2024-25 Budget Update

Summary

In what could well be the last Budget before the next election, the main focus of the Budget has been on supporting families with the rising cost of living and securing Australia’s manufacturing capacity with the Future Made in Australia commitment.

The second consecutive Budget surplus has been delivered, once again due to higher than expected commodity prices. Commodity prices are expected to fall in the future, and the Government has committed to diversifying our economy with more high value advanced manufacturing.

The Government has further elaborated the Made In Australia plan announced by the Prime Minister in April. Shaping up as the signature policy initiative of this Government, it is focused on the green economy industries, resources and defence.

What is largely missing from the Made In Australia Plan is the significant additional public investment in research needed to underpin this manufacturing led transformation of the Australian economy. (There is an increase to the ARC’s Discovery program.) There will be a new strategic review of Australia’s R&D system ‘to determine how we can get more value from every taxpayer dollar invested in research, maximise the contribution of science and R&D to the broader economy and maintain our competitive edge.’ With health and medical research representing 28% of all Australian R&D[1], Research Australia will continue to champion a focus on health and medical research as part of this review.

In the Health Portfolio existing NHMRC research funding is maintained, with a slight increase just to account for forecast inflation, while the MRFF Funding is not indexed and remains at $650m per year for the next 4 years.

In Higher Education, we have seen the first down payments on the Government’s response to the Universities Accord, with a change to the indexation of HECS/Help debts and paid placements for some students. There is also a welcome increase to the ARC’s Discovery Program. Other announcements tonight include a limit to international student numbers tied to universities’ capacity to create more student housing. The limits to international student numbers, however, will reduce universities’ capacity to invest in research in a further challenge to the Made in Australia ambitions of the Government.

The rising cost of living has been the defining political issue of this Government. In last year’s Budget, the CPI was forecast to be 3.25% for 2023-24, The Budget tonight expects inflation to have been 3.5% for the current financial year and to fall to 2.75% over 2024-25.

Inflation increases the cost of undertaking health and medical research and innovation. Consistent with Research Australia’s sustained advocacy on this issue, this Budget sees the Government’s funding to the NHMRC’s Medical Research Endowment Account keep up with projected inflation for the third consecutive year. MRFF funding meanwhile is static at $650 million per annum, meaning it fails to keep up with inflation and is declining in real terms. This is despite an additional $323 million being available from the MRFF for expenditure in 2024-25.

Research Australia will continue working with Government to unlock the full potential of the MRFF. The Board overseeing the Future Fund says $973 million is available for grants in 2024-25, but the Government has only budgeted for disbursement of $650 million. This means an extra $323 million – a 50% increase in the MRFF – could be invested in life-changing and economy-building Australian medical research if the Federal Government realised the full potential of the MRFF.

Key funding for Australian health and medical research in tonight’s Budget includes:

- $1.4bn over 13 years investment via the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
- $18.8m for the national Clinical Trials One Stop Shop
- $1.1m for Australian Prevention Partnership Centre to deliver policymakers the evidence-base for preventive health
- As part of the $32.2m Specialist Dementia Care Program, Australian Dementia Network researchers will be funded to ready the health system for promising new dementia and diagnostic treatment options

Please read on for our summary of what this Budget means for health and medical research and innovation.

Our members-only Post-Budget Briefing webinar will unpack what is in this year’s Budget on Thursday 23 May, 12 noon to 1pm AEST. Members of Research Australia’s eminent Health Economics Roundtable will provide a briefing on the economic implications of the Budget on health and medical research and Australia’s health system – please CLICK HERE to register.

Health Portfolio

NHMRC’s MREA Funding

Funding for the NHMRC’s Medical Research Endowment Account has increased slightly to $940 million in 2024-25, the same as forecast in last year’s Budget. An increase of around 3% over 2023-24, this is roughly equivalent to forecast inflation of 2.75%. There are similar annual increases in the next two financial years. Overall, the MREA is set to at least keep pace with expected inflation over the next few years, an improvement on years of real declines in funding.

