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What does Lottery Health Research give priority to?

The Lottery Health Research Committee gives priority to requests that:

  • show how the research will translate into better health outcomes for New Zealand populations, including Māori and Pasifika, and other minority groups
  • show why the health issue is significant for New Zealand
  • addresses a unique gap in health research knowledge in New Zealand
  • demonstrate partnerships between researchers and community organisations who will contribute to the New Zealand health sector over time.

For those requesting grants for post-doctoral fellowships and PhD scholarships priority is given to:

  • researchers who are early in their career or entering and/or returning to the New Zealand work force
  • host organisations that how they will provide quality support, management and supervision.

For shared equipment and translational research project requests, priority is given to:

  • collaboration, particularly with significant pieces of research equipment, which should be shared between a number or research centres/institutions)
  • projects that have received support from other funders.

 What are the important dates for Lottery Health Research?

For the important funding dates for the Lottery Health Research Fund, follow the link below to the funding calendar:

What are the outcomes for Lottery Health Research grants?

The 2024/25 funding allocation to the Lottery Health Research Committee is in line with the 2023/24 allocation.

This means the Committee will be unable to fund as many grant requests at the same levels as it did in previous years.

The complete Lottery Grants Board Allocations


Organisations receiving grants are expected to show how their health research will contribute to:

  • better understanding of the causes, prevention and treatment of disorders affecting New Zealanders
  • new approaches in health and bio-medical science for the ultimate benefit of all New Zealanders
  • developing and keeping a highly skilled workforce of health and bio-medical researchers in New Zealand.