Funding opportunities

Research Project Grants

These grants are:

• Intended to support early-stage research projects which may then become more competitive for larger national funding pools.
• Awarded for up to one year.
• Valued at up to $120,000.
• Applications are encouraged from any legitimate area of cancer research related to the causes, diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

Eligibility requirements

• Chief Investigator A (CIA) must hold a primary appointment at a publicly funded, established Western Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.
• The CIA may only submit one application to the current round and may appear on up to two other applications as CI.
• Any CI who is not a CIA may appear on up to four applications in the current round.
• No changes to the Chief investigators are to be made between the EOI and Full Application.
• A CIA who submitted a Research Project Grant application in the year prior is not eligible to submit an application for the current funding round.
• Applications are required to include at least one chief investigator who is an early career researcher.
• The institution nominated to administer the grant (e.g. the Administering Institution), must be an NHMRC Approved Administering Institution in WA.
• Most of the research work (assessed as 75% or more) should be conducted in or through legitimate Western Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.

How to apply

For further information and guidance please read the Guidelines to Applicants and Community Criteria General Guidance Documents. You can also download the Project Grant Application Template for additional assistance with completing your online application.

The application process is in two stages. The first stage requires the submission of an Expression of Intent from which a select number of applicants will be shortlisted to submit a full application.

All applications are be submitted through Cancer Council WA’s online grant portal. For easy to follow steps of how to apply.

Please note, the Research Project Grants offered by Cancer Council WA are no longer connected to the NHMRC funding round. For further information, please contact Cancer Council NSW, or contact Cancer Council NSW Research Grant Management Team (research@nswcc.org.au).

Recipient requirements

Successful recipients will be required to:

• Attend the Annual Research Awards Lunch.
• A Final Report submitted on completion of the project, and brief follow-on reports submitted 12 months and five years post project completion.
• Acknowledge Cancer Council WA funding at events and in publications: “This work was carried out during the tenure of a grant from Cancer Council WA”
• Engage in events and/or media organised by Cancer Council WA

Reporting templates will be made available through the Online Grants Management System.

Research Fellowship Program

This Fellowship is:

• Intended to fund outstanding researchers working in the field of cancer so they can undertake research that is of major benefit to Western Australian health and medical research.
• Awarded for up to four years.
• Valued at up to $480,000.
• Applications are encouraged from any legitimate area of cancer research related to the causes, diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

Eligibility requirements

• Applicants must hold a primary appointment at a publicly funded, established Western Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.
• The institution nominated to administer the grant (e.g. the Administering Institution), must be an NHMRC Approved Administering Institution in WA.
• Most of the research work (assessed as 75% or more) should be conducted in or through legitimate Western Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.

Applicants are ineligible to apply if they have been:

• A previous recipient of a Cancer Council WA Research Fellowship.

How to apply

For information and guidance please read the Research Fellowship Guide to Applicants and and Community Criteria General Guidance Documents, and complete the Track record supplementary application (to be uploaded to your online application). You can also download the Research Fellowship Application Template for additional assistance with completing your online application.

All applications are be submitted through Cancer Council WA’s online grant portal. For easy to follow steps of how to apply, please click here.

Recipient requirements

Recipients will be required to:

• Attend the Annual Research Awards Lunch for the duration of the Research Fellowship.
• Submit annual reports for the first three years of the Fellowship, with a Final Report submitted in the Final year, and brief follow-on reports submitted 12 months and five years after the funding has finished.
• Acknowledge Cancer Council WA funding at events and in publications:“[name of Research Scholar or Fellow] was supported by a Cancer Council WA Research Fellowship”.
• Engage in events and/or media organised by Cancer Council WA.

Reporting templates will be made available through the Online Grants Management System.

Collaborative Cancer Grant Scheme

Cancer Council WA, WA Department of Health, Cancer Research Trust, Charlies Foundation for Research, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, The University of Western Australia and Telethon Kids Institute have come together in partnership to fund collaborative, competitive research led by early to mid-career cancer researchers.

See our generous funders here.

This Collaborative Cancer Grant Scheme (CCGS):

• Intended to provide support for early- to mid-career cancer researchers in WA and in particular to encourage collaboration.
• Aims to improve research quality and increase the competitiveness of this group of researchers by helping them to obtain preliminary data and build collaborative networks.
• Valued at up to $65,000.
• Grants to be offered every 2-3 years.
• Applications are encouraged from any legitimate area of cancer research related to the causes, diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of cancer.
• One grant will be allocated to a research project related to the implementation of a WA Cancer Plan 2020-2025 priority area

Eligibility requirements

• All Chief Investigators (CIs) must be early- to mid-career researchers (see definition below).
• Early-mid career investigators who hold or have held (as Chief Investigator A (CIA) at the time of submission an NHMRC, Australian Research Council (ARC) or similar standard grant of an amount equal to or greater than $250,000 are ineligible to apply for the these grants.
• Researchers can hold no more than one Collaborative Cancer Grant as CIA in any three year period.
• The CIA and at least one other CI must be from a funding partner organisation(s).
• At least one CI must be a WA public health system clinician.
• Each application must have at least one CI from a minimum of three different organisations in WA.
• Most of the research work (assessed as 75% or more) should be conducted in or through legitimate Western Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.

How to apply

• For information and guidance please read the CCGS Guide to Applicants and Community Criteria General Guidance Documents.
• All applications are be submitted through Cancer Council WA’s online grant portal. For easy to follow steps of how to apply, please click here.
• There are three stages to the application process:

1. Expression of Intent stage
2. Full application stage
3. Interview stage.

Progression to Stages 2 and 3 is dependent on shortlisting. The expectation is that all CIs will be able to attend the interviews. To be offered in 2023.

Recipient requirements

Successful recipient teams will be required to:

• Attend the Annual Research Awards Lunch.
• A Final Report submitted on completion of the project, and brief follow-on reports submitted 12 months and five years post project completion.
• Acknowledge Cancer Council WA funding at events and in publications: “This work was [fully/partially] funded by the Western Australia Collaborative Cancer Grant Scheme”.
• Engage in events and/or media organised by Cancer Council WA.

Reporting templates will be made available through the Online Grants Management System.

Suzanne Cavanagh Early Career Investigator Grants

These grants are:

• To provide support for talented early career cancer researchers to develop the skills and necessary track record to advance their career.
• Awarded for up to one year.
• Valued at up to $35,000.
• Applications are encouraged from any legitimate area of cancer research related to the causes, diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

Eligibility requirements

• The applicant must be an early career researcher.
• Chief Investigator A (CIA) must hold a primary appointment at a publicly funded, established Western Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.
• Applicants must hold Australian citizenship, permanent residency or an appropriate visa to work in Australia.
• The institution nominated to administer the grant (e.g. the Administering Institution), must be an NHMRC Approved Administering Institution in WA.
• Most of the research work (assessed as 75% or more) should be conducted in or through legitimate Western Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.

Applicants are ineligible to apply if they have been:

• A previous recipient of a Cancer Council WA Early Career Investigator Grant
• A CIA on a Cancer Council WA Project Grant (using the NHMRC application process)
• A CI (CIA, CIB, CIC etc) on a NHMRC, Australian Research Council (ARC) or similar standard grant of an amount greater than $100,000 (this does not include fellowships).

How to apply

• For information and guidance please read the ECI Guide to Applicants and and Community Criteria General Guidance Documents, and complete the Track record supplementary application (to be uploaded to your online application). You can also download the Suzanne Cavanagh Early Career Investigator Grants Application Template for additional assistance with completing your online application.
• All applications are be submitted through Cancer Council WA’s online grant portal.

Recipient requirements

Successful recipients will be required to:

• Attend the Annual Research Awards Lunch.
• A Final Report submitted on completion of the project, and brief follow-on reports submitted 12 months and five years post project completion.
• Acknowledge Cancer Council WA funding at events and in publications: “This work was carried out during the tenure of a grant from Cancer Council WA”.
• Engage in events and/or media organised by Cancer Council WA.

Reporting templates will be made available through the Online Grants Management System.

