The Australian Government is transforming health and medical research in Australia through new record investment and the delivery of a landmark 10-year plan.
We will spend over half a billion dollars ($508.5 million) over the next 4 years to increase investment in medical research through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). The Budget commitment is groundbreaking for the sector, allowing MRFF grant funding to reach a record $1 billion a year by 2030-2031.
The additional funding for MRFF will improve health outcomes, encourage innovation, deliver advanced treatments, support the translation of research into medical care and make it easier for Australians to access clinical trials.
It includes $210 million to address national research priorities, including establishing:
- the Australian Cancer Research Program to deliver coordinated research into cancers including brain cancer, low survival cancers, and childhood, adolescent and young adult cancers, and
- the Precision Health Research Program, developing a grant program to boost genomic health care and research capability, improve genetic testing and treatment, and support earlier identification of people at risk of developing disease.
Research administration costs are inequitably supported across organisations that are awarded MRFF grants, so an additional $128 million will be invested to help address this imbalance.
This funding includes $127.6 million to bridge the gap between promising research and the delivery of new medical treatments and innovations. Going forward, projects will be selected competitively. The first two research projects to receive funding from this program include:
- $30 million for the Australian Epilepsy Project to establish and implement a new standard of care for epilepsy across Australia.
- $14.6 million for the Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations to help implement findings from research that will have a significant impact on diabetes research and care for Australian patients.
The National Health and Medical Research Council will receive $24.3 million to boost its operating resources and fund a feasibility study on the establishment of a Research Grant Hub.
The Budget also provided $15.6 million to progress the next step towards the National One Stop Shop, which will provide a single national platform for health research and make it easier for patients to access up and coming new treatments and participate in trials.
The increased investment coincides with the Albanese Government today publishing the National Health and Medical Research Strategy.
The strategy - prepared by Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM - outlines an ambitious 10-year vision to strengthen Australia's health and medical research sector and create a healthier nation.
The Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Roadmap, developed by Cancer Australia in collaboration with the sector, was also launched today.
The roadmap sets a clear, shared direction across three priority areas: supportive care, access to emerging technologies and therapies, and research and clinical trials.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"The Albanese Government is transforming health and medical research in Australia.
"The medical advances we make in this country through health and medical research are always about improving the lives of Australians, as well as people around the world.
"Our investments will support our health and medical research sector by making funding more stable, boosting job security, and fostering a world-class research culture.
"We are strengthening Australia's global leadership health and medical research and backing our world-class medical researchers right here in Australia.
"I want to thank Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM for working with the sector to develop Australia's first ever National Strategy for Health and Medical Research.
"It provides a clear roadmap for strengthening health and medical research in this country over the coming decade."
