Category: Media

Federal Budget 2017-18 | First grants issued by MRFF

Response to Budget 2017

Research Australia welcomes first grants issued by Medical Research Future Fund

Government delivers on promise to establish flow of funding into health and medical research $20 billion capital target to be achieved in 2020-21

After a long-fought campaign to bring the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to reality, health and medical researchers have welcomed the first round of grants issued from the MRFF, as announced tonight in the Federal Budget. $65.9 million is available for 2016/17, with the detail of $25 million of this spending released tonight. Just as importantly, we now have a clear path to achieving the capital target of $20 billion, with the Budget papers revealing this target will be achieved in 2020-21.

Research Australia Director and CSL’s Senior Vice President of Research, Dr Andrew Nash, said the Budget announcement tonight confirmed the Government has begun to deliver on its promise to establish a consistent flow of funding for health and medical research.

“The grants announced tonight represent an important milestone in the establishment of this landmark source of funding for health and medical research.
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National Science Statement

Yesterday the Australian government launched the National Science Statement, outlining its commitment to science as part of the National Innovation and Science Agenda.

This comes in advance of the 2030 Strategic Plan for Innovation, Science and Research, with Innovation and Science Australia commissioned by the government to review Australia’s performance in science and innovation, and develop a plan through to 2030.

Research Australia welcomes the Statement’s long-term approach to science in Australia; in particular, the explicit references to secure and sustainable investment and recognition of the role of research as a central contributor to GDP.  Continue reading “National Science Statement”

WA Election: Health and Medical Researchers the other big winners

13 March 2017

Australia’s peak body for health and medical research has congratulated new incoming Western Australia Premier, Hon Mark McGowan MLA, especially the new Premier’s commitment to support WA medical researchers and innovators ‘like never before’.

“Researchers were rightly buoyed by election commitment Premier-Elect McGowan made in February this year to the establishment of a Future Health Research and Innovation (HRI) Fund. Continue reading “WA Election: Health and Medical Researchers the other big winners”

Health and medical researchers welcome appointment of Hon Brad Hazzard MP to Health portfolio

30 January 2017

Australia’s peak body for health and medical research has welcomed the appointment of the
Hon Brad Hazzard MP as Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research.

“Bringing health and medical research back under one senior minister presents new opportunities to better integrate health and medical research with clinical care. This will mean better outcomes for patients and opportunities to achieve sustainable spending within the NSW health budget,” Research Australia CEO Nadia Levin said. Continue reading “Health and medical researchers welcome appointment of Hon Brad Hazzard MP to Health portfolio”

Australian Health and Medical Research Night of Nights

Media Release: 17 November 2016

Australia’s most inspiring health and medical researchers, advocates and philanthropist were celebrated last night at the 2016 Research Australia Health and Medical Research Awards.

Nadia Levin, CEO of Research Australia, said the night was a magnificent success that paid tribute to the efforts and energy of some of the sectors biggest names and most promising up-and-comers.

“Last nights’ Health and Medical Research Awards prove that Australia’s research sector is a force to be reckoned with,” said Ms Levin.

“We were joined by hundreds of people who tirelessly work to improve the health and wellbeing of our wider community, and it was an honour to acknowledge their work.

“The best health and medical research requires innovation, drive, creativity and ingenuity, and the 2016 Research Australia Award Winners exemplify all of those characteristics,” she said.

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Federal Medical Research Plan: The Health & Economic Roadmap We Need

Media Release: Wednesday, 9 November 2016

Link to the MRFF Strategy & Priorities.

With almost two in three Australian adults and one in four children overweight or obese, two-thirds of Australians over the age of 50 with poor bone density, and one in six Australians with chronic back pain, tonight’s release of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Strategy sets out the roadmap for addressing some of our biggest health issues.

That is the verdict from the medical research community and Research Australia, the organisation behind the virtual doubling of health (NHMRC) funding in 2000, and again in 2005.

“As the organisation that has been championing health and medical research for the last 15 years, we can tell you the MRFF is a real game changer,” said Research Australia Chair, Dr Christine Bennett.

CEO of Research Australia, Nadia Levin said the MRFF Strategy’s vision of a health system informed by quality research is exactly what’s needed.

“Research Australia shares the Strategy’s vision of a health system fully informed by quality health and medical research,” said Levin.

Continue reading “Federal Medical Research Plan: The Health & Economic Roadmap We Need”

Tackling Mental Illness with R&R: Research and Recovery

Media Release: Monday 7 November 2016

Last month, the 300th life was changed thanks to an Australian-first program which takes students and people with a lived experience of mental illness on a life changing adventure.

Recovery Camp brings together future health practitioners and people with serious mental illnesses through an immersive and innovative program.

Continue reading “Tackling Mental Illness with R&R: Research and Recovery”

The Inspirational Fight Against Drug-Resistant Infections

Media Release: 7 November, 2016

It’s a story you would expect to see in a science fiction movie, but the reality of drugresistant infections dramatically changed Matthew Ames’ life forever.

At just 39, Matthew’s sore throat – and its source, a streptococcal infection – led to a series of events that saw all four of his limbs being amputated in order to save his life.

His incredible advocacy work after beating the odds, and through his sharing of his story of recovery, has earned him a nomination for the 2016 Research Australia Advocacy Award.

Continue reading “The Inspirational Fight Against Drug-Resistant Infections”

Brain vs The Bottle

Media Release: Thursday, 3 November 2016

Melbourne alcohol researcher Dr Michael Livingston has been nominated for Research Australia’s Griffith University Discovery Award for his work in alcohol policy, and the impact that he has had in changing ideas around drinking habits.

“Alcohol contributes to a whole suite of health and social problems in Australia, and working on ways to reduce these harms is incredibly motivating,” said Dr Michael Livingston.

Continue reading “Brain vs The Bottle”

Corporate Giving That Goes Beyond The Dollar

Media Release: Monday, 31 October 2016

What started as a local fundraiser has turned into a company-wide campaign for the 140 year old Kimberly-Clark Australia, whose corporate giving has gone beyond a donation, and gone to the heart of what corporate giving can mean.

This has seen Kimberly-Clark nominated for the Research Australia Leadership in Corporate Giving Award, to recognise the contributions they have made to the Sanfilippo Children’s Foundation.

Continue reading “Corporate Giving That Goes Beyond The Dollar”