The Morrison Government is investing $180 million in ground-breaking medical research projects around Australia to improve the lives of Australians and their loved ones.
Funded through the Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund, 106 medical research projects will receive funding to improve health outcomes, including for Australians with cancer, dementia, brain injuries, heart problems, neurofibromatosis and many others.
$18.7 million will be provided through the Stem Cell Mission for 17 projects that will address illnesses facing many Australians and their families, including heart disease, COVID-19, epilepsy and childhood cancer.
The Murdoch Children’s Institute will receive almost $1 million to evaluate the potential of a bioengineered heart tissue to be used for congenital heart repair in children. This project will radically transform patient outcomes and improve the quality of life of children affected by heart disease.
Through the Genomics Health Futures Mission, 17 researchers will receive a share of $46.5 million for genomics research, which will support health clinicians to identify genetic disorders and diagnose rare diseases faster, positioning Australia as a global leader in this area.
Australian researchers fighting against paediatric and childhood cancers will also receive $18.4 million as part of the 2020 Paediatric Cancer Grant Opportunity and 2020 Childhood Cancer Research Grant Opportunity, to improve treatment, therapies and survival rates for Australian kids.
To improve health outcomes for Australian patients, we’re investing $12.9 million in seven research projects that will use data to improve access, quality, safety and efficiency of our primary health care system as part of the 2020 Primary Healthcare Research Data Infrastructure grants.
Monash University will receive $9.6 million to focus on discovery research projects, including next-generation precision oncology, tumour immunotherapy and epigenomics, which will help make a real world difference for the thousands of Australian kids each year facing a cancer diagnosis and the fight of their lives.
Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Australia. We’re providing $21 million through the 2020 Improving Diagnosis in Cancers with Low Survival Rates Grant Opportunity to eight projects, which aim to improve the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, as well as cancers where the primary site or origin is unknown.
We are supporting home grown research into cardiovascular health, with $20.1 million in new funding to support 16 projects from real-time cardiac monitoring, to after stroke care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, from medicine management for stroke patients to arm strength and rehabilitation.
We’re providing $17 million for 11 research projects as part of the Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission, which will help senior Australians maintain their health and quality of life as they age, keep their independence for longer and access quality care when they need it.
Seven projects will receive a share of $7.4 million to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the 2020 Indigenous Health Research Grant Opportunity.
Australian researchers at the University of Melbourne are investigating further COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Through the COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Research grants, we’re providing $6 million to the University for two projects to help protect Australians against future pandemics.
The 2020 International Clinical Trial Collaborations grant opportunity is providing $5.6 million for three projects, which will bring international clinical trials into back pain, caesarean births and Hodgkin lymphoma.to Australia.
$4.6 million will also be provided through the 2020 Neurofibromatosis Research grant opportunity to four Australian research projects looking into neurofibromatosis – a devastating genetic condition that can cause cancer, blindness, deafness, and chronic pain.
To help improve the lives of Australians who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), we’re providing $3.3 million to six projects through the Traumatic Brain Injury Mission.
These grants are part of the Morrison Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future, which is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system.
