The Albanese Government is providing $230 million to the nation's best and brightest researchers to undertake a wide range of more than 100 potentially groundbreaking, life changing health and medical research projects.
The $229.46m in funding is provided through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) for a total of 110 research projects on a range of health issues, including:
- cardiovascular disease,
- cancer,
- primary and preventive health care,
- respiratory diseases,
- maternal health,
- dementia,
- mental health and
- First Nations health.
The funding will support clinical trials to test the effectiveness and safety of new medical treatments, including encouraging collaboration with international researchers. It will fill gaps in areas that need more research, support emerging researchers and their teams, and help researchers develop and bring their ideas to market earlier.
The largest single investment is $50 million to establish the BioMedTech Incubator, to fast track the commercialisation of up to 15 early stage Australian innovations that treat dementia and cognitive decline. This program will be delivered by a partnership between Brandon BioCatalyst and ANDHealth.
Among the 110 research projects to receive funding, almost $5 million each has been awarded to:
- The University of Melbourne, to help First Nations babies get the best start in life,
- Central Queensland University, to advance work on Closing the Gap targets,
- University of Newcastle, for a chronic disease prevention program in schools, and
- Deakin University, to embed best practice cancer care into rural health services.
All projects to receive funding can be found here.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"I am pleased to announce that nearly $230 million in funding will help Australia's researchers to discover new ways to tackle many of the health and medical issues that impact people every day.
"The Labor Government has long been a strong friend of the Australian health and medical research community going back many decades. That support has been a key factor in building Australia's reputation internationally in punching well above its weight in health and medical research.
"Emerging researchers will be helped to develop their skills and grow their careers in Australia, while promising new treatments will get to market earlier and fulfil their promise of new hope for Australian patients."
