Future Leader Fellowship

Supporting the best and brightest in cardiovascular research

The fellowship supports aspiring leaders who are developing independence and developing their own research portfolio, through to established leaders of cardiovascular research groups with extensive research portfolios.

For applicants to be considered for funding, they must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• The applicant will be considered the Chief Investigator A (CIA) on this project.
• CIA must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident or have applied for Australian permanent residency at the time of the application
• CIA must be involved in Cardiovascular Research (including stroke research)
• CIA must be from an NHMRC Administering Institution
• CIA must also be based in Australia for at least 80% of the funding period
• Applicants are expected to have spent at least two years actively contributing to cardiovascular research.
• Applicants may choose to apply to one of three levels:
• Level 1 applicants to be a minimum three years and less than seven years post PhD (relative to opportunity)
• Level 2 applicants to be a minimum seven years and less than ten years post PhD (relative to opportunity)
• Level 3 applicants to be a minimum ten years and less than fifteen years post PhD (relative to opportunity)
• Applicants should refer to the Indicative Criteria for the expectation of performance at each of the levels.
• Applicants may apply to progress through the Future Leader levels; however, they cannot receive the same level twice.
• Applicants may apply at a level higher than they are eligible for based on the number of years since their PhD confirmation, however, applications will only be considered in the requested category.
• Applicants may apply in a level lower than they are eligible for if they can demonstrate that their ‘effective’ number of years since the date that their PhD thesis was passed falls within the eligibility range, once Career Disruption is considered. For information on career disruptions please review the Research Funding Guidelines.
• Applicants may apply to undertake the Fellowship between 0.6 FTE to 1.0 FTE
• Applicants may only apply within one Heart Foundation Fellowship category or type (including the Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships) in any year. Should an applicant apply within multiple Fellowship categories or types, all applications from that candidate will be removed from further consideration.
• An applicant may not concurrently hold more than one Fellowship. For more information, please refer to the Research Funding Guidelines.

What’s the value of the Fellowship?  

When can you apply?

Stage 1

• Applications open: Monday 10 February 2025
• Applications close: Thursday 13 March 2025

* In 2025, we’re introducing a two-stage application process. Applicants who progress from Stage 1 will be invited to submit a full application in Stage 2. More details will be provided in the updated funding guidelines, available early 2025.

Stage 2 (by invitation only)

• Applications open: Wednesday 21 May 2025
• Applications close: Monday 23 June 2025

Stage 3 Interviews (shortlisted applicants)

• Planned for early/mid-September, dates to be advised.
• Successful applicants notified: October 2025

How should you apply?

Applications must be submitted via the Heart Foundation Grants Management Portal.

Download the  Research Program Funding Guidelines for more details.

* Please note updated 2025 Research Funding Guidelines will be available early 2025