A world-renowned coral reef research centre missed out on Federal funding to groups proposing the study of the "digital child", "creative aging" and the Enlightenment.

The Townsville-based Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies failed to secure the grant money from the Australian Research Council (ARC), despite an external review describing its submission as as "revolutionary".

Researchers on the Great Barrier Reef will have to search harder for funding after the Centre for Excellence in Coral Reef Studies missed on further grants. Credit:University of Wollongong

"This work should be funded at all cost. It will be revolutionary," the review said, adding the assembled team of researchers and their program would change forever "how we go about ensuring sustainability and resilience in our changing world".

It is understood the glowing assessment had no dissenting voices.