Changes to ARC Discovery Project Application Process – Latest Update

While the ARC has not yet provided official confirmation, it appears the ARC will implement a two-stage process for the coming round of Discovery Project (DP25) applications. Applicants will submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Based on those EOIs, some applicants will be invited to submit a full application.

If you are interested in applying, please fill out the NOI and contact MERI asap. This is to keep you up to date with relevant information including changes.

The ARC indicate changes below (this information has not yet been officially confirmed):

• EOI will be open for 4-6 weeks.
• EOI format is likely to be 2-page project description, 10 best publications per CI and 1-page to describe the team (or sole CI).
• No budget required at EOI stage.
• No NITS (National Interest Tests) or Medical Policy statement will be required at the EOI stage.
• Assessment criteria weighting of the EOI will likely to be 30% Investigator and 70% for project.
• College members (not detailed assessors) will rank EOIs.
• Project team composition cannot change from EOI to full stage application. If such changes occur the project cannot continue to full stage submission.
• Eligibility checks will only be done by the ARC at the full applications stage however applicants must also meet project limits at the EOI stage.
• Full applications will open for 6 weeks.
• Assessment criteria for full application will stay the same as per the previous round.

We will provide more information once we hear the official announcement from the ARC.