The HRC administers the Health Research Fund on behalf of government and makes investments in health research that:
- have a direct line of sight to improving health outcomes for all New Zealanders
- strengthen the delivery of quality, timely and effective health services
- harness the benefits of innovation to contribute to economic growth and prosperity.
Our investment spans the biomedical, clinical, health services, public health, Māori health and Pacific health research domains.
Health research priorities for 2026/27
The HRC publishes an annual Research Investment Plan to provide researchers with high-level guidance on our funding opportunities and priorities for investment.
New Zealand’s investment in health research must contribute to achieving the goals of the health and the science, innovation and technology systems.
For the 2026/27 financial year, the HRC research priorities are:
- Priority 1: Maximise the benefit for healthcare delivery: the HRC will prioritise excellent research that will make a tangible difference to health delivery policy, practice, and systems to improve outcomes and experiences for all patients.
- Priority 2: Contribute to achievement of the health and/or mental health and addiction targets: the HRC will prioritise funding research that provides high-quality evidence that will directly inform progress on reaching the health targets and mental health and addiction targets, in the near-term.
- Priority 3: Enhance the development of clinician researchers: the HRC will prioritise funding applications that support the development and retention of the clinician researcher workforce in New Zealand.
- Priority 4: Demonstrate a pathway to commercialisation: the HRC will prioritise funding for researchers who define a clear pathway to support the commercialisation of research outputs and sufficiently detail the steps they will take towards commercialisation.
- Priority 5: High-quality clinical trials: the HRC is seeking to invest in high-quality, internationally recognised clinical trials, including those with a particular focus on cancer and/or blood cancers.
The quality and scientific rigour of a research proposal are the primary assessment considerations. For the majority of our funding rounds, the HRC Council will also consider a proposal’s strength of alignment with one or more of the HRC’s priorities.
Researchers are advised to carefully read the HRC Research Investment Plan 2026/27 and the guidelines for the round to which they are applying. Proposals are required to align with the HRC’s priorities for health research to the greatest extent possible.
The science system reforms
The Government is making changes to New Zealand’s science, innovation and technology system. Published in 2026, the Science Investment Plan 2026-2036 sets out national strategic priorities for science and research investment, and Pillar Investment Plans translate the priority areas of focus and investment detailed in the Science Investment Plan into actionable, 5-year outcomes.
All public science, innovation and technology investments are expected to align with the priorities and outcomes outlined in the relevant Pillar Investment Plans. The HRC is working on how we achieve this alignment for current and future funding rounds and will provide updates as this work progresses.
The Healthy People and a Thriving Society (HPTS) Pillar is particularly relevant for health research. The HPTS Pillar Investment Plan describes six priority outcomes:
- HPTS 1: Earlier intervention and disease prevention (Research improves understanding of disease drivers, enabling earlier intervention, prevention and better long-term health outcomes).
- HPTS 2: Longer, healthier and more productive lives (Reduce the burden of high-prevalence physical and mental health conditions through fundamental, discovery and translation research).
- HPTS 3: Biomedical innovation for health and prosperity (Biomedical innovation strengthens pathways from discovery to diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical use and commercial growth).
- HPTS 4: Improved societal resilience, equity and productivity (Research strengthens social, education and workforce systems that support long-term wellbeing and prosperity).
- HPTS 5: Smarter, more efficient health and social services (Evidence supports better models of care, improving access, efficiency and health system performance).
- HPTS 6: Human-centred health innovation (Human-centred research improves safe, trusted and equitable adoption of new health technologies).
As the new science investment system is established, we will update this page with further information on priorities and investment approaches as it becomes available. Applicants should check this page regularly for updates and visit our dedicated portal HRC Gateway has detailed information on our different funding rounds including guidance on how to apply. Applications are made via Gateway.
The graphic below shows our research investment areas for the year ending 30 June 2025 (in millions). The research we fund is categorised according to the health issues addressed, with each study assigned up to two health issues. This means the funding for some studies is allocated to two health issues to recognise the investment contributes to both areas of importance.
Related documents
You can find more detailed information on the HRC’s strategic direction, priorities, goals and targets in the following documents:
- Statement of Intent – details our strategic direction and desired outcomes over the medium-term and provides a performance framework with indicators.
- Statement of Performance Expectations – sets out our operating intentions for the coming year, with key performance indicators and targets.
- Annual Report – reports progress against both annual and longer-term performance indicators and provides details of financial accountability.
- Investment Impact Report – captures the difference our research and researchers have made, from better health outcomes and changes to practice and policy, through to economic returns and commercialisation.
- HRC Research Repository - contains information on the research the HRC has funded in the past 10 years, including study title, lay summary, lead investigator, host organisation, the sum awarded, year of study commencement, and contract duration.
Information on the strategic goals and priorities of the New Zealand health research sector and the science, innovation and technology sector can be found at the following links: