MRFF Indigenous Health Research Fund (IHRF)

Empowering Community-Controlled Research

Funds Indigenous-led health research led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts.

The 2026 Empowering Community-Controlled Research grant (Grant Opportunity GO8372) is the current open round of the MRFF Indigenous Health Research Fund (IHRF), an A$160 million initiative funded through Australia's Medical Research Future Fund. The IHRF targets Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, with a focus on Indigenous-led research governance, community-controlled practice, knowledge translation, and evidence-based structural change in health outcomes. The initiative's Roadmap and Implementation Plan was developed following community consultation in 2020-21 and an international expert review in March 2021.

The 2026 GO8372 round opened on 15 April 2026 and closes on 11 November 2026. Eligible applicants are Australian-based nonprofits, universities, and research organisations; for-profit entities and individuals are not eligible. The program is administered by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) on behalf of DoHDA; application queries should be directed to NHMRC at help@nhmrc.gov.au or 1800 500 983. Applications are submitted via GrantConnect (grants.gov.au). In May 2026, A$28.5 million was awarded under the IHRF for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, demonstrating active funding activity in this cycle.

Successful applicants will demonstrate genuine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and community control over the proposed research, alignment with the IHRF's strategic priorities of knowledge translation and structural health equity, and institutional capacity to administer NHMRC grant requirements. The IHRF Expert Advisory Panel advises the Minister on strategic priorities, meaning applications that reflect community-identified needs and build on Country, culture, and spirituality are strongly favoured over researcher-driven investigator-initiated proposals.