Unlocking Insights into MRFF Grants: Key Trends and Success Rates
Since 2017, the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has awarded over $3.6 billion in grants, fuelling vital advancements in health and medical research. We’ve reviewed the data made available by the MRFF and developed this snapshot of insights into grant allocation, success rates, and key initiatives over time.
Who Benefits from MRFF Funding?
While corporation-led applications (as opposed to those led by Universities or Research Institutes) account for just 4% of all awarded grants, they have received 15% of the total funding—suggesting they benefit from higher-value grants.
The overall success rate for MRFF grant applications stands at 23%, reflecting the program's competitive nature. As we’ve outlined below though, this success rate varies significantly across individual programs.
Most Popular MRFF Initiatives
Among the various initiatives funded by the MRFF, the following programs stood out for their popularity with applicants:
Clinical Trials Activity (968 applications with a 23% success rate)
Preventive and Public Health Research (852 applications with a 22% success rate)
Early to Mid-Career Researchers (572 applications with a 4% success rate)
Clinician Researchers (404 applications with a 39% success rate)
Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research (378 applications with a 39% success rate)
2023: High-Success Grants at a Glance
While some grants remain fiercely competitive, several niche programs in 2023 achieved high success rates:
Targeted Translation Research Accelerator – Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Drugs and Devices: 100% success rate (2 applicants, both corporate recipients)
Models of Care for Sexuality & Gender Diverse People & People with Innate Variations of Sex Characteristics: 65% success rate (20 applicants)
Primary Health Care Research: 53% success rate (17 applicants)
Optimising Screening, Diagnosis and Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: 41% success rate (17 applicants)
Targeted Translation Research Accelerator – Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Mechanisms: 36% success rate (33 applicants)
The takeaway here is that if you can find a niche program that aligns with your project or research, you will likely have a higher chance of success in your bid for funding.
National Critical Research Infrastructure (NCRI) Grants
In 2023, the success rate for the NCRI Grants was 24% with 112 applicants.
Of the successful 27 applicants, only 3 were corporations (11%) and the other 24 applicants were Universities (88%).
The successful bids also boasted large collaborative teams with the average number of Chief Investigators on the projects being 13
Clinical Trials Activity Programs
In 2023, the success rate for Clinical Trials Activity Programs was 13% with 38 applicants
All 5 successful applicants were submitted by Universities
The average Chief Investigator team size was 14 members
What These Numbers Mean
The MRFF is an invaluable driver of innovation in medical research, and the data reveals some interesting trends:
Corporate applicants, while fewer, tend to receive grants with higher monetary value. It may be that the lower number of industry led projects receiving funding reflects a lower number of industry applicants. The numbers also don’t reflect the fact that there may be industry partners involved in funded projects, despite the bids being led by Universities.
Universities remain the dominant players across most initiatives, particularly in programs like NCRI and Clinical Trials.
Niche initiatives offer unique opportunities for higher success rates, highlighting the importance of strategically targeting grant applications.
As MRFF funding continues to shape the future of health research in Australia, understanding these trends can help applicants refine their strategies and improve their chances of success
How Intellect Labs Can Help
Navigating the complexities of MRFF grant applications can be challenging. At Intellect Labs, we provide comprehensive support to ensure your application is competitive and aligned with MRFF requirements.
Our services include:
Strategic Alignment - We help you align your project with MRFF priorities to maximise your chances of success.
Application Preparation - From drafting to submission, we guide you through every step of the application process.
Expert Guidance - Our team of experts has extensive experience with MRFF grants and an understanding of the health research landscape.
Post-award Governance and Reporting - We assist with the management and reporting requirements after a grant is awarded, ensuring compliance with MRFF standards and effective project delivery.
Whether you are a university, research institute, or private company, Intellect Labs is here to help you secure the funding you need to advance your research and make a meaningful impact on health outcomes in Australia.
If you would like to talk more about how we can help you foster your ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out.