New funding supports research across Australian general practice
06 Oct 2026
The 2026 grants and awards will support 13 projects involving 66 researchers around Australia. The work covers a broad range of topics, including care for older people, diabetes, kidney disease, medication safety, AI, digital health and GP wellbeing.
The Australian General Practice Research Foundation has committed a total of $868,000 during 2026. This includes its research grants and awards, PhD scholarships and GP26 conference awards.
The projects are designed to address issues seen in everyday general practice and produce evidence that can be used in patient care.
One of the largest grants will go to Associate Professor Joel Rhee. His $150,000 Ageing Well Research Grant, co-funded by the Wicking Trust, will examine how care can be better managed when older Australians move between different health services. The project aims to help prevent avoidable hospitalisations and support healthy ageing.
Dr Lilijana Gorringe has received $120,000 through the Health Services Research in General Practice Grant, co-funded by the HCF Research Foundation. Her research will look at the effect digital environments can have on health and explore ways GPs can respond to these issues with patients.
Diabetes care is another focus of the funding. Dr Marzieh Niknami will receive $90,000 to examine where diabetes care may not be meeting the needs of patients and GPs.
Dr Abira Chandrakumar has received $99,524 through the TGL Quality Use of Medicines Research Grant. Her project will investigate medication safety for people living with chronic kidney disease.
AI is also included in this year’s research program. Dr Michael Tran will receive $35,000 through the Digital Resilience Grant to study how AI tools may affect GPs’ workload, wellbeing and confidence in their professional decisions.
Other funded research will examine injury prevention and recovery, GP wellbeing, workforce development, family medical care, innovation in South Australia, older drivers and cancer screening.
2026 research grants and awards
- Associate Professor Joel Rhee — Ageing Well Research Grant — $150,000
- Dr Lilijana Gorringe — Health Services Research in General Practice Grant — $120,000
- Dr Abira Chandrakumar — TGL Quality Use of Medicines Research Grant — $99,524
- Dr Marzieh Niknami — Diabetes in General Practice Research Grant — $90,000
- Professor Katharine Wallis — Injury Prevention and Recovery in General Practice Grant — $50,000
- Associate Professor Jill Benson — GP Wellbeing Grant — $40,000
- Dr Michael Tran — Digital Resilience Grant — $35,000
- Professor Paul Lord — ANEDGP South Australia Innovation Grant — $20,000
- Dr Nadia Lusis — Family Medical Care Education and Research Grant — $20,000
- Dr Niamh Dove — Chris Silagy Research Grant — $15,000
- Dr Samantha Hodges — RACGP Western Australia Research Grant — $8864
- Dr Kirthana Ketheeswaran — Walpole Grieve Award — $5000
- Dr Rebecca Drygala — Charles Bridges-Webb Memorial Award — $1000
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said research led by GPs can help identify practical ways to improve healthcare.
He said the funded projects could contribute to areas such as safer prescribing, earlier disease detection, aged care, workforce sustainability and clinician wellbeing.
Professor Michael Kidd, Patron of the Australian General Practice Research Foundation, said the funded work reflects the wide range of issues affecting patients, communities and GPs.
The Foundation received more than 100 applications for its 2026 grants and awards. This was an increase from 83 applications in 2025.
The program is supported by RACGP members, donors and funding partners. Further funding will also be provided through PhD scholarships and GP26 conference awards.
New funding supports research across Australian general practice
Source: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).