The NHMRC have adjusted scheme dates for the 2021 grant program in response to COVID-19 and are now able to confirm the following dates for the 2021 grant program:
| Scheme | Applications open | Minimum data due | Research Services internal deadline | Applications close |
| Investigator Grants | 3 Feb 2021 | 3 Mar 2021 | 10 Mar 2021 | 31 Mar 2021 |
| Synergy Grants | 24 Feb 2021 | 24 Mar 2021 | 9 Apr 2021* | 16 Apr 2021* |
| Ideas Grants | 10 Mar 2021 | 7 Apr 2021 | 9 Apr 2021* | 5 May 2021 |
| Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants | 30 Jun 2021 | 28 Jul 2021 | 11 Aug 2021 | 25 Aug 2021 |
*NHMRC deadline for Synergy Grants is Wednesday, 21 April 2021, however this is in the middle of the 3rd week of mandatory purchased leave for all staff under the current Enterprise Agreement Variation (EAV). Hence, all applications will need to be completed by Friday, 16 April 2021 to be submitted on that day ahead of the NHMRC deadline. Internal deadlines for both the Synergy and Ideas Grants schemes have been set to take account of the week of purchased leave for all staff, Monday, 19 April to Friday, 23 April 2021.
Researchers are strongly encouraged to start planning their applications early. This includes registering new users (both Chief Investigators and Associate Investigators) for a SAPPHIRE account well in advance of the opening dates to update their profile and become familiar with the system. Information on how to do this is available on the Sapphire or on NHMRC websites.