Stroke Foundation has awarded close to $435,000 to support eight research projects across Australia, funding work that spans stroke prevention, recovery, rehabilitation and long-term community support.
The 2026 Research Grants Program provides $434,898 to researchers based in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. The funded projects range from digital tools to improve recovery and medication adherence to new approaches in primary care and leadership development for emerging researchers.
Stroke remains one of Australia’s leading causes of disability, and the Foundation says the grants reflect a deliberate focus on practical research that responds to gaps in care. Kelvin Hill, Executive Director Stroke Programs, Research and Innovation at Stroke Foundation, said the program was designed to encourage bold thinking while keeping patient outcomes front of mind.
“These grants support bold and innovative stroke research that has the potential to change lives,” Mr Hill said.
“Stroke is one of Australia’s leading causes of disability, and to confront the challenges it brings, we must continue backing researchers and innovators who are pushing boundaries and rethinking what recovery and prevention can look like.”
One of the largest individual awards, the Tim Glendinning Memorial Fund for Young Adult Stroke Grant, will support Associate Professor Elizabeth Lynch at Flinders University to establish a Stroke Recovery College for young survivors. The project draws on models used in mental health and aims to address the sense of disconnection many younger stroke survivors report during early recovery.
Prevention is another strong theme. Professor Monique Kilkenny and Dr Stella Talic at Monash University have received the Nancy and Vic Allen Stroke Prevention Memorial Fund Grant to develop a nationally agreed set of primary care quality indicators. The work is intended to strengthen how stroke and heart disease risks are identified and managed in the community, with practical tools for Primary Health Networks and clinical software providers.
“Stroke is one of Australia’s leading causes of disability, and to confront the challenges it brings, we must continue backing researchers and innovators who are pushing boundaries and rethinking what recovery and prevention can look like”
Mr Hill said the grants also play a role in building long-term research capacity.
“Stroke Foundation’s research grants play a critical role not only in advancing new knowledge, but also in cultivating the next generation of stroke leaders,” he said.
“We are proud to support a diverse range of projects from clinical trials and rehabilitation programs to prevention initiatives, new models of care and leadership development.”
Three Seed Grants of up to $80,000 each will support early-stage projects focused on long-term recovery and equity. At the University of Melbourne, Dr Lilian Carvalho will test a telehealth version of the ‘Take Charge’ program tailored for younger adults living with chronic stroke. At Monash University, Dr Lachlan Dalli will co-design a digital system to support medication management, addressing the high rates of unintentional non-adherence that increase the risk of recurrent stroke. At Western Health, Ms Dina Pogrebnoy will lead a Phase 2a clinical trial adapting digital rehabilitation resources for culturally and linguistically diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients.
Future Leader Grants have been awarded to support professional development and collaboration. Dr Lisa Anemaat from the University of Queensland will travel to the United Kingdom to work with experts in co-design and priority setting in aphasia research. Dr Matthew Berryman at La Trobe University will deepen multidisciplinary work on communication recovery, including the use of emerging technologies. Dr Tharshanah Thayabaranathan at Monash University will undertake leadership training and national collaboration focused on community-led stroke research.
Mr Hill said the collective impact of the program goes beyond individual projects.
“Each project brings us closer to a future where every Australian has the best chance of prevention, treatment and ongoing recovery after stroke,” he said.
He also acknowledged the role of donors and partners in making the grants possible, noting that community support underpins the Foundation’s research agenda.
“Our supporters enable us to provide important research funding to accelerate discoveries that will shape tomorrow’s treatment options and recovery pathways,” Mr Hill said. “Together, we are building a future where stroke survivors not only survive but thrive.”
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