MND Australia

Apply for a research grant

Applications for the 2025 grant round have closed.

Top-up grants (up to three years) will be available in 2025 for a PhD student who has been awarded a full PhD scholarship for biomedical or public health research in motor neurone disease. The MND Australia PhD Scholarship Top-up Grant is awarded as an incentive to an outstanding PhD student.

Definition of forms of MND supported by MND Australia

Applicants: MND researchers working in Australia in applied research or fields relevant to the cause, treatment or cure of MND. Applicants must be an Australian citizen; have permanent resident status; be a citizen of NZ with Australian work rights; or be a foreign researcher with a work visa extending for a minimum of 12-months after the grant concludes.

Grant: The grant will provide a $5,000 per annum stipend for a PhD candidate, for three years. 

Deadline:  Applications for 2025 have now closed. 

Application download for 2025 (as at 29 November 2024)

Three years of support at $125,000/year, plus a one off payment of $50,000. These fellowships aim to encourage young researchers to focus their interest on ALS/MND. The number of fellowships offered will depend on our final fundraising outcomes. 

Definition of forms of MND supported by MNDRA

Applicants: Postdoctoral researchers with a track record in MND or areas related to MND, or who can bring new skills and knowledge into Australian MND research, and no more than five years postdoctoral research experience

Grant: Salary for a full-time research fellow will be funded at $125,000 p.a. for a period of up to three years, plus a one off payment of $50,000.

Deadline: Applications have now closed. 

Application download (updated 9/07/2024)

Three years of support at $150,000/year, plus a one off payment of $50,000. Please note that this grant is only available to researchers based in Queensland. The Scott Sullivan Postdoctoral Research Fellowship aims to encourage young researchers to focus their interest on classical forms of MND.

Definition of forms of MND supported by MNDRA

Applicants: Postdoctoral researchers with a track record in MND or areas related to MND, or who can bring new skills and knowledge into Australian MND research. Applicants must have at least five years and no more than twelve years postdoctoral research experience. Must be Queensland-based. 

Grant: Salary for a full-time research fellow will be funded at $150,000 p.a. for a period of up to three years, plus a one off payment of $50,000.

Deadline: Applications have now closed

Application download (updated 19/07/2024)

Funding for research that is innovative and has a clear relationship to the causes, treatments or cures of MND or the support of people living with MND. Innovator Grants support research of up to $100,000 for one year commencing in the calendar year 2025. Only one Innovator Grant application will be permitted per Principal Investigator (applicants can be Co-Investigators on other applications).

Definition of forms of MND supported by MNDRA

Applicants: MND researchers working in Australia in applied research or fields relevant to the cause, treatment or cure of MND. Applicants must be an Australian citizen; have permanent resident status; be a citizen of NZ with Australian work rights; or be a foreign researcher with a work visa extending for a minimum of 12-months after the grant concludes.

Grant: Up to $100,000 for one year

Deadline: Applications have now closed

Application download (updated 09/07/2024)

Grant Review Criteria

Our grant review criteria are now aligned with those used by the NHMRC, with appropriate adaptation for MND-specific research.

Please click on the links below (documents updated July 2024):

MNDRA Grant Review criteria and relative to opportunity guidelines 2024

The relative to opportunity guidelines included in the above document provides detail and clarity around eligibility and reviewing considerations for career disruptions, different career paths and availability of resources.

Reporting requirements

MND Australia requires all funded researchers to submit six monthly progress reports and a final report and financial acquittal at the completion of a research project.

Progress and final reports are now required to be submitted through the Researchfish platform. Please contact us at research@mndaustralia.org.au if you require login details to submit a report.

If you need to request an extension or variation to your project then please complete this form and email it to research@mndaustralia.org.au