Ten-year strategy a promising step for health and medical research
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Australia has a new blueprint for health and medical research – a genuine opportunity to strengthen the research system and support discovery science, says the Australian Academy of Science
The National Health and Medical Research Strategy offers much-needed direction, coordination and funding, alongside guidance for how new funds available through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) will be invested.
“Together, the strategy, funding and investment guidance mark a significant milestone towards building a thriving research system that improves and saves Australian lives,” says Professor Sam Berkovic AC, Academy President.
“There are many positive proposed actions in the strategy, such as $210 million towards the Australian Cancer Research Program and Precision Health Research Program, which will advance genetic tests and treatments for Australians.
“It is also encouraging to see strong alignment with structural reforms proposed in Ambitious Australia.
“In particular, the strategy establishes a National Strategy Advisory Council to oversee implementation and monitor progress.
“This explicit connection to the Strategic Examination of Research and Development is exactly the kind of systems thinking our research sector needs – but that connection must be maintained through implementation, not just on paper, and the Academy will be watching closely.”
Key initiatives in the strategy reflect recommendations made by the Academy, including:
- establishing a high-risk, high-reward funding stream for blue-sky research
- a nationally coordinated approach to horizon scanning and priority setting
- a proposed Health and Medical Research Workforce Plan
- a coordinated approach to management of the Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA) and MRFF
- an emphasis on international collaboration and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
The Academy also welcomes the inclusion of $128 million from the MRFF to cover the indirect costs of research. The strategy only applies the uplift in support to MRFF grants – which is important, but only the first step in acknowledging the burden indirect costs on research have on organisations.
“We are pleased to see a coherent direction for how these new funds will be deployed, including the acknowledgement of the significant burden that indirect costs of research put on medical research institutes in particular,” Professor Berkovic says.
The Academy thanks Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM for her work in developing the strategy and her thorough and consultative approach.
