Major Research Application Support Program
The Major Research Application Support (MRAS) Program provides in-principle cash commitments for research applications being submitted to nationally and internationally competitive External Programs, where co-funding is mandatory, to boost their chance of success.
MRAS aims to promote high-quality research, enable opportunities for the translation of research findings into new knowledge and improved human health and wellbeing, and enhance Western Australia’s standing as a leader in health and medical research.
MRAS applications up to and including $1 million are to use the Stream A application form and those seeking more than $1 million are to use the Stream B application form.
Funding will be awarded through a competitive and merit-based process and successful MRAS applicants will be provided an in-principle letter of support to use with their External Program application. Funding will only be disbursed once evidence has been provided that the External Program application has been successful, and the associated funding agreement is executed.
Please note, applicants must submit their MRAS applications to the Office of Medical Research and Innovation (OMRI) before the External Program’s closing date as it will take at least 6 weeks for the assessment process to occur. MRAS rounds open in March, July, October and December.
Program Status: Open for Applications
Applications Close: 1.00pm (AWST) Thursday 30 May 2024.
The Major Research Application Support (MRAS) Program Guidelines and Conditions and Application Forms can be accessed below. Please note that these documents will be revised over time to ensure eligibility criteria are consistent with External Programs that are within the scope of the MRAS Program. Therefore, please download the documents from this page before each new submission.
Guidelines and Conditions and Application Forms
| Up to $1 million only | Above $1 million only | |
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Any queries related to the program can be directed to the Western Australian Department of Health, Office of Medical Research and Innovation
Information on other FHRI Fund programs can be accessed by subscribing to updates or checking the FHRI Fund current opportunities.
I am not an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Am I eligible to apply?
In addition to Australian citizens and permanent residents, you are eligible to apply to this Program as the lead investigator if you are a New Zealand citizen or if you have an appropriate work visa in place with any other citizenship.
In addition, it is a requirement that the lead investigator is based in WA for a minimum of 80 per cent of the period of the grant.
What will the Fund consider as evidence of co-leadership of an External Program application given most grants can have only one Chief Investigator A (CIA)?
Where External Program rules define a different role and/or responsibilities for the CIA / Coordinating Principal Investigator (CPI) (or other first-named investigator title), the person in that role must be based in WA to be eligible to apply to MRAS. If the External Program does not differentiate between the first-named investigator and other investigators, or explicitly provides for a co-lead scenario, this arrangement could be eligible within the MRAS Program (subject to evidence being provided). See the Guidelines and Conditions for details.
My External Program application has an administering institution that is not based in WA, but a significant proportion of the grant will be delivered in and led out of WA. Am I eligible to apply to MRAS?
In general, applications need to be led by a WA Responsible Entity (an administering institution) to apply to MRAS. However, an MRAS application may be eligible if the External Program provides for there being co-leading Responsible Entities (evidence is required to show that this is allowed in the External Program). See the Guidelines and Conditions for details.