Australian Government Commits a Further $750,000 to MS Research
Parliamentary Secretary for Health Mark Butler has announced the Australian Government will provide a further $750,000 to Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MSRA) over the next three years.
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16 June 2010
Parliamentary Secretary for Health Mark Butler today announced the Australian Government will provide a further $750,000 to Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MSRA) over the next three years.
This builds on $750,000 provided to the MSRA over the past three years and will help MSRA further develop its research strategy to accelerate advances that will prevent, better treat and ultimately cure multiple sclerosis (MS). It will also assist the MSRA to broaden their funding base.
MS is a disease that affects the central nervous system and can interfere with the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. It is estimated that 18,000 people in Australia are living with MS.
“A cure for MS remains frustratingly elusive and its cause is largely unknown. However, Australia is making a significant contribution to the international research effort and knowledge base on this debilitating disease, bringing us ever closer to solving this medical mystery,” Mr Butler said.
“Today’s $750,000 investment to the MSRA is in addition to the $21.3 million the Rudd Government has provided to the National Health and Medical Research Council for MS research over the last three years (2007-2009).
Overall, the Australian Government is providing more than $715 million for the nation’s health and medical research efforts.
“This Government continues to support the nation’s best and brightest minds to maintain our place at the forefront of all major areas of health research, including multiple sclerosis,” Mr Butler said.
MSRA-funded research has resulted in two world-class breakthroughs, including a confirmed link between the Epstein Barr Virus and MS, and the discovery of two highly significant MS genetic associations. For more information on
MS and the work of the MSRA, please see: http://www.msra.org.au/.
Media contact: Samantha Regione 0418 112 688
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