The freeze is over: NHMRC announces funding outcomes

Millions of dollars in long-awaited funding for medical research have finally been allocated with the National Health and Medical Research Council announcing the outcomes key grants.

A total of $652 million was allocated across Program, Project, Development and other grants, announced today by the Health Minister Tanya Plibersek.

The funding had previously been held back by the federal government in an unannounced “pause” in order to review government spending.

This came in the context of federal government revenues dropping ahead of the mid-year economic forecast, and a government that is committed to a budget surplus. By freezing grant funding until after the forecast, the government’s numbers would presumably have looked better.

The Australian Academy of Science today welcomed the funding announcements. “The Academy is very pleased that Australia’s excellent medical research effort will continue to be supported by the Federal Government,” said Professor Suzanne Cory, AAS President.

“We know that there is massive pressure to balance the Federal budget, so it is reassuring that medical research is being given the resources needed to take the work forward for the medium and long term.

Professor Bob Williamson, the AAS Secretary for Science Policy, said NHMRC grants are important because they link basic lab research to patients and the community.

“If support for the NHMRC had diminished, there would have been a real risk Australia would lose many excellent younger doctors and scientists, and the health care benefits they bring,” he said.

“But beyond that, the grants system needs more certainty overall – longer term grants for the very best Australian scientists – because it’s the consistent support of research that leads to important discoveries.

“The fields of research in which Australia is at the forefront, such as immunology or astrophysics, have been supported by the Government consistently for a decade or more.

“When the mining boom is over, it is our innovation in scientific research, engineering and innovation that will keep Australia in good economic shape: long-term support is an essential investment in Australia’s future health, wellbeing and economic security.”

President-elect of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes, Professor Brendan Crabb, thanked the government for its commitment to NHMRC funding in the face of ongoing budgetary pressure.

“We know the government is facing some tough decisions at the moment, so we are very pleased they have recognised the importance of a sustained investment in health and medical research” he said. “This is an investment in the future health and wealth of all Australians.”