Deadline: 19-May-2026
The Grants-in-Aid Program is a competitive research funding initiative supporting cancer-related studies across Victoria, Australia. It aims to improve cancer outcomes through high-quality research in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care. The program encourages multidisciplinary collaboration across clinical, laboratory, and population health research domains.
Research Areas Supported
The program funds a broad range of cancer research fields, including:
- Psychosocial care and patient support research
- Palliative care and end-of-life care studies
- Allied health research
- Epidemiology and population health studies
- Health economics and health services research
- Behavioural and prevention research
- Clinical cancer research and clinical trials
- Laboratory-based biomedical research
- Mesothelioma-focused research
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma research
- Disability and mental health clinical trials
- Rare and less common cancer clinical trials
Funding Structure and Grant Details
- Maximum funding per grant: up to AUD 360,000
- Project duration: 2 or 3 years
- Total grants available per round: up to 12
- General grants: 6 grants available at up to AUD 120,000 per year
- Equipment funding: available for items costing AUD 10,000 or more
Eligible Costs
The program supports direct research-related expenses such as:
- Laboratory consumables
- Software and data analysis tools
- Participant recruitment costs
- Medical imaging fees
- Transcription services
- Animal housing and research costs
- Travel directly related to research
- Specialist technical or expert support
- Essential research equipment (above AUD 10,000)
Ineligible Costs
The following expenses are not funded:
- Conference registration fees
- Publication article processing charges
- Salaries of heads of laboratories or departments
- Administrative or institutional overheads
- Utilities and facility maintenance costs
- Compliance or regulatory service costs
- Indirect institutional expenses
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, the Chief Investigator A must:
- Hold a primary appointment at a Victorian administering organisation
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time of application
- Not be a Cancer Council Victoria employee
- Not hold an active Grants-in-Aid award as Chief Investigator A by 1 January 2027
Team Composition Requirements
- Research team may include up to 10 investigators
- All investigators must be appropriately qualified
- Teams should demonstrate relevant expertise for the proposed study
Special Grant Categories and Conditions
Mesothelioma Research Grants
- Must focus specifically on mesothelioma research
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Grants
- Must focus primarily on non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Clinical Trial Grants
- Must involve Phase 1, 2, or 3 clinical trials
- Must include equity, access, and participation considerations in study design
Rare Cancer Trials
- Must focus on cancers with incidence ≤12 cases per 100,000 annually
- Classification based on Australian Institute of Health and Welfare standards
Why This Program Matters
This program strengthens cancer research capacity in Victoria by funding high-impact studies across the full cancer care continuum. It supports innovation in treatment, early detection, and patient care while also addressing rare and complex cancers. By funding both clinical and foundational research, it accelerates improvements in cancer outcomes and health equity.
How the Program Works
- Research teams develop proposals aligned with eligible cancer research areas
- Chief Investigator A submits the application through a Victorian administering organisation
- Proposals are evaluated based on scientific merit, relevance, and feasibility
- Up to 12 grants are awarded per funding round
- Successful projects receive funding for 2–3 years
- Research is conducted according to approved study design and reporting requirements
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting applications without a Victorian-based administering organisation
- Failing to meet citizenship or residency requirements
- Proposing research outside eligible cancer categories
- Ignoring restrictions on eligible expenses
- Exceeding the maximum team size of 10 investigators
- Submitting clinical trials without required equity considerations
Tips for a Strong Application
- Clearly define cancer relevance and research impact
- Demonstrate strong methodological rigor and feasibility
- Include multidisciplinary expertise within the team
- Align with priority areas such as rare cancers or clinical trials
- Provide a detailed and compliant budget justification
- Emphasize translation of research into improved patient outcomes
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Grants-in-Aid Program?
- It is a cancer research funding program in Victoria, Australia
- It supports research across prevention, treatment, and care
- How much funding is available?
- Up to AUD 360,000 per grant
- Up to 12 grants per funding round
- General grants provide up to AUD 120,000 per year
- What is the project duration?
- Projects run for 2 or 3 years
- Who can apply?
- Chief Investigator A must be based in Victoria
- Must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Must be affiliated with a Victorian administering organisation
- What research areas are eligible?
- Clinical trials
- Laboratory research
- Psychosocial and palliative care
- Rare cancers such as mesothelioma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Population and behavioural research
Conclusion
The Grants-in-Aid Program supports high-quality cancer research across Victoria by funding multidisciplinary projects that improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. It plays a key role in advancing clinical and scientific knowledge while addressing both common and rare cancers to improve patient outcomes.
For more information, visit Cancer Council Victoria.
