Australian H&MR Facts

Funding health & medical research in Australia

Summary

- $10 billion is spent on health and medical research (HMR) in Australia each year
- More than a quarter (26%) of all Australian Research and Development (R&D) is spent on HMR (Total R&D is around $40.6 billion in 2022/23)
- 4% of all spending on health is spent on HMR (total health expenditure in 2021-22 was $241 billion)
- 0.4% of GDP was spent on HMR (Australian GDP in 2022-23 was $2,564 billion)
- Nearly half of all Australian HMR is undertaken in the higher education sector
- HMR accounts for more than one third (35%) of all R&D expenditure in higher education institutions
- 31% of all HMR expenditure is in the private sector

Expenditure by sector

The following table is an estimate of where HMR expenditure occurs in Australia

Location of expenditure $million
Aust. Govt. (including agencies)	States & Territories	Higher Education	Not For Profit	Business	Total
134	672	4,947	1,387	3,200	10,340
1%	7%	48%	13%	31%	100%

The estimates are complicated because they are:

based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data and the ABS surveys the different sectors for different periods. Government and NFP data is for 2022/23; Higher Education is for the calendar year 2022 and Business is for 2021/22
the ABS categorises data by Socioeconomic Objective (SEO) and by Field of Research (FoR). The SEO of Health generally provides the most accurate estimate but the combined FoRs of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; and Health Sciences (ANZSCR 2020); is used for Business because most HMR in industry is classified not under the SEO of health but under the SEO of manufacturing. The ABS data is not provided at sufficient detail to enable health R&D to be extracted from the SEO of manufacturing.[1]

[1] Prior to 2020 the FoR of medical and health sciences (ANZSCR 2008) was used. From 2020, the New ANZSCR 2020 is applicable.

Australian Government

While only a relatively small proportion of HMR is undertaken directly by the Australian Government it is responsible for providing the funding for a much larger proportion, particularly in higher education and Medical Research Institutes (MRIs). This includes funding provided through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Australian Research Council (ARC). It also includes funding provided to universities through the block grants system, which is tied to the volume of each university’s research and the number of research students.

Australian Government funding of HMR through universities and MRIs

Australian Government funding of HMR through universities and MRIs

NHMRC Funding	$946 million
ARC Funding contribution to HMR (10%)	$81 million
Research Block Grants contribution to HMR (35%)	$700 million
MRFF	$650 million
Total	$2,377 million

Source: Australian Government Science Research and Innovation Budget Tables 2023-24 estimated expenditure for 2023-24

This estimate assumes all MRFF funding in 2023-24 went to universities and MRIs as it is not possible to break this figure down. This estimate does not take into account taxation measures such as the R&D Tax Incentive and programs like the Department of Industry Innovation and Science Entrepreneurs Program, which support the development and commercialisation of research generally, including new medicines, medical devices and therapies. It also doesn’t reflect other Commonwealth Government support provided to universities and MRIs which are used for new buildings and facilities that support HMR.

State and Territory Governments

State and territory governments are responsible for funding research undertaken within the State and territory hospital systems; the provision of support to MRIs for the indirect costs of research; and other programs to support R&D, a portion of which funds HMR. State and territory governments also provide capital funding for stand-alone research institutions (e.g. the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute) and for organisations that combine research with health care delivery (e.g. the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre).

It is likely that the total support provided to HMR significantly exceeds the $672 million per annum captured in the table above.

Higher Education

The bulk of Australian HMR is conducted in the Australian higher education sector, and is funded by the Australian Government, philanthropy and universities own funds from other sources, including teaching revenue for the Australian Government and students. Approximately one third (35%) of all research expenditure by the higher education sector is on health and medical research.

Source: ABS 8111.0, Research and Experimental Development, Higher Education Organisations, Australia 2022, SEO Health ($4,947 million) divided by total expenditure ($13,990 million).

