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Many funding opportunities exist for Australasian researchers to apply for financial support. These fall into broad categories including government funding, private and philanthropic funding, and international funding opportunities.
| Name | Description | Relevant Grants | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Research Council | The Australian Research Council (ARC) funds research via two key mechanisms: The Discovery Program and the Linkage Program. The Discovery Program to support fundamental research with a primary focus on supporting individuals or small teams. This program offers support for individual-led projects and fellowships at different levels, including early career fellowships (DECRA) and Future Fellowships for mid-career researchers. The Linkage Program supports industry-research collaboration creating links outside universities, with industry and other partners including not-for-profits, between research facilities and across institutes, and stimulating research impact. ARC provides grants for research and research training in most fields of research, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics, as well as the humanities, arts and social sciences, but does not support medical research. For current definitions of eligible research see here. Clinical and other medical research is primarily supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (see below). The ARC no longer publishes Grant Guidelines (formerly known as Funding Rules) on their website. All accountable authorities and officials now use GrantConnect to publish all Grant Opportunities, all Grant Guidelines and all addenda/alterations. |
People support:
Project or Infrastructure:
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Annual for People Support schemes, varies for Project or Infrastructure schemes |
| Australian Government Department of Health | The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is a research fund set up by the Australian Government in 2015. In July 2020, it grew to $20 billion. The Government plans funding support according to the MRFF strategy and priorities. An independent committee consults the public every 2 years and advises the Government about which research areas are national priorities. MRFF funding is directed to 4 overall research themes, focused on patients, researchers, research missions and research translation. | Current MRFF initiatives can be found here. Among the current initiatives, those that potentially apply to MS research include; the Clinician Researchers initiative, the Emerging Priorities and Consumer-Driven Research initiative, the Frontier Health and Medical Research initiative, and others. | The calendar of research grants is updated regularly and is available here, including links to the application portal. |
| Australian Government Department of Education and Training | The Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) provides funding for Australia’s research sector via Research Block Grants to eligible Australian higher education providers/Universities for research and research training. Universities then manage the allocation of research block grant funding to support students, research projects, researchers, equipment and infrastructure. Research Block Grants include funding towards the Research Training Program (RTP) and the Research Support Program (RSP) which supports the systemic costs of research not supported directly through competitive and other grants, such as libraries, laboratories, consumables, computing centres and the salaries of support and technical staff. | Research Training Program Scholarships: The Australian Government now funds scholarships for domestic and international students undertaking research doctorate and research master’s degrees at eligible Australian universities through the RTP (https://www.dese.gov.au/research-training-program-frequently-asked-questions-students).
The RTP provides scholarships:
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Annual funding rounds |
| National Health and Medical Research Council | NHMRC is a key driver of health and medical research in Australia and have been the largest funder of MS research nationwide. A range of funding support is available from the NHMRC for investigator-led research projects and cross-institutional programs. The NHMRC also funds a range of people support schemes for early career, mid-career, and senior academics. A list of current and upcoming funding schemes with relevant dates can be found here. The funding finder allows searching for funding opportunities according to specific grant type or other criteria. |
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Varies by grant; some are offered in multiple rounds per year, others may be one-off. |
| State Government Offices for Health and Medical Research | The New South Wales Office for Health and Medical Research NSW OHMR is a key supporter of MS research in NSW. The NSW OHMR occasionally funds investigator-led research via an open application process, but primarily provides support for major state-wide initiatives and targeted infrastructure development. The specific funding schemes vary annually depending on the NSW OHMR strategic priorities, but have recently included a 2021 COVID 19 Research Grants, 2021 Biospecimen Collection Grants, 2020 Spinal Cord Injury Research Grants, 2021 Medical Devices Fund (for development and commercialisation of medical devices and related technologies in NSW), 2021 Early-mid Career Fellowships (offered in specific research areas). The NSW OHMR has provided significant support for the MS Clinical Trials and Research Network in NSW, and also supports the MS Research Australia Brain Bank. In Victoria, the Victorian Department of Health (https://www.health.vic.gov.au/about/medical-research) funds the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), which offers opportunities to partner with VicHealth on Impact Research Grants, ARC Linkage and NHMRC Partnership Grants. VicHealth also offers targeted funding opportunities based on key health priorities. The majority of the Victorian Government medical research activity is now led through the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR), including the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund, which funds projects that require cash co-contributions. The Queensland Health Innovation, Investment and Research Office (HIIRO) provides direct funding support for investigator-led research in Queensland. There are a range of people support grant schemes available including Queensland Advancing Clinical Research Fellowships, Nursing and Midwifery Research Fellowships, Junior Doctor Research Fellowships and Physiotherapy Research Fellowships. The Western Australia Department of Health offers several grant schemes for both people-and project support. This includes Clinician Research Fellowships and New Independent Researcher Infrastructure Support Awards, the Research Translation Projects, as well as Medical and Health Research Infrastructure Fund. The WA Government also supports the Lotterywest Foundation and the Healthway foundation that each fund competitive grants. Lotterywest grants are awarded to organisations, while Healthway Health Promotion grants are awarded to individuals. In addition, the WA Government manages the Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund, with targeted funding opportunities which in 2021 included “Near-miss” Grants and Fellowships for eligible near-miss applications to the NHMRC Investigator Grants program for Emerging Leadership level 1 and 2. | People Support:
