Health technologies and digital health news

The Australian Government is investing $14 million in research to protect the mental health of generations to come. Funding is from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Learn how we are supporting consumer involvement in research funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

We invite you to join our next Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Research Administration Officer (RAO) Webinar on 29 August 2024.

A report on the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) 2023 Early to Mid-Career Researchers grant opportunity is now available.

New chair and deputy chair appointments announced for health technology assessment committees. This includes appointments for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC).

The Digital Health Blueprint 2023–2033 outlines the Australian Government’s ten-year vision for the role digital health capabilities will continue to play in delivering a more person-centred, connected, and sustainable health system for Australians.

Survivors of brain injuries caused by stroke and other serious events can lose function in their arms and hands. An Australian company is creating a virtual reality therapy system to help survivors regain the use of these limbs.

University students can feel severe psychological distress before their exams. The Vibe Up trial uses artificial intelligence (AI) to find out if digital mental health therapies can help, and which therapies work best for each student.

We have published the outcomes of the Healthcare Identifiers Framework Project Consultation.

Aboriginal-led research is implementing and evaluating the Debakarn Koorliny Wangkiny (Steady Walking and Talking) co-design framework. The aim is to improve mental health services for Aboriginal young people.

A music therapist and a human-computer interaction expert help carers use music to calm people with dementia.

Dr Ira Deveson’s ultra-fast COVID sequencing workflow made global media headlines. At the peak of the pandemic in 2020, Ira’s new workflow reduced COVID variant sequencing time from one week to 4 hours. This allowed authorities to quickly trace the sources of infections and stop them from spreading.

A new website has been launched for the National Gene Technology Scheme – a collaboration between all Australian governments. Learn more about the new website.

Cancer Australia has launched a new, comprehensive digital resource – Guidance for the management of early breast cancer.

The Australian Government has made available $96 million for the national effort fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Read about some projects, supported by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

The international Pragmatic Pediatric Trial of Balanced vs NormaL Saline Fluid in Sepsis will compare two treatments commonly used to treat sepsis in children to compare their safety and effectiveness.

Your phenome is a dynamic fingerprint of your unique biology. The Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC) studies phenomes to better understand diseases and an individual’s disease risk.

Mackenzie's Mission is a ground-breaking initiative which identifies the risk of having a child with a genetic condition.

The Zero Childhood Cancer Personalised Medicine Program (ZERO) is helping to improve survival outcomes for kids most at risk.

Blood clots in leg veins and lung arteries are a significant public health problem. A new international clinical trial will test the 2 drugs currently used for treatment to compare safety and complications.

Researchers tested a drug that could help to treat Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Thanks to donors and almost $2 million in MRFF funding, the trial was run at 6 centres.

Infants with hearing impairment can struggle to learn language and engage fully with the world around them. But a new clinical tool – EarGenie™ – promises to give them a head start soon after birth.

A premature infant's lungs lack a critical chemical that allows them to 'open' or 'fill'. To address this issue, the largest ever respiratory intervention trial is now underway in delivery rooms across the world.