1999-2000

Massive health research boost - Australia's gateway to a healing century

The major platform for this vision is an unprecedented funding boost commencing in the 1999-2000 Federal Budget for health and medical research, the central focus of which is better health for all Australians - a critical factor in this nation's social and economic prosperity.

Fact sheet 1

Massive health research boost - Australia's gateway to a healing century

As Australia moves forward into a new millennium, the Government is creating a far sighted vision for a century of healing.

The major platform for this vision is an unprecedented funding boost commencing in the 1999-2000 Federal Budget for health and medical research, the central focus of which is better health for all Australians - a critical factor in this nation's social and economic prosperity.

To achieve this vision Australia must maintain its record for research excellence, expand its capacity in leading edge biotechnology research, and ensure that knowledge from creative health research is more quickly translated into improved treatment, health care and prevention of illness.

Building on research discoveries, we must also maximise social and economic returns with new high technology industry ventures.

Over the next six years, annual funding for health and medical research through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) will more than double base research funding from $165 million in 1998-99 to more than $350 million in 2004-05. The total investment of new money over the six years will be $614 million.

This substantial commitment will build on Australia's tradition of excellence in this field - and it will ensure that we have the infrastructure, skills and industry links to deliver health care based on the most recent, cutting-edge evidence available.

A new era of discovery

A major target for this impressive investment will be the development of a national medical genomics research capability. This will allow Australia's researchers to tap into the most up-to-date data and developments through a nationally accessible bioinformatics network.

With genomics, the world is on the brink of the greatest period of biological discovery in human history. It will provide an opportunity to uncover the blueprint of life so that we can apply that knowledge and improve our health, diet, environment and understanding of the delicate biosystem.

This medical genomics research capability will utilise and expand upon existing expertise and infrastructure associated with the Australian Genome Research Facility (AGRF), which is the world's first national genome facility.

The world class molecular bioscience and biotechnology facilities already under development at the University of Queensland arm of the AGRF will form the focal point for this initiative. It will be linked to research institutes across Australia to maximise our expertise and use of the facility.

The enhanced facility will aid in identifying new genes and techniques that may lead to superior biomedical and microbiological products and services. These include gene therapies, diagnostic equipment, pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

Potentially, this could give Australia an edge in gene research, which could see us leading the world into the century of healing.
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National high impact research

The Government recognises the need for improved capacity and flexibility of funding arrangements for several areas of national, potentially high impact research. Improvements to the current NHMRC grant structures will allow tailoring of research funding to meet the needs of the research undertaking. This will result in significantly improved research outcomes and increased value for the research investment. Substantial new funding will be provided to address these needs.

The complexity of some research questions requires multi-disciplinary approaches involving larger research teams over longer periods. In other cases, the urgency of the health issue, such as the recent Lyssavirus outbreak, requires the development of new knowledge within a short time period.

Translating knowledge into health

Substantial new funding will be provided for research that contributes directly to the health of the population and a well-functioning evidence based health system.

This new investment will enable more strategic research initiatives aimed at the prevention of illness, and support research which focuses on the evaluation of health care interventions in the light of the best available evidence.

Capturing the benefits of research for our social and economic prosperity

The excellence of Australian health and medical research is recognised internationally and our research institutes and organisations are becoming more adept at recognising the development and innovation potential of their research.

Funds will be provided to help build stronger links and communication between researchers and industries to maximise development and innovation, and to better protect the intellectual property created by health and medical researchers.

Infrastructure support

To bolster the high calibre of existing Australian independent health and medical research institutes, the Federal Government is fulfilling an election commitment for a $20 million capital grants initiative. Over the next two years this funding will help to establish new facilities or improve existing research facilities to ensure the continued top performance of our researchers.

Unlike the higher education and public hospital sectors, Australia's independent health and medical research institutes have had no opportunity since 1992 to seek Commonwealth capital funding support. This injection of $20 million over two years will redress this lack of direct infrastructure support.

Additional infrastructure support will be provided for major equipment upgrades and to support the development of bioinformatics networks.

Continuing the tradition of excellence

Achieving a new century of healing will rest with the knowledge and talent of our youth. This Federal Budget makes a significant investment in the training and support of our brightest young researchers, ensuring the rewards of today's investment are reaped for years to come.

This comprehensive range of measures will provide better career and employment opportunities for researchers in both public and private sectors. It will also enable our best young health and medical researchers to gain invaluable overseas experience while seeing Australia as the place to continue their longer-term career.
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Making it happen

The Commonwealth Government recognises that spending more on health research is only part of the solution. The research enterprise needs to be reorganised and modernised to encourage and support cooperative, collaborative research ventures involving scientists working in different fields and in different parts of the country.

To ensure that this massive research investment is ultimately translated into the best health care solutions for Australians, a full time leader will be appointed to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to provide high level scientific and professional leadership into the future. The NHMRC will also play a major role in channelling research into areas of national priority.

Summary of Measures

Contact: Robert Wells, First Assistant Secretary,
Office of NHMRC, (02) 6289 5599