Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF)

VMRAF (Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund)

Supports the move from health and medical research in Victoria into clinical translation for patient impact.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF) is an annual competitive grant programme administered by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) of the Victorian State Government, Australia. Launched in 2017, the programme has funded more than 122 projects totalling over AUD 22 million in its history, with the aim of accelerating health and medical research and fast-tracking its translation into clinical and health practice. The most recent completed round, Round 8, offered a total pool of approximately AUD 1.5 million and closed on 28 January 2026.

The programme operates through two tiers. Tier 1 awards of up to AUD 100,000 support early-stage innovative research that demonstrates translation potential. Tier 2 awards of up to AUD 500,000 target projects that are further along the translation pathway, aimed at fast-tracking adoption into clinical or health practice. Past recipients have included universities such as Melbourne, Monash, La Trobe, Deakin, Swinburne, and Victoria University; hospitals including Melbourne Health, Western Health, the Royal Women's Hospital, the Alfred, Peter Mac, and Eastern Health; research institutes such as Murdoch Children's, WEHI, Burnet, and Baker; and commercial entities such as Avipep Pty Ltd.

The programme follows an annual competitive round structure. Round 9 dates had not been published as of the research collection date in May 2026. Organisations conducting health and medical research in Victoria should monitor the DJSIR website for the Round 9 call announcement and ensure their project has a clear translational pathway, as translation potential is a central eligibility and selection criterion for both tiers.