2027 Grant Round
MND Australia is pleased to announce that applications are now open for our 2027 Research Grant Round, including the Innovator Grant and Postdoctoral Fellowship schemes. This year, the David Deguara MND Research Fellowship, funded by the MND&Me Foundation, will also be available to researchers based in Queensland.
Applications are invited across the full spectrum of MND research, including translational, clinical, health services, implementation science, discovery, and biomedical research, as well as projects focused on improving care and quality of life for people living with MND.
To better reflect the breadth of research supported by MND Australia, we have expanded and refined our research categories. In addition to basic and biomedical research, applications are encouraged across areas, including:
- Clinical measurement and biomarkers
- Health care and models of care
- Health services and systems research
- Bridging health equity gaps
- Research translation and implementation science
- Psychosocial and cognitive care
- Symptom management and supportive technologies
Researchers are encouraged to review the full list of research categories in the application guidelines.
We have also introduced greater flexibility within our funding schemes. Innovator Grants may be undertaken at 0.5 FTE and project timelines may extend beyond 12 months where appropriate. Postdoctoral Fellowships may be undertaken at 0.8 FTE.
The deadline for application submission for all funding streams is Monday, 21 September at 5pm AEST.
A new opportunity: Care Research Project Pitch Sessions
While MND Australia has traditionally received strong interest from the discovery research community, we are keen to encourage more applications from researchers working in clinical care, allied health, health services, implementation science, palliative care, psychosocial care and related disciplines.
To support this goal, we are offering researchers in these fields the opportunity to present their project ideas and receive feedback before submitting a full application.
Expressions of interest for the Care Research Project Pitch Sessions are invited by Thursday, 16 July. Pitch sessions will be held in late July, allowing sufficient time to prepare and submit a full application before the grant round closes on 21 September 2026.
To express your interest, please email [email protected] with a brief statement outlining your proposed project and area of research.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Postdoctoral Fellowships are offered for a period of three years to postdoctoral researchers with a track record in MND or areas related to MND, or who can bring new skills and knowledge into Australian MND research. MND Australia Postdoctoral Fellowships provide a contribution of $125,000 p.a. towards a full-time salary for three years plus a one-off research expense payment of $50,000.
Applicants must have no more than five years research experience from the date their doctoral thesis was passed (as at 21st September 2026). Please see the application form for additional information on eligibility criteria.
David Deguara Fellowship
David Deguara Fellowship is offered for a period of three years to Queensland based postdoctoral researchers with a track record in MND or areas related to MND, or who can bring new skills and knowledge into Australian MND research. David Degaura Fellowship provide a contribution of $125,000 p.a towards a full-time salary for three years plus a one-off research expense payment of $50,000.
Applicants must Queensland based with no more than five years research experience from the date their doctoral thesis was passed (as at 21st September 2026). Please see the application form for additional information on eligibility criteria.
Innovator Grants
MND Australia funds Innovator Grants to seed innovative projects. These grants are one-year grants to support research that aims to answer new research questions or new aspects of research. MND Australia Innovator Grants are offered to a maximum value of $100,000 for a twelve-month project. Projects can be for shorter time periods and smaller budgets but must be feasible in the proposed time period with the requested resources. Please see the application form for additional information and eligibility criteria. Please note that this application form was revised on 29th June.
The highest-scoring Care Research Innovator grant application will receive the MND South Australia Care Research Grant. This is the second time we’ve offered a dedicated Care Research grant, and we are very grateful to MND South Australia for their generous support of this important initiative.
Grant review criteria
The MND Australia Grant Review Criteria and Relative to Opportunity Guidelines are aligned with those used by the NHMRC, with appropriate adaptation for MND-specific research.
These guidelines provide detail and clarity around eligibility and reviewing considerations for career disruptions, different career paths and availability of resources.
Please note the scoring criteria are currently being refined and an update guidance document will be provided soon.
Additional information
- Although applicants at all levels are permitted to apply, the programs are intended to provide particular opportunities for early and mid-career researchers. It is strongly preferred that senior researchers (Level E) encourage more junior researchers from their research teams to apply.
- The potential benefit and relevance of the research to the MND community should be very clearly delineated in the application.
- Grants are not intended to fund the incremental progression of a research project that has already been performed or to validate or undertake minor variations of findings already established in other models or disease areas.
- If the applicant has received previous funding from MND Australia in the past five years, outcome reports (no more than 1 page each) for each of the previously funded projects must be sent with the current application. These reports should consist of a brief synopsis of the project or fellowship funded. Please detail the outcomes and impacts of the project and the relevance of these to the MND community. This summary will be considered in the review of the application.
- There are limits on grant applications in place for individual applicants. A maximum of two Innovator Grants can be held during any five year period. In order to encourage developing researchers, fellowship holders can hold two Innovator Grants in any five year period in addition to the Fellowship.
Grant reporting requirements
MND Australia requires all funded researchers to submit six monthly progress reports and a final report and financial acquittal at the completion of a research project.
Progress and final reports need to be submitted at regular intervals. Please contact us at [email protected] if you require login details to submit a report.
If you need to request an extension or variation to your project, please complete this form and email it to [email protected]