Medical Research programs: Applications now open

News
Published: 2 November 2026

Applications are now open for:

  • the 2026-27 Premier’s Awards for Health and Medical Research
  • the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF) – Precision Medicine Round.

2026-27 Premier’s Awards for Health and Medical Research

Do you know a health and medical research rising star in Victoria? Nominate them for our 2026-27 Premier’s Awards for Health and Medical Research.

There are five award categories, each with $5,000 in prize money. These are:

  • First Peoples Researcher
  • Basic Science Researcher
  • Clinical Researcher
  • Health Services Researcher
  • Public Health Researcher

Plus, the Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research Excellence is chosen from the five categories. The winner of this award receives an additional $15,000 in prize money.

The awards are open to early-career researchers who have completed a PhD in the last five years. The First Peoples Researcher award is also open to PhD students with a minimum of two years candidature.

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 13 December 2026.

Apply via the Premiers Awards page on the Medical Research website.

Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF) – Precision Medicine Round

Entering its 9th round in 2027, the VMRAF will focus on supporting research projects in the field of precision medicine.

Precision medicine is opening new possibilities for treating complex diseases and improving patient outcomes – including cell and gene therapies and radiopharmaceuticals.

Apply now to the VMRAF to accelerate precision medicine discoveries and help deliver life-saving treatments to patients.

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 13 December.

Apply via the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund page on the Medical Research website.

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As the Victorian state election will be held on Saturday 28 November 2026, the Victorian Government will assume a caretaker role from 6.00pm on 3 November 2026 until such time that either it becomes clear that the incumbent government will be returned, or when a new government is commissioned.

In line with the caretaker conventions, the incoming government will determine whether to continue the 2026-27 Premier’s Awards for Health and Medical Research and the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF) – Precision Medicine Round after the caretaker period.

Applicants should be aware that:

  • all information about the 2026-27 Premier’s Awards for Health and Medical Research and the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF) – Precision Medicine Round represents the position of the current government only, and is subject to change; and
  • an incoming government may decide to not continue with the 2026-27 Premier’s Awards for Health and Medical Research and the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF) – Precision Medicine Round.