About the fund

The Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund is an initiative under Victoria's Health and Medical Research Strategy 2016-2020.

The strategy outlines key priorities over four years to support new and evolving fields of world class medical research.

The Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund aims to support those in the early stages of health and medical research to translate their work into health and economic outcomes.

The Fund provides $3 million per funding round to help address current market gaps and deliver rewards for research. It supports a small number of research proposals to 'fast track' translation into health and economic outcomes.

Matching funding is required to demonstrate the capacity to collaborate and undertake research that has a clear pathway to translation. Round 3 saw funding available for proposals up to $100,000 and $500,000.

The fund supports early stage innovations including discovery research, clinical research and health practice, or an idea or innovation to attract funding or investment by industry.

2020 - Round 4

Applications for the Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund Round 4 will commence 10th February 2020.

2018 - Round 3 - Outcomes 

Round 3 of the $3 Million Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund will fund 14 research projects in 2019.

Promising new medical treatments and surgical techniques using artificial intelligence, new digital tools, blockchain technology, 3D printing and more.

Find out more about each successful project.

More information

  • 1. Is partnership mandatory?

    Yes, it is a requirement that the applicant organisation partners with at least one other organisation.

  • 2. Is matching funding dollar for dollar?

    Yes, matching funding is dollar ($) for dollar ($). In-kind support is not dollar for dollar.

  • 3. What are the minimum risk and insurance requirements of the applicant?

    The Department of Health and Human Services requires the following minimum insurance:

    Professional Indemnity: $2 million

    Public Liability: $5 million

    Depending on the nature of the project and level of funding this could change and increase as follows:

    Professional Indemnity: $5 million

    Public Liability: $10 million

  • 4. Intellectual property, term of agreement and attachments

    4.1 Background Intellectual Property

    All Background Intellectual Property will remain the property of the Party providing the Background Intellectual Property.

    4.2 Research Project Intellectual Property

    The Organisation will own all Research Project Intellectual Property.

    If the Organisation applied to the Acceleration Fund as a member of a consortium or joint venture, the Organisation warrants to the Department of Health and Human Services that the Organisation is authorised by the consortium or joint venture to own Research Project Intellectual Property.

    5. Term of Agreement

    The term of the agreement is 18 months. The research must commence in 2019.

    6. Attachments

    Attach any supporting documentation including letters of support, publications, citations to support your research application.

2018 - Round 2 - Outcomes

The 2018 funding outcomes have been announced.

The $3 million Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund 2018 round 2 will help fund 30 innovative research projects. Find out more about each project.

These projects will leverage funding from philanthropic, industry and international sources, and means a further $4,329,044 million will be invested into Victoria's world-leading health and medical research sector.

Please see the media release at the Premier of Victoria website for details about the successful submissions.

2017 - Round 1 - Outcomes

The fund invested $3 million into projects that fast-track the translation of early stage health and medical research into everyday clinical practice and patient care. Thirteen submissions were successful in round 1 of the Acceleration Fund.

These projects leverage funding from philanthropic, industry and international sources, which meant a further $7 million investment into Victoria's world-leading medical research sector.

Please see the media release at the Premier of Victoria website for details about the successful submissions.