Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Up to $750,000
- Application opened: 15 July 2026
- Application closes: 6 November 2026, 5:00 pm
Program objective
- Conduct pioneering and innovative research and drive discoveries with the long-term aim of improving health and wellbeing.
- Increase the national and international competitiveness of NSW research.
- Develop new collaborations and partnerships for research and translation within NSW, Australia and internationally.
- Support leadership development.
- Build NSW capacity in a strong, vibrant and highly skilled research workforce.
- Realise long-term sustained economic impact for NSW.
- Leverage Australian Government funding opportunities to further research and its translation in NSW.
- Embed high-quality, innovative research in the NSW health system.
- Bridge the gap between research, policy and practice to increase research impact and translation.
This program is administered by NSW Health.
Eligibility
Who can apply
NSW Health invites eligible host organisations to nominate elite researchers for this grant.
An elite researcher is a researcher who:
- is currently living and working overseas and is willing to relocate to NSW for the period of the grant
- has been specifically identified by the host organisation as a high-priority target for recruitment, aligning with existing research programs
- is a highly-talented leader in their research field, with identified potential to undertake internationally significant research with high impact results in NSW
- has demonstrated capacity to lead a team and an innovative, high impact research program
- has demonstrated capacity as a Chief Investigator to secure grant funding
- has developed collaborations with other researchers in their given field
- has demonstrated involvement in research capacity building and leadership initiatives.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Funding will support researchers working across the research spectrum including in basic science, biomedical, clinical medicine and health services research, data science, and population health research. Grants also support research towards the development of novel therapeutics.
Who can’t apply
Researchers already residing in Australia, even if on temporary visas, are not eligible.
What costs you can't apply for
Funds awarded cannot be spent on:
- capital works
- general maintenance costs
- organisational infrastructure or overheads
- telephone/communication systems
- basic office equipment, such as desks and chairs
- rent and the cost of utilities.
Funds awarded cannot be used to support research conducted outside of NSW.
Types of projects not funded under this grant
Research focused cardiovascular health is not eligible.
Research projects exclusively focused on cancer are also not eligible. However, if the research is relevant for a range of diseases or patient cohorts, but uses cancer as an exemplar application, it may be considered.
What co-contributions are required
Host organisations must provide no less than 50% of the total grant funding for Elite Researcher Grants.
Additional eligibility requirements
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
A completed application form with the supporting documentation attached, including:
- track record for Elite Researcher
- two referee reports
- research program protocol
- host organisation statement of support
- partner statement of support, if required
- signed certification form using the template provided signed by authorised representatives of:
- nominated researcher
- administering organisation (if separate to the host organisation)
- local health district (if applicable).
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
Researcher (40%)
Research project and team (40%)
Leadership and capacity building (10%)
Support from host and partner organisations (10%)
Start the application
- Download and read the grant guidelines
- Create an account with SmartyGrants
- Draft your application, including research protocol on the template provided in SmartyGrants
- Provide your Host Organisation and Administering Organisation with a copy of your application and obtain their approval (via signature on the certification template)
- Submit your application (and any supporting documents) in SmartyGrants
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for Medical Research
Step 1: Eligibility check
NSW Health will determine if each application has satisfied the eligibility criteria.
Step 2: Review by expert panel
An independent expert review panel will assess each eligible application against the selection criteria.
Step 3: Funding recommendation
The expert review panel will agree on the final ranking of all eligible applications and will make recommendations regarding funding to NSW Health.
Step 4: Decision and notification
NSW Health will determine grant recipients and amounts. All host organisations will be informed as to whether they have been awarded funding.
Step 5: Grant agreements
NSW Health will contact host and administering organisations for successful projects to execute a funding agreement. A standard, non-negotiable funding agreement will be used.
Support and contact
Research Grants Team
Office for Health and Medical Research
Contact Us: https://nswhealth.medicalresearch.nsw.gov.au/s/contact-us