About the Australian Brain Cancer Mission
The Mission is investing $126.4 million to support research into brain cancer. This consists of $50 million from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and $76.4 million to date in commitments from funding partners.
The Mission aims to improve the quality and length of life of people with brain cancer. In the long term, the Mission aims to defeat brain cancer.
Why it is important
Around 2000 Australians develop brain cancer every year. Over the last 30 years, the number of people surviving other types of cancers has steadily improved. However, the 5-year relative survival rate for brain cancer has stayed low at around 23%.
There are more than 100 different types of brain cancer. We need more research to discover new treatments and improve survival rates.
Objectives
The Mission’s objectives are to:
- improve patient survival, quality of life and care experiences for children and adults
- advance our fundamental understanding of brain cancer
- increase and enable equitable access and participation in clinical trials
- expand research platforms and technologies
- improve healthcare services
- increase researcher capacity and excellence
- strengthen partnerships between academia, industry, community and charities.
Meeting our objectives
The Australian Brain Cancer Mission Expert Advisory Panel has reviewed and updated the Mission’s Roadmap and developed an Implementation Plan.
This is to advise the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing on the strategic priorities for research through the Mission. These documents will inform future Australian Brain Cancer Mission grant opportunities.
We published the current Roadmap and Implementation Plan in March 2025.
The panel sought community feedback on the draft Roadmap and Implementation Plan through a national consultation between 8 November 2024 and 20 December 2024.
MRFF Australian Brain Cancer Mission strategic documents
Who we work with
The Australian Brain Cancer Mission Expert Advisory Panel advised the minister on the Mission’s priorities between April 2024 and April 2025.
We deliver the Mission in partnership with Cancer Australia. Cancer Australia leads engagement and collaboration with the Mission’s funding partners.
Our Health and Medical Research Office coordinates this Mission.
Mission funding partners include:
- Cure Brain Cancer Foundation ($20 million)
- Minderoo Foundation ($10 million)
- Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer ($5.4 million)
- Mark Hughes Foundation ($3 million)
- Children’s Hospital Foundation Queensland ($10 million)
- State of Victoria ($2 million)
- The Kids’ Cancer Project ($5.3 million)
- State of New South Wales ($7.5 million)
- Financial Markets Foundation for Children ($5 million)
- Robert Connor Dawes Foundation ($1.25 million)
- ACT Health and Canberra Health Services ($3.95 million)
- NeuroSurgical Research Foundation ($3 million).
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
During 2022 and 2023, we engaged the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to review the Mission. The CIE assessed the Mission’s progress in:
- supporting brain cancer research in Australia
- meeting the long-term objectives set out in the Australian Brain Cancer Research Roadmap, MRFF 10-year Investment Plan and the MRFF Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Strategy.
An evaluation advisory panel guided the review. Members of the panel were:
- Dr Raelene Endersby (Chair)
- Professor Alex Brown
- Mr Yasser El-Ansary
- Professor Ian Frazer AC
- Ms Mariann McNamara
- Professor W K Alfred Yung.
Read the outcomes of the Review of the Australian Brain Cancer Mission.
Learn more about MRFF monitoring, evaluation and learning.
Mission documents
- MRFF Australian Brain Cancer Mission strategic documents
- MRFF Australian Brain Cancer Mission Roadmap and Implementation Plan Refresh National Consultation Report – February 2025
- Australian Brain Cancer Research Roadmap – 2019
- Review of the Australian Brain Cancer Mission.
Contact
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) contact