Stillbirth Foundation Australia Launches Research Grants

Deadline: 02-Oct-2026

The Stillbirth Foundation Australia (SFA) Research Grants provide financial support to organisations and institutions conducting research into the causes, prevention, and management of stillbirth. The Foundation supports research designed to improve understanding of stillbirth, develop effective prevention strategies, strengthen health services, and improve care for families affected by perinatal loss. Applications are particularly encouraged for clinical studies aligned with the National Stillbirth Research Priorities Report 2023. Previous grants have provided funding of up to AUD100,000, approximately USD63,000, although the programme considers financial requests at all levels. The application deadline is October 2, 2026.

About the Stillbirth Foundation Australia Research Grants

The Stillbirth Foundation Australia is dedicated to advancing research that can help understand and prevent stillbirth while improving care and support for affected families. The Foundation encourages applications from organisations and institutions undertaking research into: - The causes of stillbirth - Prevention of stillbirth - Management of stillbirth - Clinical care - Health service and system capacity - Care following perinatal loss - Culturally safe and responsive care The programme places particular emphasis on research that aligns with national stillbirth research priorities. What Research Does the Foundation Support? The grants support research addressing important questions around why stillbirth occurs, how it can be prevented, and how health services can better support families.

Priority areas include:

- Determining the causes and pathways leading to stillbirth - Identifying and implementing prevention strategies - Building the capacity of health services and systems - Improving care for families following perinatal loss - Developing culturally safe and responsive care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families - Improving culturally responsive care for migrant and refugee communities These priorities reflect the Foundation’s focus on both scientific understanding and improvements in healthcare and family support. Focus on the Causes of Stillbirth One major research priority is improving understanding of the causes and pathways that lead to stillbirth. Research in this area can contribute to better knowledge of the factors involved in stillbirth and help identify opportunities for earlier intervention and prevention. The Foundation particularly encourages research that can advance clinical understanding and contribute to improved outcomes. Supporting Stillbirth Prevention Prevention is another central focus of the research grant programme. Funding can support research into strategies that may help prevent stillbirth, including research focused on identifying effective prevention approaches and understanding how these strategies can be implemented. The emphasis is not only on developing prevention strategies but also on implementing them effectively. Strengthening Health Services and Systems The Foundation recognises the importance of strong health services and systems in addressing stillbirth. Research can therefore focus on building the capacity of health services and systems to improve the prevention, management, and care associated with stillbirth. This area can help generate evidence for improvements in clinical practice and health-system responses. Improving Care After Perinatal Loss The grants also support research focused on improving care for families following perinatal loss. Research in this area can contribute to better approaches for supporting affected families and improving the quality of care they receive following stillbirth and other forms of perinatal loss. Culturally Safe and Responsive Care A specific priority is ensuring culturally safe and responsive care for different communities. The Foundation highlights research focused on: - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families - Migrant communities - Refugee communities This priority recognises the importance of developing care approaches that respond appropriately to the cultural contexts and needs of affected families. Who Can Apply? The Stillbirth Foundation Australia encourages applications from organisations and institutions engaged in research into the cause, prevention, and management of stillbirth. The programme is particularly interested in clinical studies that align with the National Stillbirth Research Priorities Report 2023. Applicants should therefore ensure that their proposed research demonstrates a clear connection to the Foundation’s priority areas. How Much Funding Is Available? The Foundation considers all levels of financial request. As a guide, previous grants have provided funding of up to: AUD100,000 This is approximately USD63,000. The previous funding level should be treated as a guide rather than a fixed award amount, as the Foundation considers research funding requests at different levels. Project Support and People Support Funding is available for both project support and people support. This allows applicants to seek funding relevant to the needs of their proposed research, whether support is required for the project itself or for people involved in carrying out the research. All levels of financial request are considered. National Stillbirth Research Priorities The Foundation places particular emphasis on clinical studies aligned with the National Stillbirth Research Priorities Report 2023. Researchers preparing applications should therefore consider how their proposed study contributes to national research priorities and to the broader objectives of understanding, preventing, and managing stillbirth. Alignment with priority research areas can help demonstrate the relevance and potential value of a proposed project. How Applications Are Assessed Applications are reviewed by an independent Scientific Assessment Committee.

The committee includes:

- Researchers - Consume