MRFF delivers for clinical trials

Australian clinical trials received a much-needed boost today with details of the Medical Research Future Fund’s disbursements announced.

The Minister for Health, Greg Hunt announced the detail around the allocation of the funding into clinical trials in Australia that was handed down at the Budget last Tuesday as part of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

As the Health and Medical Research industry body, we were pleased to hear the importance the Australian Government has placed on clinical trials, collaboration, and translation of research and mid-career medical researchers.

“Clinical trials are a crucial part of changing and saving lives,” said Research Australia CEO, Nadia Levin.  “This commitment goes a long way in making a difference to Australians whose lives depend on the outcomes of the best research we can offer”.

The announcement was made at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney where at an event to celebrate International Clinical Trials Day.
Key elements of today’s announcement

1. Adolescents and young adolescents with cancer: The funding of $5 million for new targeted clinical trial activity for adolescents and young adolescents with cancer, to be administered by CanTeen that was announced as part of the Federal Budget.
2. Next generation clinical researchers: The Turnbull Government will invest $8 million to ensure the supply of high-quality next-generation research talent through boosting the scale of existing NHMC fellowship schemes. Fellowships awards will be announced from early 2017-18.
3. Lifting clinical trials and registries capacity: the investment is $5 million over four years and includes networks of investigators and service providers that work together to identify and evaluate new approaches to optimise healthcare effectiveness.
4. Creating a better collaboration across borders: the Turnbull Government is also providing $7 million over four years to help redesign State and Territory clinical trial operating systems.
5. Support better public health and rare disease research: $13 million will be used to support research into a number of public health areas which contribute to the highest burden of disease, including the application of precision medicine.

As part of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), the Government is continuing to deliver on its promise to establish a $20 billion capital in the fund, with this target to be achieved in 2020-21.

Read the full media release from the Ministerial Office here. 

For more information regarding developments around the MRFF please contact them at admin@researchaustralia.org or call 02 9295 8545.