Further information about the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff
2020 Genomics Health Futures Mission Grant Opportunity
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
The Australian Functional Genomics Network |
$6 million |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
A national large-scale automated reanalysis program to increase rare disease diagnosis |
$3 million |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
New technologies for improved diagnosis of ataxia and the repeat expansion disorders |
$653,000 |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
Mitochondrial Diagnostic Network for Genomics and Omics |
$3 million |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
The Australian Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN-Aus): An internationally networked national approach for transforming diagnosis for individuals living with rare diseases |
$3 million |
| James Cook University |
The KidGen National Kidney Genomics Program – improving genomic outcomes for Australian families with genetic kidney disease |
$3 million |
| University of Western Australia |
Closing the gap in diagnosis of neurological disorders including ataxias and neuropathies – a trans-Australia collaboration |
$3 million |
| University of Melbourne |
Genetic mosaicism as a stable and robust blood DNA biomarker for precision risk assessment for cancer |
$2.1 million |
| University of Melbourne |
Precision Diagnosis for the Remaining 50% of Unsolved Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies |
$3 million |
| University of Melbourne |
Diagnosis, discovery and novel phenotype characterisation using multimodal genomics in patients with inherited bone marrow failure and related disorders |
$3 million |
| University of Melbourne |
Evaluating clinically relevant biomarkers to improve early detection and treatment of head and neck cancer |
$2.2 million |
| University of Melbourne |
Novel predictive disease modelling using liquid biopsies to improve outcomes in melanoma |
$2 million |
| University of Sydney |
Genomic risk prediction and risk-tailored screening and early detection for common cancers |
$3 million |
| Monash University |
Population genomic screening of young adults to prevent cancer in Australia |
$3 million |
| University of Queensland |
Improving genomic testing rates for inoperable lung cancer patients |
$2.5 million |
| Flinders University |
A liquid biopsy DNA methylation blood test for personalised treatment of patients with gastrointestinal cancers |
$2 million |
| Macquarie University |
Integrated Multimodal Precision Liquid biopsy to Enhance MElanoma and NSCLC Treatment (IMPLEMENT) |
$2 million |
2020 Stem Cell Therapies Mission Grant Opportunity
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
Evaluating safety and efficacy of bioengineered heart tissue for congenital heart repair |
$999,000 |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
New therapies preventing heart damage during chemotherapy |
$879,000 |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
Stem cell models of glomerular kidney disease for understanding disease and developing treatments |
$934,000 |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
Insights into CDKL5 neuronal regulation: pathways to improving neurological outcomes for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder |
$854,000 |
| University of Melbourne |
Stem cell therapies for digestive disease |
$584,000 |
| University of Melbourne |
iPSC clinical trials – population wide screening of patient iPSC’s to reassess high value drug targets for motor neuron disease |
$1 million |
| University of Sydney |
Induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes: a new therapy for “no-option” end stage heart failure
|
$5 million |
| University of Sydney |
Stem Cell Derived-Retinal Organoids to Test Novel Genetic Therapies |
$498,000 |
| University of Sydney |
Improving decisions about access to stem cell interventions
|
$800,000 |
| Monash University |
Locally administered extracellular vesicles for perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease |
$936,000 |
| The University of Adelaide |
A Precision Medicine Based Approach to Treat Craniosynostosis in Children |
$441,000 |
| The University of Adelaide |
Developing an Evidence-Based Model for Building Trust in Australian Stem Cell Research and Therapies |
$995,000 |
| University of Wollongong |
Novel SMART AAV vectors for gene therapy for Friedreich’s Ataxia |
$983,000 |
| The University of Queensland |
Transforming the paradigm of epilepsy care with precision medicine |
$1 million |
| University of South Australia |
Identification and assessment of new treatment options for the childhood cancer Neuroblastoma |
$982,000 |
| South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Limited |
Engineered human stem cells for mutation-specific eradication of myelofibrosis |
$853,000 |
| The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) |
the sySTEMs initiative: systems biology-augmented, stem cell-derived, multi-tissue panel for rapid screening of approved drugs as potential COVID-19 treatments |
$998,000 |
2020 Paediatric Cancer Grant Opportunity
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| Monash University |
The Victoria Paediatric Cancer Consortium: A multi-institutional partnership to catalyze advances in childhood cancer research and clinical implementation |
$9.6 million |
2020 Childhood Cancer Research Grant Opportunity
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| University of New South Wales |
Improving outcomes for children with high risk cancer |
$1.5 million |
| University of New South Wales |
