$62 million in grants to improve Australians health

The Morrison Government is supporting nine Australian researchers with almost $62 million to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians by accelerating research knowledge and outcomes into health care and practice.

Funded through the Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), the 2020 Rapid Applied Research Translation (RART) Grant Opportunity is investing $216 million over 10 years and focuses on turning research findings into real health benefits that help Australian patients.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said Australia continues to be a global leader in health and medical research, which will help us improve and save lives.

“These research projects range from helping the youngest to the oldest Australians, in the biggest cities to our smallest and most remote communities,” Minister Hunt said.

“Our Government continues to provide unprecedented support to health and medical research, as we back our best and brightest researchers to transform today’s ideas into breakthrough treatments for the patients of tomorrow.”

The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health will receive $9.9 million to lead work to improve the lives of young people who have a stroke, who are often misdiagnosed and underserved in the current health system.

Led by Professor Julie Bernhardt, the team is developing an innovative digital service for this group to overcome geographic barriers and respond to the user’s needs. It will foster the individual’s ability to take control, engage in and direct their long-term care by helping them with communication and cognitive challenges.

This work has the potential to improve lives and reduce the burden of strokes on young people, their families and carers, and on the Australian community.

Additionally, Western Alliance Health Research (WAHR) will receive $9 million to deliver better health care at home for older people living in regional and rural Australia.

Minister for Regional Health, Dr David Gillespie, said the WAHR project would help to improve health outcomes for elderly Australians in regional, rural and remote areas.

“Offering more support and health care to aging Australians in their own home, means they’re able to comfortably and safely stay at home longer without the need to re-locate into a care facility,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Working initially in Western Victoria, the researchers are identifying the key challenges to providing health care at home and testing new ways to deliver part of that care virtually. They’ll find local solutions and develop a blueprint to scale it nationally.”

The Morrison Government’s $20 billion MRFF, is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research, helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system.