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
Funding to MREA 2024 Budget	910.652	940.330	961.099	979.749	999.346
Funding to MREA 2023 Budget	910.652	940.330	962.039	949.747
Funding to MREA 2022 Budget (OCT)	905.160	922.365	938.095
Funding to MREA 2022 Budget (MAR)	891.094	905.355	918.985

Medical Research Future Fund

The funding available from the MRFF each year is dependent on the investment return on its capital. For 2024-25 the Future Fund Board of Guardians has determined the amount available for grants of financial assistance is $973 million.[2] Despite this, only $650 million has been made available as funding in 2024-25. After accounting for inflation, real funding from the MRFF continues to decline.

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
Funding from MRFF 2024 Budget	650.0	650.0	650.0	650.0	650.0
Funding from MRFF 2023 Budget	650.0	650.0	650.0	650.0
Funding from MRFF 2022 Budget (OCT)	650.0	650.0	650.0
Funding from MRFF 2022 Budget (MAR)	650.0	650.0	650.0

There are programs that could be extended or expanded immediately, including support for early and mid career researchers and continuation of the highly regarded REDI program. Other programs could be established or piloted relatively easily, including the Clinical Research Fellowships proposed previously by Research Australia.

Research Australia will continue our campaign to increase the funding released from the MRFF, which has no bearing on the Budget deficit or surplus.

Education Portfolio

Nearly half of all Australian health and medical research is undertaken in the higher education sector, and the Department of Education makes a significant contribution to the funding of this research through several programs, as outlined below.

Universities Accord

The final report of the Universities Accord Expert panel was provided to the Government earlier this year, and the Budget provides the Government’s first substantive response.

There is a change to the indexation of HECS/Help debts and paid placements for some students. Other announcements tonight include a welcome increase to the ARC’s Discovery Program

The limits to international student numbers, however, will reduce universities’ capacity to invest in research in a further challenge to the Made in Australia ambitions of the Government.

ARC Programs

The Australian Research Council’s Funding Programs are critical to Australian publicly funded research, including to the life sciences and medical technologies.

Discovery Program

In a major boost, funding to the ARC for the Discovery Program increases by $105 million in 2024-25 compared to this year, and a further $30 million in 2025-26. This is the first substantive increase in funding for the Discovery Program in many years (although coming off an underspend in 2023-24), and a welcome boost to research funding. It reflects the call of the Universities Accord Expert Panel for a substantial increase in ARC funding for research, although increases have been on the cards since the 2022 Budget, as can be seen in the table below.

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
2024 Budget	524.526	629.744	630.410	648.369	655.549
2023 Budget	552.390	599.499	629.581	646.895
2022 Budget (OCT)	551.867	596.388	622.986
2022 Budget (MAR)	535.915	562.406	585.206

Linkage Program

The ARC Linkage Program has been charged with delivering the Industry Fellows component of the University Research Commercialisation Scheme and accordingly the boost to the Linkage Program’s funding in 2022-23 is maintained in 2024-25 and across the forward estimates, with annual increases of around 8% to 9% per annum, up to 2026-27, at a rate higher than expected inflation. These increases were first forecast in the 2022 Budget and are not a response to the Universities Accord.

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
2024 Budget	328.845	397.556	406.789	435.368	446.903
2023 Budget	343.808	373.989	402.784	430.918
2022 Budget (OCT)	345.731	374.289	400.792
2022 Budget (MAR)	357.704	375.595	390.950

Research Support

In addition to providing funding for the ARC research programs, the Department of Education provides funding to universities to help cover the indirect costs of research.

The 2024 Budget continues the annual increases of around 5% per annum which commenced with the 2022 Budget, meaning funding for this program increases slightly in real terms if inflation is as predicted.

Research Support Program

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
2024 Budget	1005.282	1064.389	1100.438	1131.822	1161.757
2023 Budget	1005.282	1064.389	1101.524	1131.792
2022 Budget (OCT)	1004.314	1058.779	1089.934
2022 Budget (MAR)	978.674	1,002.668	1,028.230

Funding for the indirect costs of research funded by the MRFF is provided from the Research Support Program. With the MRFF providing hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to universities, a substantial increase in the Research Support Program is needed just to maintain the levels of research support funding for research projects at their current already inadequate level.

