$180 million in medical research to improve the lives of Australians

The Morrison Government is investing $180 million in ground-breaking medical research projects around Australia to improve the lives of Australians and their loved ones.

 

Funded through the Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund, 105 medical research projects will receive funding to improve health outcomes, including for Australians with cancer, dementia, brain injuries, heart problems, neurofibromatosis and many others.

 

$18.7 million will be provided through the Stem Cell Mission for 10 projects that will address illnesses facing many Australians and their families, including heart disease, COVID-19, epilepsy and childhood cancer.

 

The Murdoch Children’s Institute will receive almost $1 million to evaluate the potential of a bioengineered heart tissue to be used for congenital heart repair in children. This project will radically transform patient outcomes and improve the quality of life of children affected by heart disease.

 

Through the Genomics Health Futures Mission, nine researchers will receive a share of $46.5 million for genomics research, which will support health clinicians to identify genetic disorders and diagnose rare diseases faster, positioning Australia as a global leader in this area.

 

Australian researchers fighting against paediatric and childhood cancers will also receive $18.4 million as part of the 2020 Paediatric Cancer Grant Opportunity and 2020 Childhood Cancer Research Grant Opportunity, to improve treatment, therapies and survival rates for Australian kids.

 

To improve health outcomes for Australian patients, we’re investing $12.9 million in seven research projects that will use data to improve access, quality, safety and efficiency of our primary health care system as part of the 2020 Primary Healthcare Research Data Infrastructure grants.

 

Monash University will receive $9.6 million to focus on discovery research projects, including next-generation precision oncology, tumour immunotherapy and epigenomics, which will help make a real world difference for the thousands of Australian kids each year facing a cancer diagnosis and the fight of their lives.

 

Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Australia. We’re providing $21 million through the 2020 Improving Diagnosis in Cancers with Low Survival Rates Grant Opportunity to eight projects, which aim to improve the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, as well as cancers where the primary site or origin is unknown.

 

We are supporting home grown research into cardiovascular health, with $20.1 million in new funding to support 16 projects from real-time cardiac monitoring, to after stroke care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, from medicine management for stroke patients to arm strength and rehabilitation.

 

We’re providing $17 million for 11 research projects as part of the Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission, which will help senior Australians maintain their health and quality of life as they age, keep their independence for longer and access quality care when they need it.

 

Seven projects will receive a share of $7.4 million to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the 2020 Indigenous Health Research Grant Opportunity. 

 

Australian researchers at the University of Melbourne are investigating further COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Through the COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Research grants, we’re providing $6 million to the University for two projects to help protect Australians against future pandemics.  

 

The 2020 International Clinical Trial Collaborations grant opportunity is providing $5.6 million for three projects, which will bring international clinical trials into back pain, caesarean births and Hodgkin lymphoma.to Australia.

 

$4.6 million will also be provided through the 2020 Neurofibromatosis Research grant opportunity to four Australian research projects looking into neurofibromatosis - a devastating genetic condition that can cause cancer, blindness, deafness, and chronic pain.

 

To help improve the lives of Australians who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), we’re providing $3.3 million to six projects through the Traumatic Brain Injury Mission.

 

These grants are part of the Morrison Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future, which is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system.