Through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Morrison Government is spending more than $44 million in postgraduate scholarships, international collaboration, and research facilities and equipment to ensure Australia’s future competitiveness in health and medical research.
Investment in health and medical research capability through postgraduate scholarships and international alliances is vital for Australia’s competitiveness to be built and maintained.
The $1 billion available for the NHMRC’s 2021 award round, the most ever through the Medical Research Endowment Account, is part of this financing.
Many graduates in medicine and health sciences will be able to pursue their ideas and address the health concerns that our society faces thanks to the postgraduate scholarships.
Today’s commitment also includes funds to boost established researchers’ worldwide collaboration.
Greg Hunt, Australia’s Minister for Health and Aged Care, said that sharing scientific knowledge allows Australian researchers to develop best practises and establish worldwide research networks, which would speed up the translation of findings into better health outcomes.
Minister Hunt stated, “The NHMRC’s overseas relationships bring experts together to achieve global health objectives and improve Australian participation in international research activities.”
“This announcement is also an investment in the next generation of Australian medical research leaders, with NHMRC postgraduate scholarships having launched the careers of many of Australia’s leading health and medical researchers.”
The following is a list of the funds announced today:
- The Independent Research Institutes Infrastructure Support Scheme (IRIISS) will provide $25.7 million to help 21 independent medical research institutes with research infrastructure needs.
- More than $7.24 million in NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships to promote the early research careers of 65 excellent health and medical graduates.
- More than $2.8 million for NHMRC’s participation in the e-ASIA Joint Research Program to foster collaboration with our regional neighbours, sharing important resources and ideas to fight complex regional health concerns.
- More than $2.5 million to support collaborative research with partners through the NHMRC – European Union Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) Grants and the NHMRC – National Institute for Research Health (UK) Collaborative Research Grants, both of which will be available in 2021.
- $5.7 million for 45 grants to fund the acquisition of high-quality health and medical research equipment.
“A robust health and medical research system relies on scientists, doctors, and others working together to share knowledge and expedite discoveries that lead to better health outcomes,” said NHMRC CEO Professor Anne Kelso AO.
“This collaboration starts with postgraduate research students learning from their mentors and sharing skills and ideas, and it continues with international partnerships where researchers from all over the world come together to solve common health concerns.”