The Universities Accord Final Report recommended substantial increases in funding for the indirect costs of research; this recommendation is not reflected in this Budget. Research Australia continues to call for a whole of government approach to the issue of funding indirect research costs, including for medical research institutes.

Research Training

The Research Training Program (RTP) provides funding to universities to support higher degree by research students (mostly PhDs). Funding for the RTP declined in absolute terms between the 2019 and 2020 Budgets, and only partly recovered in the 2022 Budget. Consistent with the 2023-24 Budget, the latest Budget provides an increase of 5.8% in 2024-25, before the annual increase drops to around 3.3%. Inexplicably, funding actually declines slightly in 2026-27, before increasing again in 2027-28.

The Universities Accord Final Report has recommended a substantial increase in PhD stipends; this recommendation is not reflected in this Budget.

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
2024 Budget	1154.911	1222.827	1264.231	1259.314	1289.728
2023 Budget	1154.911	1222.827	1264.691	1260.070
2022 Budget (OCT)	1153.800	1216.372	1251.497
2022 Budget (MAR)	1124.344	1151.909	1181.153

Australia’s Economic Accelerator

The Australia’s Economic Accelerator was announced in the March 2022 Budget, with the legislation passed in 2023. This is a $1.6 billion program over 10 years, administered by the Department of Education to overcome the valley of death that currently exists between the point at which public research funding ceases (typically publication) and the point at which commercial investors are prepared to get involved. Unlike ARC programs, the Accelerator is open to application for medical products. The funding for the program reflects the delayed start in 2022-23 and slower than expected spending in 2023-24 with higher funding over 2024-25 and subsequent years.

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
2024 Budget	61.851	177.639	180.742	179.580	170.628
2023 Budget	99.536	163.247	161.646	212.089
2022 Budget (OCT)	99.444	162.395	159.95
2022 Budget (MAR)	99.444	149.498	154.601

National Collaborative Research Infrastructure (NCRIS) Program

The NCRIS Program funds vital national research infrastructure needed to support Australian research. The most recent National Research Infrastructure Roadmap nominated synthetic biology, digital research infrastructure, collections (biobanks) and facilities to scale up materials for clinical trials.

This Budget maintains the forecast annual boost to NCRIS of more than $100 million in 2024-25. The new Research Infrastructure Investment Plan should provide more detail about how this funding will be allocated once it is completed; hopefully it will be announced soon.

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
2024 Budget	402.290	502.648	463.501	372.614	356.057
2023 Budget	402.290	503.116	462.850	372.323
2022 Budget (OCT)	400.028	499.848	458.338
2022 Budget (MAR)	396.826	496.739	454.441

Industry, Innovation and Science Portfolio

National Reconstruction Fund

Fulfilling an election promise, the legislation to create the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) was passed in early 2023.

The NRF will invest $15.0 billion over 7 years from 2023–24 to provide targeted co-investments in seven priority areas: resources; agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors; transport; medical science; renewables and low emission technologies; defence capability; and enabling capabilities. It can provide debt, equity or guarantees, but does not provide grants. The NRFC’s first corporate plan is available here. It commits the NRF to making its first investments before the end of 2024.

CRC Program

The Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Program is important to health and medical research and innovation, with many of the CRCs funded over the 3 decades of the program being health related. Current CRCs include the Digital Health CRC.

The smaller CRC projects program is also relevant, with recently funded projects including the creation of better brain electrodes and development of a bionic medical device that delivers high-fidelity visual-spatial perception for blind people. Funding for the CRC Program is scheduled to increase slightly faster than forecast in last year’s Budget but not enough to keep up with inflation.

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
2024 Budget	200.532	210.044	206.712	209.738	212.161
2023 Budget	200.532	208.046	205.199	209.737
2022 Budget (OCT)	199.962	205.054	201.579
2022 Budget (MAR)	193.117	197.070	193.540

CSIRO

The CSIRO has Flagship Programs relevant to health and medical research and is a key collaborator and partner in research. While it generates much of its own revenue it is also funded by the Government. The Government contribution to the CSIRO outlined in the Budget declines in the next financial year by $92 million before modest rises over the forward estimates. There are slight increases on the funding outlined in the 2023 Budget.

