Trends and Statistics – Health and Medical Research 

National Health and Medical Research Council funding has increased nearly five-fold since 1995-96, with the Prime Minister recently announcing funding of $561.4 million for the NHMRC in 2008. Research Australia public opinion polling has found that over 80% of people believe that the government should continue its commitments to invest strongly in health and medical research (Research Australia Public Opinion Poll 2006).  Public opinion polling has consistently yielded evidence of high levels of public support for government funding of health and medical research, on par with traditionally high ranking areas, such as education. 

 

Figure 1: NHMRC Expenditure over the past decade

Source: NHMRC research funding trend data