are included in the projects).
• Help close the gap in currently underservices communities (e.g. rural/remote communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes).
• Are led by early (0-5 years post-PhD) and mid-career (>5-10 years post-PhD) researchers with established mentorship from more senior researchers.

TIMELINES:

1. Minimum data must be completed by 11.59pm 18 September 2026. Complete this minimum data form
2. Application must be submitted by 11.59pm 23 October 2026. Complete this form to submit your application. Note, any application submitted without associated minimum data entered by the minimum data deadline will be deemed ineligible.

APPLICATION: Prepare a single PDF to upload (maximum 10MB) with the following sections clearly labelled:

• CRE affiliate status or application for CIA only (see attached proforma).
• 2-page CV for each named investigator inclusive of your overall track record in the last 5 years and top 5 publications in the last 5 years related to the proposal and reasons for their choice.
• Project application: copy of a previous application submitted to a granting body or new application.
• If previous application submitted, document in 1 page modifications to adhere to the funding budget (max $50,000) and timeline (max 18 months) for this grant opportunity. Please only submit the project proposal component of your previous grant e.g., 8 pages for MRFF.
• If new application, document in a maximum of 4 pages

Note: Please be sure that either option for submission includes timeline, risks and indicative budget.

• Study innovation statement: in 1 page detail how your proposal directly:
• Proposes a new innovative new clinical trial for stroke, or research activity that directly informs the design, or methodology of a new stroke trial.
• Produces innovative data that will be used to support applications for subsequent substantive Category I funding from the NHMRC or MRFF (or similar).
• Study consumer involvement statement: in 1 page explain how you propose to involve consumers at all stages of your research, including its prioritisation, design, conduct, dissemination and translation.
• For CI applicants who have experienced career disruption(s) during the last 5 years (consistent with NHMRC definitions) relevant to your career history, in 1 additional page you can:
• Provide details of your career disruption(s) (dates, NHMRC classification; note, personal or confidential details are not required), and
• Provide a brief explanation on the impact the career disruption(s) has had on your research and research achievements and associated productivity relative to stage of career.

OUTCOME: Applications will be scored by independent CRE advisors. Outcomes by February 2027.

Any queries, please contact: stroke-trials.cre@sydney.edu.au

1. Application Form: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
2. Minimum data form: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management