This TCR aims to accelerate research that transforms the diagnosis, care and therapeutic landscape for children with dementia and their families.

The proposed objectives of this grant opportunity are to:

Develop rapid diagnostic pathways to improve screening and diagnosis. This includes improving clinician awareness, creating standardised protocols, and enabling timely access to treatment and support through rapid diagnostic approaches.

Design and evaluate evidence-based multidisciplinary care frameworks for children diagnosed with dementia. This should include rehabilitation therapies, symptom management strategies for pain, sleep, communication, mobility and behavioural issues, as well as integrated palliative care approaches. Education for healthcare professionals and carers on managing complex symptoms should also be considered.

Advance therapeutic developmentand health system readiness through translational research that will uncover disease mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic targets. This should also include building capacity in the healthcare sector to increase access to disease modifying treatments for affected children. The research should also address systemic barriers such as education, referral pathways and care coordination with the aim to develop evidence-based guidelines to standardise and reduce variation in care.

Improve psychosocial and family support by developing and testing interventions that address the mental health, grief and wellbeing of families and carers. Research should focus on scalable models for psychological support and care coordination to reduce caregiver burden and strengthen family resilience.

Applications will only be accepted from NHMRC approved Administering Institutions. A list of NHMRC approved Administering Institutions is available at:

NHMRC's Administering Institutions | NHMRC

Applications must satisfy all the requirements set out in the TCR: Childhood Dementia 2026 Guidelines.

• Phone: 1800 500 983
• Email: help@nhmrc.gov.au