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
2024 Budget	1,008.739	916.459	931.330	932.858	948.650
2023 Budget	1,008.739	934.391	945.155	948.486
2022 Budget (OCT)	1.005.563	919.405	931.573
2022 Budget (MAR)	985.625	899.352	904.477

New beamlines for Synchrotron

ANSTO’s Australian Synchrotron continues its partner-funded $98 million BRIGHT beamline expansion program, with eight new beamlines being constructed. This will nearly double the Synchrotron’s capacity and allow for broader engagement with researchers and industry in a range of applications, from high-tech manufacturing, including aerospace and transport, to health, including drug development and medical implants.

Industry Growth Program

The Industry Growth Program was introduced in last year’s Budget, replacing other similar programs provided by the Department. The Budget forecasts total expenditure of $396.28 million over the four years of the forward estimates, ramping up to $125 million in 2026/27 before dropping back to $56 million in 2027/28.

$m.	23-24	24-25	25-26	26-27	27-28
2024 Budget	37.010	76.765	101.264	124.961	56.238
2023 Budget	37.010	76.765	101.264	124.961

Conclusion

Research Australia will continue to provide analysis and commentary in the coming days and weeks.

Our members-only Post-Budget Briefing webinar to unpack what is in this year’s Budget is on Thursday 23 May, 12 noon to 1pm AEST. Members of Research Australia’s eminent Health Economics Roundtable will provide a briefing on the economic implications of the Budget on health and medical research and Australia’s health system – please CLICK HERE to register.

We invite your responses and reactions to how the 2024 Budget affects you and your work. Please contact Greg Mullins, Head of Policy, greg.mullins@researchaustralia.org

Research Australia continues to advocate to support you and your work!

[1] https://researchaustralia.org/category/hmr-facts/

[2] Australian Government Future Fund, Determination pursuant to section 34(1) of the MRFF Act 2015 Maximum annual distribution for financial year 2024-25, obtained under FOI

RESEARCH AUSTRALIA WELCOMES MEDICAL RESEARCH COMMITMENT

Media Release 1 May 2024

RESEARCH AUSTRALIA WELCOMES MEDICAL RESEARCH COMMITMENT

The Albanese Government’s commitment to medical research today is a critical step towards underwriting the health and economic outcomes that Australians want and deserve.

Research Australia CEO Nadia Levin today welcomed the announcement, and in particular the National Strategy for Health and Medical Research which the organisation has long called for.

“Medical research is the path to a healthy Australian population and a healthy Australian economy, and today’s commitment is a critical step,” Ms Levin said.

“Health and medical research represents 23 per cent of Australian R&D activity and it needs and deserves a coordinated strategy to focus and target it.

“A strategic, national approach will guide discoveries faster to market and to the Australians who want the best possible health care – all imperative for a healthy, wealthy future.

“We look forward to working with Minister Butler to progress the National Health and Medical Research Strategy.”

Ms Levin said that the next step the Australian Government could take would be to fully utilise the funds available from the Medical Research Future Fund.

“As Australia’s peak health and medical research body, we’re pleased to see the Medical Research Future Fund supporting new missions in low survival cancers and a focus on reducing health inequities,” she said.

“The next thing the Government could do is ensure all of the available MRFF funding is flowing through to researchers.”

The Future Fund Board of Guardians determined $973 million was available for grants through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) for the 2024-25 financial year, however the Federal Government has so far only budgeted for $650 million to be disbursed.

It follows 2023-24 when $870 million was available but funding actual funding was still capped at $650 million.

“The health and medical research sector has abundant capacity to immediately use every available dollar of research funding, with worthy projects and medical advances ready to be made,” Ms Levin said.

“The more we invest in medical research the better the health, policy and economic outcomes for Australia in the years to come.”