Rationalised inclusion of HDAC inhibitors with standard-of-care chemotherapy to improve outcomes for primary and relapsed neuroblastoma |
$614,000 |
| University of Melbourne |
Studying the origins, maintenance and resistance mechanisms of poor prognosis paediatric leukaemia at single cell resolution to develop novel therapeutic approaches. |
$1.5 million |
| University of Sydney |
Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT): Target discovery to treatment |
$1.48 million |
| The University of Adelaide |
Adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Focussing on the gut microbiota, its role in therapeutic response and potential as an effective adjunct therapeutic in this high-risk group |
$1.29 million |
| University of South Australia |
ABOLISH Neuroblastoma: Defining the Aetiology and underlying BiOLogy of neuroblastoma to Innovate and SHape new options for prevention, diagnosis and treatment |
$1.42 million |
| St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research |
Reducing tumour incidence in adolescents with germ-line mutations in RECQL4 |
$958,000 |
2020 Primary Healthcare Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| The University of Queensland |
Improving surveillance infrastructure for Indigenous primary health care |
$2 million |
| South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Limited |
Registry of Senior Australians: Improving Care and Outcomes in Aged Care |
$2 million |
| University of Melbourne |
Platform to Enhance Prostate Cancer Shared care Integration (PEPSI)
|
$2 million |
Monash University
|
Optimising health information exchange during aged care transfers |
$2 million |
| The University of Adelaide |
Imagendo: Diagnosing endometriosis with imaging and AI |
$2 million |
| Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Limited |
Regional collaboration to create a Kimberley Health Evidence Data Platform. |
$1 million |
| Menzies School of Health Research |
Territory Integrated Care: Primary health data Linkage Using Software |
$2 million |
2020 Improving Diagnosis in Cancers with Low Survival Rates Grant Opportunity
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
University of New South Wales
|
Microbial based biomarkers powered by artificial intelligence for early detection of liver cancer in Australia. The Australian Liver Cancer Microbiome Consortium |
$4 million |
University of South Australia
|
Predicting and Preventing Ovarian Cancer: a machine learning approach |
$1.3 million |
The University of Queensland
|
Implementing a Multivariate Index Assay for the Earlier Detection of Ovarian Cancer |
$2.7 million |
The University of Queensland
|
Lung cancer screening for early detection |
$2.8 million |
University of Sydney
|
Ready to screen. Targeting the high-risk population to improve lung cancer diagnosis |
$2 million |
University of Western Australia
|
The IC3 Trial: Identifying Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer in Primary Care |
$3.2 million |
Swinburne University of Technology
|
Solving Unknown Primary cancER Earlier Diagnosis (SUPER-ED): A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial implementing a new model of care to support earlier diagnosis |
$2.4 million |
Flinders University
|
Shining Light into the “unknown” on Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with Cancer of Unknown Primary |
$2.4 million |
2020 Cardiovascular Health Grant Opportunity
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| Monash University |
Statins and Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Melanoma Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors |
$1.7 million |
| Monash University |
ECMO-Rehab: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Early Cardiac Rehabilitation to Improve Survival and Recovery in Critically-ill Patients on ECMO |
$663,000 |
| Monash University |
New models of rehabilitation to improve work and health outcomes after stroke |
$1 million |
| The University of Newcastle |
Stroke in patients with large Ischaemic Core: Assessment of Reperfusion therapy Impact on Outcome (SICARIO) |
$1.5 million |
| The University of Newcastle |
Yarning up After Stroke |
$485,000 |
| University of Sydney |
Safety and Tolerability of AZD6482 in Reperfusion for Stroke (STARS) |
$2.7 million |
| University of Sydney |
LesioLogic |
$1.1 million |
| University of Sydney |
Digital solutions for heart failure best practice care |
$937,000 |
| University of Sydney |
Guardian Angel: Implementation of a peer support program for people with heart disease |
$656,000 |
| University of Melbourne |
REACHING FOR YOUR WORDS: A Phase IIa umbrella trial of integrated UPper limb & Language Impairment and Functional Training (UPLIFT) after stroke. |
$993,000 |
| University of Melbourne |
Improving life after stroke with tailored support: Innovation in use of national registry data |
$506,000 |
| The University of Adelaide |
The SPRINTS Project: Stroke – Prevention of Reperfusion Injury and Neuroinflammation – a Therapeutic Strategy |
$2.6 million |
| University of New South Wales |
Development of novel, clinically viable strategies for reducing cardiac damage and preventing future events in myocardial infarction (MI) survivors by targeting inflammation |
$2.8 million |
| University of New South Wales |
CardiacAI: Deep learning to predict and prevent secondary cardiovascular events |
$545,000 |
| The University of Queensland |
Measuring, Monitoring, and Motivating Adherence to Self-Managed Aphasia Treatment |
$389,000 |
| The University of Queensland |
Development of drugs to prevent ischemic injuries of the heart and brain |
$1,499,560 |
2020 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Grant Opportunity
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| The University of Queensland |
