ASSC Early Career Researcher Grant Scheme Guidelines
The Australian Skin and Skin Cancer Research Centre (ASSC) Early Career Grants seek to fund projects that are strategically aligned with the ASSC priorities: to improve the prevention, early detection or treatment of skin cancers or skin diseases. The objectives of this scheme are to:
- Support early career researchers with high research potential to progress their research careers by funding high-quality research projects (including pilot projects).
- Encourage collaboration between UQ and QIMR Berghofer to accelerate translational outcomes in skin disease and skin cancer.
- Enhance ASSC member’s competitiveness in bidding for external research funds.
- Provide experience in preparing a grant application for peer review.
FUNDING AVAILABLE
This grant round has a $180,000 pool, with up to 3 grants of $60,000 to be awarded. Smaller grants will be accepted if the project is well justified.
FUNDING RULES
Funding will follow institutional rules of internal funding. Funds can be spent on personnel (including applicant salary), laboratory consumables and external providers when appropriate. All expenses have to be related to the project. This funding cannot attract institutional overheads and cannot be used for travel, or other routine laboratory equipment usually provided by the research group or the institution (e.g., information technology). Funding for successful applicants will commence in August 2026. UQ associated funds must be spent by 31 December 2026. QIMR Berghofer associated funds must be spent by 30 June 2027.
ELIGIBILITY
Successful applicant must:
- Be staff on payroll (<10 years of receiving MD or PhD);
- Be conducting research in the skin and skin cancer field;
- The lead UQ or QIMR Berghofer applicant must not have received the ASSC grant in the past 3 years;
- For previously successful applicants, please include a summary report of research outcomes from your most recently successful grant in your application.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI): Due 13 April 2026
Applicants are required to submit a one-page EOI by the specified deadline, using the EOI form available on the ASSC website. This EOI serves as an introduction to your grant proposal for the ASSC Executive Committee, enabling them to review your idea and provide guidance and feedback ahead of the grant pitch meeting.
GRANT PITCH MEETING: Due 14 May 2026
Following the submission of an EOI, all eligible applicants will be invited to participate in a pre-submission grant pitch meeting with the ASSC Executive Committee. This supportive meeting offers the opportunity to meet each other and discuss your ideas with the committee, as well as identify potential collaborators across UQ and QIMR Berghofer. The Executive Committee will provide guidance to help refine and enhance your proposal before the final grant submission.
NOTE: The Executive Committee will not be assessing or scoring the grants at the grant pitch meeting, and nor will they play any role in formally reviewing the grants during the grant assessment process. Their main role is to provide mentorship and context to projects. Submission of an EOI and participation in a pre-submission grant pitch meeting is mandatory to submit a final application.
Final submission: Due 12 June 2026
SCORING CRITERIA
- Clearly defined aims (20%)
- Clear and appropriate methods (40%)
- Significance & innovation (20%)
- Feasibility, including the team’s ability and capacity/time to carry out the research (20%)
Applications must include evidence of meaningful collaboration between researchers at UQ and QIMR Berghofer. Budgets must be justified clearly to the satisfaction of the review panel and ASSC Executive.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
At the conclusion of funding, the grant recipient must provide a report to the ASSC, outlining an overview of the project, what has been achieved, how the grant has furthered the research potential, any presentations and publications, and any current grant applications, by the grant end date.
PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS
The recipient will present at an ASSC Scientific Meeting, held annually.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Acknowledgement of the ASSC funding should be given in any future publications, presentations, advertising material, reports and public announcements, where relevant. Please use the statement below:
“This research was conducted with the support of the Australian Skin and Skin Cancer Research Centre through the ASSC Enabling Grant Scheme”.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Successful applicants will be notified by email.
Download Application Guidelines
KEY DATES
Applications open: Monday 02 March 2026
EOI due: 5pm, Monday 13 April 2026
Grant Pitch Meetings: Thursday 14 May 2026
Applications close: 5pm, Friday 12 June 2026
Applications to be submitted as a PDF. Applications must be submitted via email to contact@assc.org.au by 5:00pm, Friday 12 June 2026.