As the peak national body for health and medical research and innovation, Research Australia played a key role in the establishment of the MRFF.

Media contact: Jack Douglas 0450 115 005

Download the Media Release here.

RESEARCH AUSTRALIA WELCOMES MEDICAL RESEARCH COMMITMENT

The Albanese Government’s commitment to medical research today it a critical step towards underwriting the health and economic outcomes that Australians want and deserve.

Research Australia CEO Nadia Levin today welcomed the announcement, and in particular the National Strategy for Health and Medical Research which the organisation has long called for.

“Medical research is the path to a healthy Australian population and a healthy Australian economy, and today’s commitment is a critical step,” Ms Levin said.

“Health and medical research represents 23 per cent of Australian R&D activity and it needs and deserves a coordinated strategy to focus and target it.

“A strategic, national approach will guide discoveries faster to market and to the Australians who want the best possible health care – all imperative for a healthy, wealthy future.

“We look forward to working with Minister Butler to progress the National Health and Medical Research Strategy.”

Ms Levin said that the next step the Australian Government could take would be to fully utilise the funds available from the Medical Research Future Fund.

“The next thing the Government could do is ensure all of the available MRFF funding is flowing through to researchers.”

It follows 2023-24 when $870 million was available but funding actual funding was still capped at $650 million.

“The more we invest in medical research the better the health, policy and economic outcomes for Australia in the years to come.”

As the peak national body for health and medical research and innovation, Research Australia played a key role in the establishment of the MRFF.

Media contact: Jack Douglas 0450 115 005

MEDICAL RESEARCH PEAK WELCOMES MEDICAL SCIENCE CO-INVESTMENT PLAN

The national peak body for health and medical research and innovation, Research Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s Medical Science Co-Investment Plan which will strengthen collaboration between government and industry.

Research Australia has been working with the sector to look at ways that government can better work with industry, including through new government procurement measures.

“Australia’s health and medical research sector is one of the strongest in the world – ranking 7^th in the world – with health and medical research accounting for 23% of all R&D investment”, Research Australia’s CEO & Managing Director, Nadia Levin said.

“Research Australia welcomes the Medical Science Co-Investment Plan announced yesterday by Minister Husic and Minister Butler and strongly supports some of the areas of potential investment opportunity identified, such as digital health, medical devices, innovative therapeutics and sustainability.”

“There is not only a clear health benefit to investing in health and medical research and innovation but a strong economic benefit, including through the creation of jobs and boosting our economy and local industry”, Ms. Levin said.

Research Australia looks forward to continuing to work with the Federal Government on key policy reforms needed to strengthen Australia’s health and medical research and innovation sector.

This will include convening a Pre-Election Summit on 8 October 2024 in Canberra, bringing together the health and medical research sector to discuss key policy reforms ahead of the next Federal Election.

Research Australia is the national peak body representing all stages of the health and medical research and innovation sector. We represent over 150 organisations across the entire pipeline of research and commercialisation with members including universities, medical research institutes, medical technology companies, pharmaceutical companies, and consumer organisations.

ENDS

PEAK BODY TO HOLD KEY SUMMIT FOR HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH SECTOR IN CANBERRA

The national peak body for health and medical research innovation, Research Australia, has announced it will once again hold a Pre-Election Summit ahead of the upcoming Federal Election.

The Pre-Election Summit, to be held on 8 October at Old Parliament House in Canberra, will bring the health and medical research sector and Federal parliamentarians together to discuss the important reforms needed over the term of the next Parliament to strengthen the sector.

Research Australia’s Summit will explore a number of key themes, including smarter investment in medical research and innovation; workforce needs; how to better incentivise health system research activity; and key challenges and opportunities for industry.

“Around $9.5B is invested in health and medical research (HMR) each year, with the sector accounting for around 23% of all research and development (R&D) in Australia. Considering this significant investment, Research Australia takes its role as the national peak body very seriously as investment in HMR has the potential to return real outcomes for patients and provide new export opportunities”. said Nadia Levin, CEO & Managing Director, Research Australia

“The Pre-Election Summit is always a key event on not only Research Australia’s calendar, but also for the whole health and medical research and innovation sector.

