NHMRC and MRFF Introduce Open Science Policy for Australian Health Research
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) have jointly introduced an Open Science Policy for government-funded medical and health research in Australia. Announced on January 30, the policy mandates enhanced accessibility, collaboration, and transparency of research outputs, aiming to maximize the societal benefits of public investment.
Policy Overview
The new policy establishes requirements for researchers receiving funding from the NHMRC and/or MRFF. It applies practices across the entire research cycle, from planning to publication and data sharing.
Adherence to these guidelines will be a condition of funding agreements for the approximately A$1.6 billion distributed annually by the two bodies.
Key Requirements
The Open Science Policy includes several specific mandates and expectations for researchers:
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Open Access Publication: A version of research papers funded by NHMRC and/or MRFF must be made openly accessible immediately upon publication, without an embargo. Funding sources must be acknowledged using unique identifiers for impact tracking. Researchers can comply by posting a preprint version of their work online, providing an additional route to NHMRC's existing Open Access Policy.
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Data and Method Sharing: Researchers are required to share data and methods openly, adhering to principles of findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIR principles). Original research data must be made available in trusted repositories that comply with Care and Fair standards, which cover data control, access, and reusable formats. Research methods must be fully described.
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Software and Code Availability: Research software and code utilized in studies are expected to be made available.
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Research Planning: Researchers are encouraged to integrate openness into their planning from the initial stages and to publish both negative and positive research outcomes.
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Indigenous Research: For research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, researchers are expected to respect Indigenous communities' rights and interests through dedicated governance. This includes considering ownership, management, use, access, and distribution of research results and outputs, and protecting cultural and intellectual property.
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Clinical Trial Results: Results from clinical trials must be shared in a timely manner, ideally within one year of the main study's completion.
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Intellectual Property: While intellectual property rights remain protected, commercial restrictions are permissible but require explanation to the funding bodies.
Stated Objectives
The NHMRC and MRFF state that the policy aims to:
- Enhance research transparency, reproducibility, and replicability.
- Boost collaboration among researchers.
- Minimize research waste and reduce unnecessary duplication.
- Maximize the value and societal benefits derived from health and medical research funding.
Implementation and Compliance
Compliance for NHMRC grant holders is required from February 2, 2026. For MRFF, the requirement applies to grant opportunities opening from January 1, 2026, with potential exemptions for some opportunities. Detailed guidelines are accessible on GrantConnect.
The NHMRC and MRFF will monitor compliance through measures such as the rate of open access publication. Administering organizations of these grant funds are encouraged to develop institutional open science policies consistent with the new guidelines and to consider integrating open science practices into recruitment, evaluation, and promotion processes.