The Dementia Collaborative Research Centres (DCRCs) have opened a new funding round for small, medium and large projects to be completed by 30 June 2017.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare more than 340,000 Australians were estimated to have dementia in 2015. Based on projections of population ageing and growth, the number of people with dementia will reach almost 400,000 by 2020, and around 900,000 by 2050.

Up to 24 Dementia Collaborative Research Centre awards ranging from less than $50,000 to $200,000 will be made in the national funding round which opens on 13 January 2016 and closes on 29 February 2016.

“The DCRCs are in a unique position in being able to offer a range of grant funding that may not be otherwise possible in today’s competitive funding environment,” said Professor Kaarin Anstey, Director of the DCRC for Early Diagnosis and Prevention at The Australian National University (ANU).

The funding round is a collaboration between the Centres that specialise in Assessment and Better Care based at the University of NSW, Carers and Consumers based at the Queensland University of Technology, and Early Diagnosis and Prevention based at ANU.

Knowledge translation – getting the results of research to the people that need it most – is an important part of dementia research.

“In this funding round we are also offering awards for projects that have a primary knowledge translation focus, as well as for projects with an applied research focus,” said Professor Anstey.

For more information and to apply, visit the Dementia Collaborative Research Centres website.

Any resulting funding will be subject to finalisation of a grant agreement with the National Health and Medical Research Council.