As we head into an election cycle where we are facing budgetary restraints and a health system crisis, it is important for the whole sector to come together to advocate for key reforms as we know that investment in research is the most important thing the Australian Government can do to not only improve health outcomes for Australians but to improve our health system,” Ms Levin said.

The event will take place on 8 October 2024 at Old Parliament House. More information will be provided closer to the event.

Research Australia is the national peak body for health and medical research and innovation, we are unique in being the united voice of organisations across the entire health and medical research pipeline, including universities; medical research institutes; the pharmaceutical, medical technology and biotechnology sectors; consumer groups; and health corporates. This year we will be celebrating 21 years of the Health and Medical Research Awards.

Research Australia Appoints Two New Board Members University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia M. Davidson and CSL’s Dr Michael Wilson

The nation’s peak body for health and medical research and innovation, Research Australia, has welcomed University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Patricia M. Davidson and CSL, Vice President of Research, Dr Michael Wilson, to its Board.

Chair of Research Australia Martin Bowles AO PSM said, “It is wonderful to be able to enhance our Board with two well renowned leaders in health and medical research. Professor Davidson and Dr Wilson bring extensive local and international clinical, academic, and drug development expertise.

“Professor Davidson is best known for her contributions to improving cardiovascular nursing and transitional care, with a focus on underserved populations in a global context. Patricia’s contribution to nursing and advocacy for nursing, as well as her leadership in higher education, will be invaluable as we focus on workforce innovation and change in the health and medical research sector.”

“Dr Wilson is an experienced research professional who has spent many years in the biotech industry. Michael has a track record of developing and leading drug development project teams for a range of clinical indications including rare diseases in hematology, immunology, and respiratory therapeutic areas,” Martin Bowles said.

Research Australia’s CEO and Managing Director, Nadia Levin is delighted to welcome two experienced and dedicated individuals to the Board of Research Australia.

Nadia said, “We look forward to working closely with Patricia to learn from her international experience and amplify the work that she is doing championing improved academic and health outcomes for women. As a representative of the health and medical research community on the Government’s Women’s Health Advisory Council, which was an initiative announced by Minister Kearney at the 2022 Research Australia Awards, this is an important cause for Research Australia.”

“Michael brings extensive knowledge and experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech sector, particularly in early-stage drug discovery and innovation. He is also a member of Brandon BioCatalyst Investment Review Committee and the Centre for Biologic Therapies Governance Committee. This synergy between research and commercialisation is vital for all facets of the health and medical research pipeline,” Nadia said.

Research Australia has also expressed its heartfelt thanks to outgoing Director Dr Andrew Nash, Senior Vice President Research and Chief Scientific Officer, CSL. “While we will miss the expertise and insight of Dr Andrew Nash on our Board, we are delighted that he can continue to share his deep knowledge of the health system with Research Australia as part of our prestigious alumni group,” Martin Bowles said.

Biography

Professor Patricia M. Davidson PhD, MEd, RN, FAAN

Patricia joined the University of Wollongong as Vice-Chancellor in May 2021. Prior to her current role, Professor Davidson was dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore in the United States. In 2021 she was the recipient of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Distinguished Leader Award. This honour celebrates her exceptional contributions to the advancement of global health worldwide.

As a global leader in nursing, health care, and advocacy, Professor Davidson’s work focuses on person-centred care delivery and the improvement of cardiovascular health outcomes for women and vulnerable populations. She has extensively studied chronic conditions, transitional care, palliative care, and the translation of innovative, acceptable, and sustainable health initiatives across the world.

Professor Davidson serves as counsel general of the International Council on Women’s Health Issues and was a past board member of CUGH and secretary general of the Secretariat of the World Health Organizations Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery.

Michael Wilson

Michael Wilson, BSc (Hons), PhD, MBA is Vice President, Head of CSL Research at the Bio21 Institute, CSL’s hub of early-stage research and translational science. Michael and is an Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

Michael completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne in 1995 focusing on recombinant vaccines before moving to the UK in 1996, where he researched the genetics and function of immune cell receptors at Cancer Research UK and subsequently at the University of Cambridge. Michael completed his MBA whist in the UK at the University of Warwick.

