- Suite of Future Health Research and Innovation Fund programs being rolled out
- Programs span fellowships, capability building and research translation initiatives
- Announcement coincides with awarding of inaugural FHRI Fund Spotlight Program recipient
A suite of Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund programs and initiatives is being rolled out, opening funding opportunities for Western Australian researchers and innovators.
The programs were announced at the FHRI Fund Open Day in Perth, alongside the awarding of the inaugural FHRI Fund Spotlight Program recipient focused on rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
Since its establishment, the FHRI Fund has committed more than $341 million to support more than 800 researchers and projects, strengthening the State’s research ecosystem and delivering real-world health outcomes.
The programs now open include:
- The Golden Ticket 2026 initiative, designed to strengthen the State’s research pipeline by supporting high-potential projects to progress towards larger-scale funding opportunities;
- The FHRI Fund Research Fellows program, providing support across multiple career stages to build research capability in Western Australia and attract and retain talented researchers, including through partnerships supporting priority areas;
- The FHRI Fund Visiting Fellows program aims to attract talented interstate and international health and medical research and innovation experts to visit WA;
- The Showcase WA initiative, highlighting leading research and innovation projects and strengthening connections across the WA health and medical research sector; and
- The Mental Health Translational Research Grants, supporting projects that translate research into improved mental health outcomes and service delivery.
Also open for applications are:
- The Major Research and Innovation Application Support program, which supports Western Australian researchers to develop competitive grant applications and secure national and international funding; and
- The Strategic Priority Program – Capacity Building 2026 (Cancer Council), delivered in partnership to strengthen research capability and drive impact in priority disease areas.
Together, these programs support research, innovation and translation, with a focus on delivering improved health outcomes, strengthening the WA health system and building a sustainable and globally competitive research sector.
The FHRI Fund Open Day also featured the awarding of the inaugural Spotlight Program recipient, a flagship initiative targeting uniquely Western Australian health challenges with the first focus on RHD.
More details about current funding opportunities are available via the FHRI Fund website .
As stated by Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson:
“The Cook Labor Government continues to back Western Australian researchers and innovators to tackle the health challenges that matter most to our community.
“These new funding opportunities span the full research pipeline – from building capability and supporting early career researchers, through to strengthening translation and real-world impact.
“Importantly, today’s announcement also marks a significant milestone with the awarding of the inaugural Spotlight Program recipient, demonstrating our targeted approach to addressing key health priorities in Western Australia.
“Through sustained investment and strong partnerships, we are building a more connected, capable and impactful research and innovation system for the future.”
