This content relates to a former minister

$200 million for medical research to overcome health challenges

The Australian Government will invest $200 million in new medical research projects to improve the health of Australian patients through new treatments and support, tackling areas of obesity, mental health and cardiovascular disease.

The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Former Minister for Health and Aged Care

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The Turnbull Government will invest $200 million in new medical research projects to improve the health of Australian patients through new treatments and support, tackling areas of obesity, mental health and cardiovascular disease.

A total of 320 projects will receive funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) following a competitive process.

The NHMRC projects total almost $192 million and will aim to find solutions to a wide range of health challenges including cancer, cardiovascular disease, stillbirths and mental health.

One project will look at the role of social media and bullying in the development of obesity and eating disorders during adolescence and ways to prevent this using school-based prevention projects.

A West Australian- based research project will investigate why the stillbirth rate is so high in Australia, particularly in rural and remote areas, and seek strategies for prevention.

Another grant recipient will undertake research that will target cell dysfunction in cardiovascular disease and cancer.

In addition, the Medical Research Future Fund will provide 17 grants totalling $7.4 million.

These grants will support research into improved care for premature and sick babies, arthritis and osteoporosis, online treatments for youth depression and anxiety and improved health for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Medical research is vital to delivering better care and support for Australian patients, now and into the future.

These projects will save and protect live and all Australians benefit from our investment in health and medical research.

The Turnbull Government has made an unprecedented commitment to strengthening health and medical research in Australia, including our $1.3 billion National Health and Medical Industry Growth Plan.

This Plan is a landmark program for researchers and collaborators to support innovative ideas and discoveries and translate it to new technologies and treatments.

The centrepiece of the Plan is a $500 million Australian Genomics Health Futures Mission which will help more than 200,000 Australians live longer and receive better treatment tailored to their medical needs.

We are also investing in new clinical trials which offer the hope of better diagnosis, treatment and ultimately cures.

The Turnbull Government is providing $248 million to support clinical trial activity through the highly successful rare cancer, rare diseases and unmet need clinical trials and registries program.

Our support for medical research gives Australians access to the next generation of life saving technologies.

This support is in addition to our record funding for public hospitals, new medicines and Medicare guarantee.

A full list of projects can be found on the NHMRC website.

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