Not for Profit sector

The Not for Profit sector spent approximately $1.4 billion on R&D in 2022/23, of which $1.64 billion (87%) was spent on the SEO of Health. The concentration of research in the non profit sector on HMR reflects the dominance of this sector by Medical Research Institutes (MRIs). The next highest categories were Education and Training with $58 million, Plant Production and Plant Primary Products ($18 million) and ICT ($15 million).

Source: Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non Profit Organisations, 2022-23 PNP expenditure by SEO, 2022-23

Business

Expenditure on HMR represents approximately 15.5% of total R&D spending by business. Much of the R&D expenditure by businesses has an emphasis on the ‘D’ (Development) in R&D rather than research. For this reason it is captured in the broad SEO of Manufacturing rather than Health; the combined FoRs of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; and Health Sciences are used in the above table to estimate business expenditure on H&MR.

Source: Research and Experimental Development, Businesses, Australia, 2021-22 FoR for the combined FoRs of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; and Health Sciences ($3,200,000,000) divided by total expenditure ($20,642,000,000).

For more information contact Greg Mullins, Head of Policy, greg.mullins@researchaustralia.org

Image credit: Professor Len Harrison, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

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 in perimenopause and menopause

Research Australia welcomes the report of the Senate Inquiry into Menopause and perimenopause, tabled 18 September. Our submission was referenced a number of times in the Inquiry’s report, where a number of our concerns and recommendations were specifically highlighted throughout the report and in the recommendations. These include the need for better understanding of the diversity of symptoms which impact women’s lives differently; the lack of robust data; the diverse experiences of different groups within Australia (such as First Nations women or women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds), and experiences of intersectional discrimination.

The report also acknowledged the need for a strategic approach to menopause research to guide the ‘prevention, diagnosis and effective treatment of the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause and provide appropriate support’, which needs appropriate funding investment. We acknowledge the contributions made to the submission by our members, particularly, Professor Debra Anderson UTS and Dr Yvonne Middlewick, Curtin ECU.

Research Australia continues to be committed to advocating for women’s health research. Earlier this year we released a survey to members, and during the next few months we are looking forward to undertaking further consultations with members to inform this work.

——

Research Australia has responded to the Senate Inquiry into issues related to perimenopause and menopause.

Our submission identifies areas in which further research into perimenopause and menopause is required; and where research is needed to improve the understanding of existing evidence on menopause and perimenopause among the medical community, individuals, employers and disadvantaged populations.

Our current knowledge of the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause and their prevalence and impact in the Australian community and economy is patchy. This lack of evidence is impairing the response to perimenopause and menopause in Australia. We recommend a more strategic approach to the funding of research into menopause and perimenopause in Australia to address these gaps.

Research Australia’s submission is available here.

COVID-19 Impact on Health and Medical Research and Innovation

Research Australia’s submission to the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 has sought to highlight the significant and lasting impact the pandemic will have on Australian health and medical research and innovation.

Research Australia’s recommendations to the Inquiry are:

- The establishment of a national whole of governments review of Australian research and innovation to properly quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector.
- Commitment to a comprehensive, fully funded strategy for how and where research and innovation will contribute to Australia’s future prosperity and wellbeing.
- A short-term injection of additional Government funding into research in Australia’s universities and MRIs to preserve existing research capacity while the economy recovers.
- Extending the JobKeeper scheme to universities would be a good place to start, as would redressing some of the rules that have prevented some MRIs from accessing JobKeeper because of their governance arrangements.

Research Australia’s submission is available here.

The Committee published three interim reports before publishing its final report in April 2022. The Committee’s reports are available here.

Australians embrace health and medical research in a changing landscape of healthcare

Media Release
September 12, 2018

Australians continue to place improving hospitals and healthcare as the number one spending priority for the Australian Government ahead of infrastructure, education standards and employment opportunities.

We are pleased to see that more funding for health and medical research is the 6^th most important of the 27 priorities presented in the poll. (It has been consistently in top 10 ever since we started polling in 2003.)

