Australian Brain Cancer Mission

About the Australian Brain Cancer Mission

The Australian Brain Cancer Mission is investing $136.66 million to support research into 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 five year relative survival rate for brain cancer has stayed low, at around 22%.

There are more than 100 different types of brain cancer. We need more research to discover new treatments and improve survival.

Objectives

The objectives of the Australian Brain Cancer Mission are to:

• double the survival rate of Australians living with brain cancer over 10 years
• improve quality of life for people with brain cancer
• give every patient (adult and child) with brain cancer a chance to join a clinical trial
• boost Australian research and build research capacity.

In the long term, the Mission aims to defeat brain cancer.

Meeting our objectives

We will monitor the Mission in accordance with the principles and approach detailed in the MRFF Monitoring, evaluation and learning strategy.

The Mission’s next Strategic Advisory Group will refresh the existing Roadmap and develop an Implementation Plan.

Who we work with

A Strategic Advisory Group advises government on the priorities for the Mission.

Cancer Australia manages the Strategic Advisory Group for the Mission.

Our Health and Medical Research Office coordinates this Mission.

Funding for the Australian Brain Cancer Mission comes from:

• the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund 
• funding partners.

Funding partner commitments have been received from:

• 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

We have engaged the Centre for International Economics (CIE) to evaluate this Mission. The CIE will assess the Mission’s progress in:

• supporting brain cancer research in Australia
• meeting the long-term objectives set out in the MRFF 10-year Investment Plan and the MRFF Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Strategy.

An Evaluation Advisory Panel of up to 4 national and international members will oversee the evaluation and guide the CIE.

Evaluation findings are due in the second quarter of 2023 and will inform future investments through the Mission.

More information is available from MRFF.evaluations@health.gov.au.

Contact

For more information, contact us.