2026 Chris Silagy Research Grant

IMPORTANT: Please read information below to assist you in completing your application online.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Welcome to the Australian General Practice Research Foundation's online grants application service, powered by SmartyGrants.

Thank you for your interest in our 2026 Chris Silagy Research Grant funded by the Australian General Practice Research Foundation in honour of Professor Christopher Allen Silagy AO. 

This grant honours Professor Christopher Silagy AO, a pioneering leader in evidence-based medicine and general practice. Chris was the first GP to receive the Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Scholarship in Medicine and held senior academic and leadership roles at Oxford, Flinders, and Monash Universities. An internationally recognised figure, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia at age 39 for his outstanding contributions to research, education, and healthcare. 

As founding Director of the Australasian Cochrane Centre, he was instrumental in advancing the use of high-quality evidence to inform clinical care. His work helped shape a culture of rigorous, practice-relevant research and fostered the collaborative efforts that underpin it. This grant continues that legacy by supporting research that strengthens evidence-informed decision-making and improves outcomes in general practice. 

Grant details

Grant amount: One grant valued at $15,000 (excluding GST).

Funding period: 12 months

Focus areas: Research by new and emerging GP researchers into an aspect of evidence-based primary healthcare.

Objective: This grant supports an early-career GP researcher to contribute to the evidence base that informs clinical practice, policy or education in general practice. It provides research funding along with support for the recipient to attend a Cochrane Collaboration meeting or visit a Cochrane Research Centre during the funding period.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this grant, the principal investigator must:

• Be a general practitioner or general practice registrar,
• Demonstrate an active leadership role in the project, 
• Demonstrate either sufficient experience in leading and conducting research to ensure successful completion, or that the research team includes appropriate supervision and support to do so, AND
• Be an early career researcher

Selection criteria

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Scientific quality of the proposed research project (30%)
  The project should demonstrate strong scientific foundations, including a clear research question, robust methodology, and sound approach to data collection and analysis, with appropriate consideration of the populations and contexts relevant to general practice.
  
  
• Likelihood for translation and impact in general practice services (30%)
  The project should showcase potential for practical, meaningful, and scalable outcomes that improve patient care and/or healthcare systems, including consideration of patient, carer, or community needs and experiences where relevant.
  
  
• Innovation and originality of the project (15%)
  The project should demonstrate originality in its approach, incorporating innovative ideas to address identified unmet needs or gaps in general practice research.
  
  
• Feasibility of the project (15%)
  The project must be realistic and achievable within the given timeline, budget, and resources, supported by a clear research plan and the necessary expertise and support to ensure successful completion.
  
  
• Contribution to building research capacity in general practice services (10%)
  The project should enhance research capacity within general practice, whether through skill development, training, fostering collaborations, or expanding networks.

Requirements for successful applicants

Successful applicants will be required to: 

• formally accept the grant and enter into a Grant Agreement with the administering organisation  

• participate in a short interview with the Foundation 

• meet key project milestones, including reporting requirements, with payments linked to specified milestones 

• acknowledge the support of the Foundation and funding partner in relevant outputs  

Further detail is provided on the Information for Applicants website under the section “Requirements for successful applicants.”

Application process

Applications open Monday 11 May 2026 at 9:00am (AEST) and close Monday 22 June 2026 at 9:00am (AEST). Applicants will be notified of outcomes on Friday 11 September 2026.

Need more information?

For more information, please refer to our Information for Applicants website. For any inquiries, feel free to contact us at foundation@racgp.org.au. 

If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)