Our work related to health data and medical research

We are developing a National Health and Medical Research Strategy to provide national direction, build on Australia’s strengths in the health and medical research sector, fill any gaps, and continue to attract researchers and investors to Australia.

The National Security Against Pandemic Risk initiative contributed to a global effort to develop vaccines against future pandemic diseases.

The Preventive and Public Health Research initiative will provide $545.1 million over 10 years from 2024–25. It will fund targeted research into new ways to address risk factors for chronic and complex diseases in Australia.

The Primary Health Care Research initiative will provide $100 million over 10 years from 2024–25. It aims to support an increase in Australia’s evidence base in primary health care through research to improve service delivery and patient outcomes, and translate this knowledge into action.

The Rapid Applied Research Translation initiative will provide $230 million over 10 years from 2024–25 to support the translation of evidence (through research) into clinical practice.

Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need Clinical Trials has been consolidated into the Clinical Trials Activity initiative under the MRFF 10-year Investment Plan.

The Research Data Infrastructure initiative will provide $100 million over 10 years from 2024–25. It will fund the creation or extension of national research data infrastructure with a focus on data registries, biobanks and data linkage platforms to support Australian medical research.

The Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry initiative was an initiative under the Medical Research Future. It funded industry placements, mentoring and exchange programs for researchers.

Learn about how the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is reviewing long-acting reversible contraceptive MBS items.

Learn about how the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is reviewing sport and exercise medicine MBS items.

The Stem Cell Therapies Mission is investing $150 million to develop innovative, safe and effective treatments to improve health outcomes, in partnership with patients and carers.

Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance in Aged Care Facilities has been consolidated into the Global Health initiative under the MRFF 10-year Investment Plan. This initiative helped tackle the threat of microbes such as bacteria, viruses or parasites becoming resistant to standard medical treatments.

Targeted Health System and Community Organisation Research has been consolidated into Preventive and Public Health Research under the MRFF 10-year Investment Plan. The activity provides a way to compare the effectiveness of health services and address areas of health care practice with low evidence.

Targeted Translation Research Accelerator has been consolidated into the Preventive and Public Health Research initiative under the MRFF 10-year Investment Plan.

The Traumatic Brain Injury Mission is investing $50 million to improve patient recovery after brain injury. It will support projects that predict recovery outcomes, or identify the most effective care and treatments.

Learn about how the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is reviewing VIR MBS items.