About the Cardiovascular Health Mission
The Cardiovascular Health Mission is a $220 million research fund that supports a large program of work to improve heart health and reduce stroke in Australia.
The term 'cardiovascular disease' includes many different conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. The most common and serious types of cardiovascular disease are:
- coronary heart disease
- stroke
- heart failure.
Why it is important
The Mission supports research to improve heart health and reduce stroke in Australia.
Cardiovascular disease has a big impact on Australians.
- Coronary heart disease is the leading single cause of disease burden death in Australia – causing 11% of all deaths (42% of cardiovascular disease deaths).
- Stroke causes around 5% of all deaths (19% of deaths due to cardiovascular disease).
- Coronary heart disease also accounted for almost 6.9% of the total burden of disease in 2015.
- Our health system spent $2.2 billion on coronary heart disease in 2015–16.
Objectives
The objective of the Mission is to make transformative improvements in cardiovascular health and stroke management for all Australians.
Meeting our objectives
The Cardiovascular Health Mission Expert Advisory Panel has developed a Roadmap and Implementation Plan to advise the Minister for Health and Aged Care on the strategic priorities for research investment through the Mission.
The draft Roadmap and Implementation Plan were reviewed by an international panel of experts on 12 November 2020 who provided expert feedback and advice in the context of relevant activities occurring internationally. See the Cardiovascular Health Mission International Review of the Roadmap and Implementation Plan report.
The draft Roadmap and Implementation Plan also underwent a national consultation between 14 December 2020 and 23 April 2021 to seek community feedback on these documents. See the Cardiovascular Health Mission Roadmap and Implementation Plan National Consultation Report.
Based on the feedback from the international review panel and the national consultation, changes were made to the final Roadmap and Implementation Plan.
The Roadmap and Implementation Plan for this Mission were published in September 2021 and will be used to develop the Mission’s grant opportunities.
MRFF Cardiovascular Health Mission strategic documents
Who we work with
The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) funds the Mission.
The Cardiovascular Health Mission Expert Advisory Panel provides advice to the Minister for Health and Aged Care on the strategic priorities for research investment through the Mission by developing a Roadmap and Implementation Plan.
Our Health and Medical Research Office oversees this and other MRFF initiatives.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources administer this Mission.
Apply for funding
View the MRFF grants calendar to see which grants are open, when applications close and when we expect to award funding.
Register with GrantConnect to receive notifications about future funding opportunities under this Mission.
Grants awarded
See a list of all MRFF grant recipients.
Monitoring, evaluation and learning
In 2024 we worked with Policy by Proxy to review the Cardiovascular Health Mission. Policy by Proxy assessed the Mission’s progress in:
- supporting cardiovascular disease and stroke research in Australia
- meeting the objectives set out in the:
A Mission Review Panel guided the review. Members of the panel were:
- Dr Dan Grant (Chair)
- Dr Angela Dos Santos
- Professor Anna Ranta
- Ms Imelda Lynch
- Ms Jennifer Muller PSM
- Dr Lee Nedkoff.
Read the outcomes of the Review of the MRFF Cardiovascular Health Mission.
Learn about MRFF monitoring, evaluation and learning.
Contact
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) contact
Department of Industry, Science and Resources