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Varied |
| Name | Description | Relevant Grants | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| National MS Society | funding schemes for research into MS. NMSS offers Research Grants for scientists and clinicians of up to 3 years, Pilot Research Grants for one year, and range of Training Grants and Fellowships. The Fast Forward program for commercial research funding targets funds to de-risk therapeutic development; with academic researchers and companies eligible to apply. Applications are accepted from non-US citizens, but applicants are encouraged to apply to other granting agencies in their own country. Details on eligibility for individual awards can be found here. | People Support:
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Varied. |
| National Institute for Health | The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the largest source of funding for medical research in the world, funding thousands of scientists in universities and research institutions around the globe. NIH’s grants and funding program includes Research Grants, Awards, Research Training and Fellowships, Project/Centre Grants, and Resource Grants. Many NIH grants are available to Australian investigators and organisations; see here for more information on foreign eligibility. | People Support:
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Varied. |
| MS International Federation | The MS International Federation (MSIF) funds and facilitates international collaboration on research into the understanding, treatment and cure of MS. The MSIF offers a Young Researcher Award for the best oral presentation of a translational project by a young researcher at the meeting of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS (ECTRIMS) each year. They give the Charcot Award every two years for a lifetime of achievement in outstanding research into the understanding or treatment of MS; with the Charcot Lecture presented by the recipient at ECTRIMS. Historically the McDonald Fellowship has been funded annually to allow young researchers from low- and middle-income countries for a 2-year placement in an overseas research institution with the aim of returning to their country to establish an MS research program. They also offer the Du Pré Grant to MS researchers and clinicians from low- and middle-income countries to make short visits (under six months) to established MS research centres outside of their own country. Due to travel restrictions with the global pandemic, MSIF has considered alternative ways to carry out research projects allowing flexibility around how the McDonald Fellowship and Du Pré Grants are spent, as well as when and where the project would be carried out; see here for updated details. | People Support:
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Varied. The Young Researchers Award and Charcot Award are awarded at the ECTRIMS meeting. The McDonald Fellowship and Du Pré Grant are awarded in September/October each year. |
| International Progressive MS Alliance | The International Progressive MS Alliance periodically offers Research Challenge awards. These project grants are for up to €75,000 in total costs for 12 months and projects must focus that focus on identifying new understandings into the cause of progression and help identify new paths for treatment development. Innovation and multi-national collaboration are key elements of these grants. Research Challenges Awards Rounds were granted in 2014 and 2020 for 2021. In 2017, the Alliance also offered three large multi-year grants to collaborative networks of international MS researchers to lead the fight against progressive MS. Each grant was for €4.2 million to run over four years. In 2023, the Alliance requested applications to provide funding for a research pipeline to test innovative outcomes or treatments focused on the well-being of people living with progressive MS. Successful awards will demonstrate a strong expert team that offers the potential for novel therapeutic interventions or outcomes for progressive MS (Stage 1) and has the potential to culminate with a large randomiSed controlled study (Stage 2) and implementation (Stage 3) for adoption into the larger healthcare system. Stage 1 is a planning grant of up to €100,000 that provides time and resources to develop ideas, collect preliminary data (if needed), and construct a research team to develop and present an efficacy research proposal. | Project or Infrastructure:
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Varied. Please check the Alliance website here for updates. |
| European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) | ECTRIMS is a non-profit, independent, representative European-wide organisation that serves as Europe’s and the world’s largest professional organisation dedicated to the understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis. ECTRIMS offers a postdoctoral research fellowship exchange programme for young neuroscientists to facilitate their conduct of and training in basic, clinical or applied research related to multiple sclerosis (MS). The goal of the programme is to maximize exchange of information and to help grow the pool of well-trained research scientists focused on problems in MS. Citizens of any country are eligible to apply to this programme; however, postdoctoral research training must be undertaken in a European laboratory or clinic. ECTRIMS also co-funds the MSIF McDonald Fellowship. | Project or Infrastructure:
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Applications must be submitted online by 1 Dec each year. |
| Name | Description | Relevant Grants | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain Foundation | The Brain Foundation is dedicated to funding Australia-wide clinical research into neurological disorders, brain disease, and brain injuries. Research programs are open nationally and include general project support in the form of grants-in-aid, in fields of key research priority, including “Multiple Sclerosis and other Inflammatory Diseases”. The Foundation also offers people support for one Neurology trainee and one Neurosurgery trainee. As a guide, the grants awarded in 2019 were up to $40,000 each. The Grants are open to competition nationally and all researchers in Australia are eligible to apply, however, consideration, subject to merit, is given to specific groups. | Project or Infrastructure:
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Annual funding round June |