Postdoctoral Fellowship

This Fellowship is:

• To provide support for outstanding early career researchers considered to have the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of cancer research in Western Australia.
• Awarded for up to three years.
• Valued at up to $225,000.
• Encouraged from any legitimate area of cancer research related to the causes, diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

Eligibility requirements

• The applicant must be an early career researcher.
• Applicants must hold a primary appointment at a publicly funded, established Western Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.
• Applicants must hold Australian citizenship, permanent residency or an appropriate visa to work in Australia.
• The institution nominated to administer the grant (e.g. the Administering Institution), must be an NHMRC Approved Administering Institution in WA.
• Most of the research work (assessed as 75% or more) should be conducted in or through legitimate Western Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.

Applicants are ineligible to apply if they have been a previous recipient of a Cancer Council WA Postdoctoral Fellowship.

How to apply

For information and guidance please read the Postdoctoral Fellowship Guide to Applicants and and Community Criteria General Guidance Documents. You can also download the Postdoctoral Fellowship Application Template for additional assistance with completing your online application.

All applications are to be submitted through Cancer Council WA’s online grant portal. For easy to follow steps of how to apply, please click here.

Recipient requirements

Recipients will be required to:

• Attend the Annual Research Awards Lunch for the duration of the Research Fellowship.
• Submit annual reports for the first two years of the Fellowship, with a Final Report submitted in the Final year, and brief follow-on reports submitted 12 months and five years after the funding has finished.
• Acknowledge Cancer Council WA funding at events and in publications:“[name of Research Scholar or Fellow] was supported by a Cancer Council WA Research Fellowship”.
• Engage in events and/or media organised by Cancer Council WA.

Reporting templates will be made available through the Online Grants Management System.

PhD Top Up Scholarship

These Scholarships are:

• To provide support for outstanding students with an outstanding track record in academic achievement, and the potential to pursue full-time PhD studies in cancer-related research.
• Awarded for up to three years.
• Valued at up to $36,000.
• Applications are encouraged from any legitimate area of cancer research related to the causes, diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

Eligibility requirements

• Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia.
• Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD at the time the top up starts.
• Applicants must have completed requirements for the award of an appropriate degree with a minimum of upper second-class Honours or a Medical Degree.
• Applicants must be enrolled or be eligible to enrol as a full-time student in an approved post bachelor course at an eligible institution in Western Australia.
• Applicants must have applied for or be in receipt of a three year competitive postgraduate scholarship, such as an RTP.
• Most of the research work (assessed as 75% or more) should be conducted in or through legitimate West Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.

Applicants are ineligible if they are the recipient of a stipend that exceeds the amount of $34,000 per annum. This can include an RTP Stipend or equivalent with or without an additional top-up scholarship.

How to apply

• For information and guidance please read the PhD Top Up Scholarship Guide to Applicants and and Community Criteria General Guidance Documents.
• All applications are to be submitted through Cancer Council WA’s online grant portal. For easy to follow steps of how to apply, please click here.

Recipient requirements

Recipients will be required to:

• Attend the Annual Research Awards Lunch for the duration of the Scholarship.
• Submit annual reports for the first two years of the Scholarship, with a Final Report submitted in the Final year, and brief follow-on reports submitted 12 months and five years after the funding has finished.
• Acknowledge Cancer Council WA funding at events and in publications:“[name of Research Scholar] was supported by a Cancer Council WA PhD Top Up Scholarship”.
• Engage in events and/or media organised by Cancer Council WA.

Reporting templates will be made available through the Online Grants Management System.

Cancer Research Student Vacation Scholarships

These Scholarships are:

• Intended to expose talented university students to cancer research.
• Valued at up to $3,000.
• Applications are encouraged from any legitimate area of cancer research related to the causes, diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

The vacation scholarships available for funding in this funding year:

• Up to eight Cancer Council WA Vacation Scholarship are open to all research areas and fields, as the projects must broadly relate to cancer.
• Up to two Vacation Scholarships are offered by the James Crofts Hope Foundation (JCHF). As the Foundation is committed to the advancement of research in the area of brain cancer these scholarships will be awarded to research projects that relate directly to brain cancer research.
• Up to two Vacation Scholarships offered by the Abbie Basson Sarcoma Foundation. As the Foundation is committed to the advancement of research in the area of sarcoma, primary bone and soft tissue tumours, these scholarships will be awarded to research projects that relate directly to sarcoma research

Eligibility requirements

• Students enrolled full-time in the year when the application is received.
• Students who have completed two years of an appropriate course work degree and are enrolled in at least the third year of the course work degree in the disciplines relevant to cancer control or treatment (when the application is received). Alternatively, medical students currently at the end of their third year or post graduate medical students who have not already completed a research degree are eligible.
• Most of the research work (assessed as 75% or more) should be conducted in or through legitimate Western Australian Higher Education and/or Medical Research Institutions.

