This content relates to a former minister

$33 million research funding to fight rare cancers and rare diseases

The Australian Government will provide $33 million to our world class researchers to continue the fight against rare cancers and rare diseases, giving hope to thousands of patients.

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

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The Turnbull Government will provide $33 million to our world class researchers to continue the fight against rare cancers and rare diseases, giving hope to thousands of patients.

Although we have seen increased survival rates for some cancers such as breast and bowel cancer, survival rates for rare cancers such as brain and ovarian cancer have remained relatively unchanged for some time.

It is a tragedy that rare cancers are estimated to cause nearly 40 per cent of total cancer deaths in 2017.

This funding will create opportunities to address these devastating survival rates associated with some of our cruellest cancers and diseases.

I am committed to doing more and the Turnbull Government will continue to invest in research to find answers to these challenges.

This funding will create opportunities for new clinical trial participation and allow researchers to contribute to advancing new drugs, medical devices and treatments to improve health outcomes for people living with rare cancers and rare diseases.

We want Australia to be the first place in the world for new medical trials, giving Australian patients first access to the best medicine and treatments.

Applications are now open for the third grant round under the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need Clinical Trials Program.

This funding will be made available through the Government’s $20 billion investment in Medical Research Future Fund

In January, $26.6 million was awarded to 19 clinical trial activities addressing rare cancers, rare diseases and unmet need, which included clinical trials projects for conditions such as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in infants, aplastic anaemia and multiple sclerosis.

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

This is on top of a $500 million, ten-year Australian Genomics Health Futures Mission which will help more Australians live longer and receive better treatment tailored to their medical needs.

The grant applications will remain open until 15 August 2018. Details are available on the NHMRC's website.

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