Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Medical Research Future Fund Bill 2015 and the Medical Research Future Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2015

This short submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee responds to its inquiry into the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Bill 2015 and the related Consequential Amendments Bill. As a principal member of the MRFF Action Group, Research Australia endorses that group’s submission and emphasises two points. First, the MRFF should remain flexible enough to fund the whole cycle from discovery to application in health care; Research Australia supports the Bill’s existing definition of medical research but shares concerns about its definition of ‘medical innovation’ and backs the Action Group’s alternative wording. Second, the consumer voice should be included at every level, from the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy and Priorities to project selection, and consumer representation on the Advisory Board is described as essential.