Eligibility and Process
Eligibility and application process for Children's Cancer CoLab funding.
Supporting research and people
Children’s Cancer CoLab provides funding opportunities through our Impact Programs, which reflect our comprehensive, patient-centred approach that addresses the full spectrum of childhood cancer challenges. This framework ensures that every aspect of childhood cancer, from diagnosis through to survivorship, is supported by world-class research and innovation.
Before you apply
Find out if you're eligible for CoLab funding and what to expect from our application process.
All applications for CoLab funding are submitted through our online grant portal before the listed deadline.
Each funding call has its own guidelines, outlining the purpose, requirements, and how applications are assessed. You can find these on our Funding Opportunities page or within the grant portal. We recommend reading them carefully before you begin.
If you have any questions not covered in the guidelines, please email us at programs@cccolab.org.au.
While the application steps may vary across programs, all applications are reviewed by our Scientific Advisory Committee. The Committee provides expert advice to support funding recommendation, with oversight from our Board to ensure a fair and consistent process.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome by email.
We outline what activities are eligible and ineligible to help you prepare an application that aligns with our priorities.
Funding is guided by the specific scope and eligibility criteria set for each of our three themes, ensuring resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact.
Additional eligibility requirements, including what is in and out of scope, may apply to different Impact Programs.
All applications are screened by the CoLab team during the initial application stage to determine eligibility and suitability for funding. Only applications that meet these criteria will progress to the review stage.
Each funding opportunity includes detailed eligibility criteria and guidance. Applicants should refer to the specific funding guidelines for the opportunity they are interested in before applying. In general:
- Applications must be submitted by an NHMRC-approved administering institution. Some funding opportunities are only open to CoLab Consortium Partners, while others are open to all eligible national institutions.
- The Lead Investigator must hold a formal appointment at the nominated administering institution for the full duration of the grant.
- Multiple applications from the same administering institution are allowed. However, limits may apply depending on the funding round.
- An individual can only be the Lead Investigator on one application per funding category in each round. There is no limit to how many applications they can join as a team member.
- Applications must include collaboration with researchers or clinicians from another institution. This may involve shared expertise, time, or resources, either funded or in-kind. Strong national or international collaborations are encouraged and viewed favourably.
- Projects led by primarily adult oncology research groups must include at least one paediatric oncology researcher or clinician as part of the team. This collaboration must be formalised, with both groups contributing to and supported within the project.
CoLab provides clear guidance on what costs can and cannot be supported under each funding opportunity, and cost eligibility may differ between Impact Programs and schemes. Applicants should always refer to the specific funding guidelines for the grant or fellowship they are applying to, and carefully check the rules for the opportunity they are interested in before preparing their budget.
In general, funding can support:
- Salary costs for team members who are directly involved in delivering the research or fellowship activities, costed in line with standard institutional rates and with on‑costs capped at 20%.
- Direct research costs that are essential to the project and clearly linked to its aims and milestones, such as personnel time, consumables, and specialist services.
- (For fellowship) A modest allowance for research and professional development (where applicable), which may cover research consumables, specialised services, data access, conference attendance, training, and other activities that build research capacity and career development.
In general, funding cannot be used for:
- Activities or salary support that have already been fully funded from another source, or duplicated costs across multiple grants.
- Indirect or overhead costs, including institutional infrastructure, utilities, and routine administrative expenses.
- Salary on‑costs or employment expenses above the specified maximum where these are not allowed under the scheme.
- Projects or activities that do not have a clear, hypothesis‑driven research focus, or that are primarily aimed at building platforms or infrastructure without defined research outcomes
Apply for funding
We welcome applications from researchers and clinicians whose work aligns with our current priorities. All proposals are reviewed for scientific merit, clinical impact, strategic alignment, and real-world impact on patients, survivors, and families.