Interest among Australians in health and medical research is high with 89% saying they are interested in health and medical research. However, while confident in their ability to contribute to decision making about the future direction of HMR most Australians don’t know how, and many don’t believe they’d be heard. Our governments and research organisations clearly have more work to do to meaningfully engage with the broader community.
Continue reading “Australians embrace health and medical research in a changing landscape of healthcare”

Research Australia welcomes additional rare cancers and rare diseases research

The Government has today announced an $69 million boost in funding for research in to rare cancers and rare diseases, including $26 million allocated to 19 projects as a part of the Medical Research Future Fund’s “Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Needs Clinical Trials Program”. This program has been expanded from $13 million when announced last year to $26 million in recognition of the quality of the applications received.

A $10 million targeted call for research into rare diseases and cancers is expected soon, and an additional $33 million will be made available in the next financial year to further expand research in this area.

Research Australia welcomes the additional funding, and recognises the importance of funding for these areas which impact many Australian families.

Last year Research Australia made a submission to the Senate Select Committee Inquiry into Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates, which you can read in full here.

You can keep a track of all of the Medical Research Future Fund funding announcements here, or click here to read the Minister for Health’s full statement on today’s funding boost.

Corporate Giving And Innovative Research Have The Greatest Impact

Commitment, support and passion are hallmarks of organisations making a difference and this is even more significant when it’s to fight a devastating childhood cancer.

With very few treatment options and no cure yet, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a devastating childhood cancer, that is highly aggressive and difficult to treat due to the location of the tumor. The only way is through expensive medical research.

At a gala event in Melbourne last Thursday, the national advocacy body, Research Australia awarded the QBE Foundation the Leadership in Corporate Giving Award for amazing support of The Kids’ Cancer Project to raise funds to find a way to beat this terrible disease.

Continue reading “Corporate Giving And Innovative Research Have The Greatest Impact”

How a devastating diagnosis inspired a passion for health and medical research

The Incredible Story of Megan Donnell

When the rare and devastating Sanfilippo Syndrome struck Megan Donnell’s family, she responded by setting up a $3 million Foundation to fund high-quality medical research into the condition.

Sanfilippo Syndrome is an extremely rare, genetic disorder which causes progressive brain damage. Currently, there is no cure. Reeling from the news that their own two children had been diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome, the Donnell family were reportedly told by doctors “not to bother chasing cures because there aren’t any.” Ms Donnell resigned from her role as a management consultant to establish the Sanfilippo Children’s Foundation.

Continue reading “How a devastating diagnosis inspired a passion for health and medical research”

The young researcher using zebrafish to understand progressive muscle weakness

Seventy per cent of human genes are found in zebrafish and it’s this incredible commonality which has helped Monash University early career researcher Dr Avnika Ruparelia to better understand the causes of progressive muscle weakness.

At last nights annual Health and Medical Research Awards held by national advocacy body, Research Australia Dr Ruparelia received the Griffith University Discovery Award for her ground-breaking research into the causes and therapeutics for a group of late onset muscle disorders known as myofibrillar myopathies.

Continue reading “The young researcher using zebrafish to understand progressive muscle weakness”

Research Australia’s Collaborative Strategy

Research Australia’s Collaborative Strategy and Focus Areas are now available for you to download and share.

Our vision

Health and prosperity through Australian research and innovation.

Our mission

Maximise the impact of all stages of health and medical research and innovation.

Our goals

Championing Australian Health & Medical Research

Research Australia is the national peak body for Australian health and medical research. We were set up by the federal government 22 years ago to support all stages of the health and medical research pipeline – universities, research institutes, commercial, consumer, health systems and charities.

Our Voice

Using our collective voice we represent the sector’s interests to government and convene different parts of the research community to affect policy change that benefits Australian health and medical research.

Your Innovation

We work to support and promote the incredibly talented Australian health and medical research community. Utilising our expertise we connect the entire national health and medical research (HMR) ecosystem, strengthening the bonds between academic organisations, the commercial sector, health systems and philanthropy. Together we can improve health outcomes for all Australians.