Applicants are ineligible if:

• They are enrolled in or have completed a research degree (e.g. Honours).
• They are enrolled part-time in the year when the application is received.
• They have not completed two years of an appropriate degree course when the application is received.
• They are previous recipients of a James Crofts Hope Foundation Student Vacation Research Scholarship, an Abbie Basson Sarcoma Foundation Student Vacation Research Scholarship or a Cancer Council WA Student Vacation Research Scholarship.
• They are current recipients of a full-time scholarship intended to provide an equivalent stipend/salary of an amount equal to or greater than $3,000 may be ineligible (assessed on a case by case basis).
• Students who are currently employed in the area (e.g. third or fourth year student working as a part time research assistant).

How to apply

• For information and guidance please read the Vacation Scholarship Guidelines to Applicants and Community Criteria General Guidance Documents.
• All applications are to be submitted through Cancer Council WA’s online grant portal.

Recipient requirements

Recipients will be required to:

• Attend the Annual Research Awards Lunch.
• Submit a Final Report no later than 30 April of the project end year.
• Acknowledge Cancer Council WA funding at events and in publications:
  • “[name of Research Scholar] was supported by a Cancer Council WA Vacation Research Scholarship”.
  • “[name of Research Scholar] was supported by a James Crofts Hope Foundation Vacation Research Scholarship”.
  • “[name of Research Scholar] was supported by an Abbie Basson Sarcoma Foundation Vacation Research Scholarship”.
• Engage in events and/or media organised by Cancer Council WA.

Reporting templates will be made available through the Online Grants Management System.

Research Excellence Awards

These awards are intended to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Western Australia’s best and brightest cancer researchers.

There are three award categories

• Early Career Cancer Researcher of the Year (valued at $10,000)
• Cancer Researcher of the Year (valued at $20,000)
• Career Achievement Award (valued at $20,000)
• Applications are encouraged from any legitimate area of cancer research related to the causes, diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of cancer.

How to nominate

For information and guidance please read the Research Excellence Awards guidelines.

All applications are to be submitted through Cancer Council WA’s online grant portal. For easy to follow steps of how to apply, please click here.

Recipient requirements

Recipients will be required to:

• Attend the Annual Research Awards Lunch.
• Funds to be applied to a cancer research area of interest.
• A brief update on where the funds have been applied.
• Engage in events and/or media organised by Cancer Council WA.

John Nott Cancer Fellowship Travel Support Fund

This Fellowship is intended to provide support for a national or international clinical cancer leader/researcher to visit Western Australia to help provide further education in the area of clinical cancer management.

Eligibility requirements:

The applicant must be an early career researcher

How to apply

• For information and guidance please read the John Nott Travel Grant Guidelines.
• All applications are to be submitted through Cancer Council WA’s online grant portal. For easy to follow steps of how to apply, please click here.

Recipient requirements

Recipients will be required to:

• Attend the Annual Research Awards Lunch.
• Report on activities. All reporting to be completed via the Online Grants Management System.
• You may be asked to engage in events and/or media.

Enabling Grant

This grant is intended to assist high achieving cancer research groups achieve the ‘new money’ requirement of the Cancer Research Trust (CRT) Grant funding opportunity prior to submitting the Expression of Intent to CRT.

How to apply

• For information and guidance please read the Guidelines to Applicants (Updated 24 August 2022).
• All applications are to be submitted to CancerCouncilWA.Research@cancerwa.asn.au.

Recipient requirements

Recipients will be required to:

• Attend the Annual Research Awards Lunch for the duration of the funding.
• Report on activities. All reporting to be completed via the Online Grants Management System.
• You may be asked to engage in events and/or media