Alignment, Harmonisation, and Results: translating Core Outcome Measures to Improve Care (COM-IC) for People Living with Dementia into Australian practice |
$999,000 |
| The University of Queensland |
Technology Assisted and Remotely Delivered Anxiety Psychotherapy Intervention for People living with Dementia and Their Care Partners (Tech-CBT) |
$1.6 million |
| National Ageing Research Institute |
Drawing out care: Using animation and digital technologies to support Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) family carers and people living with dementia |
$798,000 |
| Monash University |
Knowledge brokers for evidence translation to improve quality use of medicines in residential aged care |
$2 million |
Macquarie University
|
SENSEcog aged care: Hearing and vision support to improve quality of life for people living with dementia in residential aged care |
$1.2 million |
| Flinders University |
Creating partnership in iSupport program to optimise carers’ impact on dementia care |
$1.4 million |
| University of New South Wales |
Development, validation and implementation of a computerised tool to assess instrumental activities of daily living |
$1.3 million |
| Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health |
Blood testing to predict and discriminate dementias |
$4 million |
| University of Melbourne |
Music Attuned Technology Care eHealth (MATCH): A music based mobile eHealth |
$2 million |
| University of Melbourne |
Development and Implementation of the National Infection Surveillance Program for Aged Care (NISPAC) |
$998,000 |
| University of Melbourne |
IMpleMenting Effective infection prevention and control in ReSidential aged carE (IMMERSE) |
$758,000 |
Indigenous Health Research Fund – 2020 Indigenous Health Research
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| The University of Adelaide |
Working with Aboriginal families and health and social service providers to assess the feasibility of a novel care package to reduce cannabis and alcohol use and social stress in pregnancy |
$675,000 |
| The Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research |
Developing cultural sensitivity and capability through communication training for mental health professionals |
$705,000 |
| University of New South Wales |
Understanding how cultural resilience impacts Aboriginal health & quality of life |
$560,000 |
| University of Sydney |
Understanding the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and wellbeing to health: Implementation of the What Matters 2 Adults wellbeing measure
|
$998,000 |
| La Trobe University |
Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future: Trauma-integrated perinatal care to improve health outcomes for Indigenous parents and infants in a rural setting |
$1.5 million |
| University of Sydney |
VOICE – Validating Outcomes by Including Consumer Experience. Developing a patient reported experience measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accessing primary health care |
$1.4 million |
| The Sax University |
Indigenous Led Evaluation of Aboriginal Programs (ILEAP) |
$1.5 million
|
2020 COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Research Grant Opportunity – Round 3
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| University of Melbourne |
AdaptiVax-CoV: A novel adaptable SARS-CoV2 VLP vaccine to produce broad humoral and T cell responses to S, E and M viral proteins |
$3 million |
| University of Melbourne |
Chimeric next generation COVID vaccines |
$3 million |
2020 International Clinical Trial Collaborations
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| Macquarie University |
Determining the impact of a new primary care model for low back pain: A cluster randomised trial |
$2.1 million |
| University of Melbourne |
The C*STEROID Trial: An international, randomised placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on newborn health when given prior to planned caesarean section birth from 35+0 to 39+6 weeks of pregnancy |
$2.2 million |
| University of Sydney |
RADAR: A randomised PET-adapted study of bleomycin-free treatment of early stage Hodgkin lymphoma |
$1.4 million |
2020 Neurofibromatosis Research grant opportunity
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour Genomics in Neurofibromatosis 1 (MaGeN) |
$1.6 million |
| The University of Newcastle |
The Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) Cutaneous Neurofibroma Consortium: Identifying Genetic modifiers of disease burden to inform treatment pathways |
$1.6 million |
| Monash University |
Defining NF1 clinical variation at the microscale to discover new therapeutic targets |
$818,000 |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
A randomised control trial of remote microphone listening devices in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and central auditory deficits |
$599,000 |
2020 Traumatic Brain Injury Mission
| Institution |
Project |
Funding |
| Curtin University |
An informatics approach to predict outcomes and monitor intervention efficacy following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury |
$500,000 |
| University of Sydney |
From injury to long-term physical activity for people living with traumatic brain injury |
$407,000 |
| Monash University |
PRECISION-TBI – Promoting evidence-based, data driven care for critically ill moderate-to-severe TBI patients |
$499,000 |
| Monash University |
The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury National Data (ATBIND) Project |
$366,000 |
| Monash University |
Exercise therapy for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) across the lifespan |
$500,000 |
| University of Tasmania |
Transforming Awareness, Literacy & Knowledge of Traumatic Brain Injury (TALK-TBI) |
$1 million |