In 2001, Michael joined GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) leading a team with a primary focus on autoimmune diseases including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In 2008, he joined CSL Limited as the Head of Molecular Biology within CSL Research before taking the position of Vice President, Head of CSL Research at the Bio21 Institute. Michael leads a team which focuses on the discovery and development of new protein, cell and gene-based medicines to treat serious human disease.

Research Australia Appoints New Chair of Board Martin Bowles AO PSM

The nation’s peak body for health and medical research and innovation, Research Australia, is delighted to announce Martin Bowles AO PSM, as the new Chair of the Board. Martin will take over from outgoing Chair Associate Professor Annette Schmiede, who will remain on the Board.

Martin has been a distinguished member of the Research Australia Board since 2020 and has been an active contributor to the success of Research Australia.

Martin is a visionary leader who has had an extensive career spanning both public and private arenas. Currently he is the National Chief Executive Officer of Calvary Health Care, responsible for more than 18,000 staff and volunteers, in Calvary’s hospitals, home and virtual care services, retirement living and residential aged care homes across five states and two territories.

Martin joined Calvary in November 2017 following an exemplary 40-year public service career spanning a diverse portfolio of industry sectors in the Commonwealth, Queensland, and New South Wales Governments.

Outgoing Research Australia Chair, Associate Professor Annette Schmiede welcomed Martin to the role saying, “Martin will lead an organisation that is going from strength to strength as we continue championing our impressive health and medical research sector, delivering on Research Australia’s strategic goals and, ultimately, working to improve Australians’ health outcomes.”

Research Australia has expressed its heartfelt thanks to outgoing Chair and Digital Health CRC CEO, Associate Professor Annette Schmiede. Annette has been on the board since 2015 and Chair since 2020.

Research Australia CEO and Managing Director, Nadia Levin, said, “The entire health and medical research sector owes Annette Schmiede a debt of gratitude. She steered us through the challenges and uncertainty of the COVID 19 pandemic, and we came through that unprecedented situation in a stronger and more secure situation due to her leadership and tenacity.

Annette was also instrumental in establishing Research Australia’s Health Economics Roundtable which continues as a key community of practice for both health economists and health services researchers. We are delighted that Annette will remain on our Board, her health policy expertise and insight continues to be invaluable.”

Congratulations to the Data Innovation Award Winner: Dr Craig Dalton

Advocacy Award Sponsored by AbbVie – Mrs Catherine Hughes from the Immunisation Foundation of Australia

Introducing our 2023 finalists: Mrs Catherine Hughes

Australia’s health advocates help transform medical research into tangible outcomes for patients and their communities. The Advocacy Award was created to celebrate the dedication and contributions of our most passionate health and medical research advocates.

Among this year’s finalists in this important category is Catherine Hughes, Director of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA), who has demonstrated tireless commitment to improving immunisation rates and community support for infectious diseases research.

FINDING STRENGTH IN THE STRUGGLE

Catherine’s health advocacy journey started when she lost her four-week-old son Riley to whooping cough in 2015. Determined to prevent other families from suffering because of vaccine-preventable diseases, Catherine and her husband Greg launched the ‘Light for Riley’ campaign.

The award-winning campaign took Catherine across Australia, spreading awareness about whooping cough and the importance of pertussis vaccination during pregnancy. Since the campaign, every Australian state and territory have implemented free pertussis vaccinations for pregnant women and Australia has some of the world’s highest pertussis vaccination rates among pregnant people.

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES AND SCIENTISTS

In 2017, Catherine established the Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA) and expanded her advocacy to other vaccine-preventable diseases including influenza, RSV, meningococcal and pneumococcal.

As IFA Director, Catherine works closely with research institutes such as the Telethon Kids Institute to create evidence-based awareness campaigns and educational resources. Catherine has also been a consumer investigator on multiple research projects, using her strengths in community engagement to help bridge the gap between scientists and the wider community.

