Australia to invest $13m in international clinical trial collaborations

Research will test new treatments, drugs, and devices in real-world care.

Australia will provide up to $13m in 2026 through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to support international clinical trial collaborations.

The funding aims to boost clinical trial activity nationwide and strengthen Australia’s role in global investigator-initiated trials. It will support the establishment and coordination of Australian trial sites working with international partners.

Projects funded under the program must generate high-quality evidence on the effectiveness of new treatments, medicines or medical devices in real-world healthcare settings. The results will help inform decisions about adopting these interventions in Australia.

Applicants must propose a clinical trial to be conducted in Australia in collaboration with overseas counterparts. Recruitment at Australian sites must not have commenced before application.

The 2026 grant opportunity will open for one round only and will be administered by the National Health and Medical Research Council on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.