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Funding callMedicine and clinical research · Australia

MRFF 2026 Clinical Trials Activity (GO8645)

The MRFF 2026 Clinical Trials Activity grant opportunity (GO8645) offers up to $136 million for pilot and full clinical trials on rare cancers, rare diseases and unmet needs, trials filling health technology assessment evidence gaps, and prevention trials. This guide covers suitable research areas, eligibility and readiness checks, what assessment panels typically value and how to plan a competitive application.

Pubrica InsightsEditorial team, reviewed by a subject specialist
Next deadline
7 April 2027
Last checked
10 November 2026
Funder
Medical Research Future Fund (administered by NHMRC)
Sources
1
Apply through the official call

Key dates

Application deadline
7 April 2027
Details last checked
10 November 2026
Apply through the official call

About the call

Funder
Medical Research Future Fund (administered by NHMRC)
Country
Australia
Scheme type
Project grant
Funding
Up to $136 million
Eligibility
Approved MRFF Eligible Organisations may apply for pilot and full clinical trials on rare cancers, rare diseases and unmet needs, trials filling health technology assessment evidence gaps, and prevention trials.
Scope
Medicine and clinical research

Topics consistent with the call

  • Clinical trials of treatments for rare cancers with limited options
  • Trials addressing rare diseases and conditions with unmet clinical need
  • Trials generating evidence for health technology assessment decisions
  • Prevention trials targeting the onset or progression of disease
  • Pilot trials establishing feasibility before a definitive full trial
  • Pragmatic and adaptive trial designs embedded in clinical care

Based on the published scope; the official page sets out the full themes and requirements.

Is your work a fit? Check before you apply

  1. Confirm that your administering institution is an approved MRFF Eligible Organisation.
  2. Check which priority area your trial addresses and whether it is a pilot or full trial.
  3. Ensure the trial design, sample size and outcomes are justified and feasible.
  4. Plan governance, ethics, registration and consumer involvement in line with the guidelines.
  5. Prepare a complete, institutionally approved application before the 7 April 2027 deadline.

Why This Funding Call Matters

Patients with rare cancers and rare diseases often have few treatments supported by high-quality evidence, because trials in small populations are difficult to fund and run. Equally, decisions about subsidising health technologies can stall where evidence is incomplete, and prevention trials are frequently underfunded relative to treatment trials. This opportunity directs substantial funding to these areas, giving trial teams the chance to generate evidence that can change clinical guidelines, reimbursement decisions and preventive practice.

Who Should Apply

Academic backgrounds

  • Oncology
  • Rare diseases and clinical genetics
  • Clinical trials methodology and biostatistics
  • Preventive medicine
  • Health economics

Institutions and sectors

  • Universities and medical research institutes
  • Hospitals and health services
  • Clinical trial networks and coordinating centres

What Reviewers Typically Value

  1. A trial question addressing a clearly defined unmet need or evidence gap.
  2. A robust design with appropriate sample size, outcomes and analysis plan.
  3. Feasible recruitment supported by networks, sites and patient partners.
  4. A clear route from trial results to changes in practice, policy or funding.

Ideas You Could Develop

Basket trial in a rare cancerA multi-site trial testing a targeted therapy across several rare cancer subtypes sharing a molecular alteration.
Trial filling an HTA gapA pragmatic randomised trial comparing a technology with usual care to provide outcome and cost data needed for a funding decision.
Prevention in high-risk adultsA prevention trial testing whether a low-cost intervention delays the onset of type 2 diabetes in people at high risk.

Your Plan to the Deadline

A suggested schedule working back from 7 April 2027. Adjust it to the stage your work has reached.

  1. By 10 Feb 2027

    Read the call documents; confirm eligibility, budget limits, assessment criteria and institutional requirements.

  2. By 24 Feb 2027

    Agree the research question, aims, team and partners; contact your research office.

  3. By 10 Mar 2027

    Draft the case for support, methods, impact and budget.

  4. By 24 Mar 2027

    Obtain internal review, letters of support and institutional sign-off.

  5. By 2 Apr 2027

    Final checks against the funder’s guidance and formatting rules.

  6. By 7 Apr 2027

    Submit through the funder’s system before the deadline.

What you gain

  • Funding for the research, team and resources it needs.
  • Recognition from a competitive, peer-reviewed process.
  • Reviewer feedback that strengthens future applications.
  • A track record for larger grants and fellowships.

What happens after you apply

  1. Eligibility check: the funder confirms the application meets the call rules.
  2. Peer review: external reviewers assess the proposal against the published criteria.
  3. Panel: a committee ranks proposals; some schemes include an interview.
  4. Decision: outcomes are released on the funder’s timetable.
  5. Award: successful applicants agree terms and reporting requirements before starting.

What the Funder Are Looking For

The opportunity seeks pilot and full clinical trials that address rare cancers, rare diseases and unmet needs, fill evidence gaps for health technology assessment, or test prevention strategies. Competitive applications typically present a rigorous design, realistic recruitment, strong trial governance and a clear pathway for findings to influence care. Applicants should confirm the streams, funding limits per grant and assessment criteria in the grant opportunity guidelines.

Read the official pageThis guide summarises the opportunity. Confirm deadlines, eligibility and requirements on the official page before you plan your work, and record the date you checked it.Open the official page

Expert help

How Pubrica Can Help

Pubrica’s subject specialists can help you prepare a competitive proposal, planned back from the deadline. You remain the author of your work.

Grant writingProposal writing structured to the funder’s guidance and assessment criteria. Literature review and gap analysisThe evidence base and the gap your proposal addresses. Study designStudy design and methods that reviewers can assess. Statistical analysis planSample size and analysis plans for the proposal. Data management planData management and sharing plans to funder requirements. Proposal editingEditing of the full proposal for clarity and consistency.
Go to the official page

FAQs

Questions Researchers Ask

The next published deadline is 7 April 2027. Dates can change, so confirm them on the official page before you plan your work.

The opportunity refers to both pilot and full clinical trials, so a well-justified pilot appears to be within scope. Check the grant opportunity guidelines to confirm the requirements for each trial type and any limits on funding or duration.

Approved MRFF Eligible Organisations may apply for pilot and full clinical trials on rare cancers, rare diseases and unmet needs, trials filling health technology assessment evidence gaps, and prevention trials. Confirm the full eligibility rules in the call documents.

Yes. Pubrica’s specialists can review, write, edit and format your proposal. You remain the author and the person responsible for the submission.

Sources

  1. Medical Research Future Fund (administered by NHMRC). (2026). MRFF 2026 Clinical Trials Activity (GO8645). Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/funding/find-funding/mrff-2026-clinical-trials-activity-grant-opportunity-go8645

How to cite this page

Pubrica Insights. (2026). MRFF 2026 Clinical Trials Activity (GO8645). Pubrica. https://pubrica.com/insights/calls-and-conferences/mrff-2026-clinical-trials-activity-go8645/

  • MRFF
  • Clinical trials
  • Rare diseases
  • Prevention
  • Australia

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MRFF 2026 Clinical Trials Activity (GO8645)Next deadline 7 April 2027

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