| CASS Foundation | The CASS Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation, established to support and promote the advancement of education, science and medicine, and research and practice in those fields. The CASS Foundation provides annual grants for research and development in science and medicine in Victoria. Researchers from specific organisations are eligible to apply in alternate years. The travel awards program has been open to applicants nationally and provided support for early career researchers to attend international conferences, with two application rounds each year. | People Support:
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Annual round of Project grants, travel awards have been biannual (but are currently closed). |
| Financial Markets for Children Foundation | The Financial Markets Foundation for Children receives both corporate and individual donations to fund research programs and a wide range of other projects designed specifically to promote and improve the health, welfare and well-being of Australian children. The Foundation has allocated in excess of $22 million to over 260 projects. Grant applications are considered via an Expression of Interest process and are generally awarded for one or two years. The Foundation intends these grants to support pilot studies to encourage subsequent competitive grant applications. | Project or Infrastructure
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Normally annual funding rounds. (The grants application process is on hold due to COVID-19 disruptions; for updates see here. |
| Ian Potter Foundation | The Ian Potter Foundation is a major Australian philanthropic foundation that supports and promotes excellence and innovation, facilitating positive social change, and developing Australia’s creativity and capacity as a nation. The Ian Potter Foundation offers grants through several fundings areas that are aligned with its Vision for a fair, healthy, sustainable and vibrant Australia. The Foundation offers grants across a broad range of sectors and endeavours, and rarely awards the full amount of any project. | Project or Infrastructure (current round):
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Multiple funding rounds per year; for more information see here. |
| MS Australia | MS Australia is the largest Australian not-for-profit organisation dedicated to funding, coordinating, educating and advocating for MS research as part of the worldwide effort to solve MS. The organisation offers a wide range of grants, fellowships and scholarships to accelerate Australian MS research toward the prevention, better treatments and a cure for MS. Funding includes both investigator-driven applications and collaborative platform funding. In addition to major project grants and salary support in form of scholarships and fellowships, MS Australia also funds one-year Incubator Grants that provide seed funds for new projects. See more on our How we Fund Research page. | People Support:
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Annual funding rounds for most schemes; biannual Incubator Grant rounds. |
| Neurological Foundation of New Zealand | The Neurological Foundation of New Zealand is a not-for-profit organisation aiming to progress research so that significant advances can be made in the prevention and cure of neurological disorders. The organisation offers a wide range of grants, fellowships, and scholarships to support research to alleviate suffering from diseases and disorders of the brain and nervous system. | People Support:
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There are two funding rounds per year for large and small projects, early career fellowships and conference and training course grants. There is one round per year for doctoral scholarships, senior fellowships and summer studentships. Travel grant applications can also be submitted by those who have an eligible project grant or fellowship. |
| New Zealand Multiple Sclerosis Research Trust | The New Zealand MS Research Trust has been established to encourage, coordinate and support New Zealand-based research into the cause, prevention, treatment, alleviation and cure of MS, and to obtain and disseminate research findings. The Trust has not yet published a grants portfolio. | Not yet available. | The Trust is currently developing information for Researchers regarding funds available for MS Research in New Zealand and how to apply for these. In the meantime they can be contacted via online form. |
| Perpetual Trust | Perpetual Trust distributes around $100 million annually on behalf of the charitable trusts and endowments that they manage. Non-profit organisations have the opportunity to apply for grants through their annual IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program. The grants generally range between $10,000 and $120,000 per year. National organisations can submit up to three applications in total. | Project or Infrastructure:
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Annual funding round (varied) |
| Ramaciotti Foundation | The Ramaciotti Foundations are collectively one of the largest private contributors to biomedical research in Australia and have granted over $64 million to research projects since 1970. They contribute to individual investigators and organisations via three categories of grants in biomedical research, including the biennial Ramaciotti Biomedical Research Award, and the annual Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research and Ramaciotti Health Investment Grants. | People Support:
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Biennial funding round for Research Award Other awards annual |
| Rebecca L. Cooper Foundation | The goal of the Rebecca L Cooper Foundation is to improve understanding, prevention and management of disease and disorders. The Foundation prioritises areas of medical research that are not widely funded by other funding bodies, and has supported seven areas of medical research including brain sciences (Psychiatry and Neurology) and vision sciences. They have distributed $31 million in funds since 1984. Following a comprehensive review, a new funding strategy was implement in 2021 to support talented researchers with strong research vision in the fields of research supported by the Foundation. Thus, future funding will be used to fund Fellowships that will fund a salary and a Research Support Package. | People Support:
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Commenced 2021. |
| Sylvia and Charles Viertel Foundation | The Sylvia and Charles Viertel Foundation was established to benefit organisations or institutions involved in medical research into diseases, along with the alleviation of hardship of the aged and the sick. The Viertel Foundation offers a Senior Medical Research Fellowship and a Clinical Investigatorship. The Fellowship is intended to provide both salary and project grant funding for mid-career researchers. The Clinical Investigatorship aims to assist new investigators to establish their research programs at the time of the difficult transition from doctoral and post-doctoral training posts to their first definitive clinical positions in an academic environment. | People Support:
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Annual funding round April |
