NHMRC Cochrane Funding Program

Supporting Cochrane review and evidence synthesis activity in Australia

Round 1 - January 2027 to June 2028

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Closing date: Friday 30 October 2026, 18:00 AEDT

Through the NHMRC Cochrane Funding Program 2026–2030, Cochrane Australia is responsible for the administration and disbursement of $3.9m over 4 years to support Cochrane review and evidence synthesis activity.

The aims of this funding program are to:

  1. support Cochrane review and evidence synthesis activity by groups and authors based in Australia; and

  2. advance evidence synthesis methods and capacity in Australia.

Funds will be allocated through a competitive process over two funding rounds.

Round 1 (the current call) will support activity from January 2027 to June 2028 and Round 2 (to be announced in Q1 2028) will support activity from July 2028 to June 2030.

Applications for funding are invited from groups and/or individuals based in Australia with existing links to Cochrane to support Cochrane review production and evidence synthesis activity according to two funding streams. Applicants are limited to one application under Stream 1 (either Stream 1a or Stream 1b) and one application under Stream 2. Applicants under Stream 1a may elect to have their application considered for Stream 1b if unsuccessful in Stream 1a.

Lead applicants and administering organisations must be based in Australia.

The funding awards given below are GST exclusive.

STREAM 1: COCHRANE REVIEW ACTIVITY

Stream 1a: Support for groups producing Cochrane reviews and supporting a network of authors.

Eligibility criteria:

  • A research group or team with existing links to Cochrane that develops and produces Cochrane reviews and engages and provides support for a network of Cochrane authors

  • Development / production of Cochrane reviews in priority health and policy areas for Australia

Up to 4 grants awarded at a maximum of $210,000 each.

Stream 1b: Support for authoring Cochrane review(s) either a suite of reviews in the same topic area or a complex review (e.g. living network meta-analysis) on a single topic, or targeted methods support for multiple author teams.

Eligibility criteria:

EITHER

  • Individuals or teams with existing links to Cochrane authoring a complex review or suite of reviews

OR

  • Individuals or teams with existing links to Cochrane providing specialist methods support needed to develop a complex review or aligned suite of reviews within this Stream

AND

  • Cochrane reviews in priority health and policy areas for Australia

Up to 6 grants awarded at a maximum of $75,000 each.

STREAM 2: TARGETED EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS RESEARCH PROJECTS

Funding is available for projects that advance the science of evidence syntheses (e.g. systematic reviews, guidelines) and improve the quality, utility and efficiency of Cochrane reviews and evidence-based guidelines. These projects may include (but are not limited to):

  • SWARs (study within a review) and SWAGs (study within a guideline), generating knowledge to inform how we plan, do and share the findings of reviews and guidelines

  • Development, piloting and/or application of new methods and processes (e.g. integrating automation in evidence synthesis, implementing measures to enhance research integrity, advancing living evidence)

  • Development, dissemination and implementation of methodological tools and guides to support best practice in evidence synthesis (reviews and/or guidelines)

Eligibility criteria:

  • Individuals or teams conducting research to inform processes and methods of evidence synthesis, either Cochrane reviews or evidence synthesis and/or guidelines more broadly

Up to 5 grants awarded at a maximum of $50,500 each.

Assessment and selection of applications

A grant review panel will be established with independent representation from Cochrane internationally, representation from Australian health sector leadership, and members with evidence synthesis and methodological expertise. Cochrane Australia co-directors and representatives from NHMRC will act as ex-officio members.

Cochrane Australia will screen applications against the eligibility criteria. The panel will then review and rank eligible applications according to the selection criteria below.

We expect to announce the outcomes of this funding round in early December 2026.

Selection criteria:

1. Impact

  • how the proposed activities will enhance evidence synthesis activities to inform health care in areas that are priorities for national policy, guidelines and decision making, or that will make a measurable impact on evidence synthesis methods

  • the extent to which the proposed activities include innovative approaches to advancing methods and capacity building in evidence synthesis

  • the extent to which the proposed activities build on and support other related initiatives, particularly in health priority topics to support national policy and decision making

2. Quality and feasibility of proposed activities

  • alignment of activities with Cochrane’s scientific strategy and Cochrane’s approved processes and approaches

  • inclusion of appropriate milestones, performance indicators and timeframes for delivery

  • governance structures in place to undertake the activities

  • risk management and reporting

3. Capacity, capability and resources to deliver

  • ability to support the production of Cochrane reviews, advance methods and/or strengthen the evidence synthesis workforce

  • applicant/s track record and performance

Funding will be allocated to the mostly highly ranked applications in each Stream (1a, 1b and 2) until the funding pool has been allocated. Any unallocated funding from Round 1 will be carried forward to Round 2.

Process for disbursement of funds to successful applicants

Monash University (as the administering organisation for Cochrane Australia) will establish research agreements with the administering organisations of the recipients, ensuring that all selected applications meet the requirements of the NHMRC Cochrane Funding Program 2026–2030 contract between Monash and NHMRC (including compliance with the NHMRC Direct Research Cost Guidelines (DRC Guidelines)); describe measurable activities; have a plan to feasibly deliver outputs and that governance is in place to support compliance. Funding recipients will be required to provide a report on project outcomes within 3 months of the project end date. These reports will be reviewed by Cochrane Australia and a summary provided to NHMRC.

How to apply

Download this application form and submit by Friday 30 October 2026, 18:00 AEDT.

For any queries, please email cochrane@monash.edu