In recognition of her efforts, Catherine was named Western Australia’s Young Australian of the Year in 2016 and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to immunisation in 2022.

Professor Jonathan Rhys Carapetis AM, FAA, FAHMS from the Telethon Kids Institute, who nominated Catherine, stressed the importance of vaccine advocacy in continuing to improve Australia’s public health outcomes.

“With vaccine hesitancy on the rise, being a loud advocate for vaccines can be challenging, and sometimes even dangerous. Yet, Catherine remains steadfast in her commitment to the cause and ensuring that communities are included in immunisation research and delivery,” explains Professor Carapetis.

“Catherine’s ability to connect with communities and deliver the pro-vaccination message with compassion and clarity is exactly the sort of advocacy we need to ensure the future success of immunisation in Australia.”

Catherine said: “I’m honoured to be a finalist in these prestigious Awards, along with other outstanding advocates for health and medical research. Our hope is that Australians from all walks of life will take action to remain up to date with whooping cough vaccination. We all have a role to play to spread this vital message and prevent the loss of loved ones like Riley.”

The winners of Research Australia’s Health and Medical Research Awards will be announced at a gala award ceremony in Sydney on November 2.

Griffith University Discovery Award Finalist – Dr Caitlin Jones from The Institute for Musculoskeletal Health

Introducing our 2023 finalists: Dr Caitlin Jones

It is an honour to be celebrating Australia’s research talent at this year’s Health and Medical Research Awards. Generously sponsored by Griffith University, the Discovery Award recognises an early-career researcher who is already making an important impact with their work.

Among the Discovery Award finalists for 2023 is Dr Caitlin Jones, who was awarded her PhD earlier this year and has already demonstrated research excellency through her leading role in the OPAL trial: a 12-month long study on the use of opioids for treating back pain.

BACK PAIN AND OPIOID PRESCRIPTION: MORE HARM THAN GOOD

Lower back and neck pain are two of the most burdensome conditions among adults. Over 619 million people worldwide experience back pain at any one time[1] and between 40-70% of those who present for care are prescribed an opioid.[2]

Despite opioid prescription being common, there is little evidence to support its effectiveness for back pain. The harms from opioid use range from minor side effects like constipation, dizziness and nausea, to long-term harms such as dependence, addiction, and overdose. In Australia alone, opioid use causes 50 hospitalisations, 14 emergency department admissions, and 3 deaths every day – at a cost of over $5 billion each year.[3]

A WORLD FIRST STUDY AND A CALL FOR CHANGE

Dr Jones was the first author on the OPAL trial, published in The Lancet earlier this year. OPAL was a study of 347 people with acute non-specific back and/or neck pain in which half of the participants received an opioid (oxycodone/naloxone) and the other received a visually identical placebo. The groups were treated for up to six weeks, monitored for 12 months, and evaluated at the 2, 4, 6, 12, 26, and 52 week marks. Participants also reported daily pain scores for the first 12 weeks.

Dr Jones and the team discovered that those in the opioid group had worse outcomes compared to the placebo groups in several measures including pain, quality of life/mental health and physical function.

Current clinical guidelines recommend the prescription of opioids when other treatments have failed or are not appropriate. However, the OPAL trial clearly shows that they should not be used at all for this condition.

“OPAL is the world’s first and largest placebo-controlled trial of opioids for acute back and neck pain. The previous guidelines for opioid use were based on indirect evidence,” explains Dr Jones.

“The OPAL trial will help shift international guidelines and, as a result, reduce the many unnecessary harms caused by opioid prescriptions.”

The winners of Research Australia’s Health and Medical Research Awards will be announced at a gala award ceremony in Sydney on November 2.

[1] World Health Organisation. (2023, June 19). Low back pain. World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/low-back-pain

[2] Ferreira GE, Machado GC, Abdel Shaheed C, et al. (2019). Management of low back pain in Australian emergency departments. BMJ Quality & Safety, 28(10), 826-834.

[3] National Drug Research Institute. (2020). The cost of opioid use to Australia: $15.7 billion and 2203 deaths. NDRI News.