The MRFF provides a unique opportunity to transform Australian health and medical research and innovation.
The Health Minister has appointed an Advisory Board of eminent Australians to develop a five-year Strategy for the MRFF and the funding priorities for the first two years.
The Australian Medical Research Advisory Board supporting the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has announced the commencement of a two stage consultation process on the five-year Strategy and two-year Priorities. The first stage is a public call for submissions.
A consultation Paper and more information in relation to making a submission are available on the Department of Health website. Submissions close on 6 June 2016. This will be followed by a second stage of targeted consultations to be held in July.
Continue reading “Medical Research Future Fund consultations commence”
Media Release: Wednesday 4 May 2016
Research Australia, which represents 160 health and medical research organisations, has described last night’s budget as mixed bag – with some wins, some losses and some more detail required.
“The Federal Government is making all of the right noises when it comes to innovation, health and research, and it is pleasing that they remain on the agenda,” said CEO Nadia Levin.
“The budget would be described by my members as a combination of ‘treatments, placebos and nocebos’, and the challenge for government is to back it up with funding.”
The following are some of the key announcements in the 2016-17 Budget which affect health and medical research. Information has been drawn from the budget papers, including portfolio and agency statements. The Budget papers are available here.
The Budget has confirmed the Government’s continued commitment to the MRFF. However, it is now expected to meet the $20 billion target in 2020-21, a year later than first projected in the Budget in 2014 (Note 1). 2019-20 was confirmed as the target date for full capitalisation of the MRFF as recently as December last year, in the NISA Fact Sheet on the Biomedical Translation Fund (Note 2).
Continue reading “The 2016-17 Budget: Health and Medical Research”
Research Australia welcomes the news that the membership of the MRFF Advisory Board is to be announced today by the Health Minister, the Hon. Sussan Ley. The members are:
Professor Ian Frazer, AC (Chair)
Inaugural President of Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
Former Director of the Translational Research Institute
Former Australian of the Year
Continue reading “Research Australia welcomes announcement of MRFF Advisory Board”
Research Australia has made a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the MRFF Bill in its own name and as a principal member of the MRFF Action Group. While largely supportive of the MRFF Bill, Research Australia and the other members of the MRFF Action Group have proposed some amendments to the Bill to:
MRFFAG Submission to Medical Research Future Fund Bill
Research Australia Submission Medical Research Future Fund Bill
Research Australia has made a submission to the Treasurer in relation to the 2015-16 Budget. Research Australia’s submission urges the Government to implement the MRFF and to invest in health and medical research as a means of improving the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of Australia’s health system.
