HTSA Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Catalyst Grant Program

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is an important funding source in the health and medical research ecosystem. It is a key objective of Health Translation SA’s (HTSA) to funnel more MRFF funding into South Australia, and to build capacity within the SA system to lead projects that can have state-wide and national impact.

The HTSA MRFF Catalyst Grant Scheme (Catalyst Scheme) provides targeted funding to develop a pipeline of collaborative research projects that address health system needs in South Australia and ultimately increase SA’s success at winning MRFF funding.

The Catalyst Scheme is different to existing state-based health research funding schemes in the following ways:

• It is multi-institutional and rewards meaningful collaboration across health services and academic research organisations/institutes
• It requires teams to include members from at least 2 different health services organisations and at least 2 different academic research organisations/health and medical research institutes
• It focusses on consumer and/or clinician priorities to define and address an unmet health/healthcare need affecting health services in South Australia
• It supports projects that align with MRFF Principles and Priorities to demonstrate local impact with potential to scale beyond South Ausralia

Funding for the current 2024 Catalyst Scheme is provided through generous support from The Hospital Research Foundation Group (THRF Group) the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation (WCH Foundation) and the Cancer Council SA (CCSA), contributing $240 000, $120 000 and $120 000, respectively.

For information on the 2024 round, visit the Catalyst Grant Scheme page. 

Funded by The Hospital Research Foundation Group

Empowering Carer and Older People Dyads: Characteristics and Impacts on Quality of Care and Unplanned Hospitalisations

Project Lead: Dr Tesfahun Eshetie

Partner Organisations: SAHMRI, CALHN, ECH, UniSA

Development of a Prototype for Automated Clinical Casenote Generation

Project Lead: Associate Professor Johan Verjans

Partner Organisations: University of Adelaide, CALHN, Calvary-Medibank Joint Venture, Flinders University

AI enhanced referral system to improve patient and provider agency in rural mental health

Project Lead: Professor Paul Worley

Partner Organisations: Riverland Mallee Coorong LHN, Flinders University, Barossa Hills Fleurieu LHN, UniSA

Developing a Roadmap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing in South Australia

Project Lead: Dr Tina Brodie

Partner Organisations: SAHMRI, University of Adelaide, SA Health, AHCSA

Funded by the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation

Caring for Caregivers: Implementing an evidence-informed program to support caregiver wellbeing

Project Lead: Dr Sarah Hunter

Partner Organisations: Flinders University, University College Cork, NALHN, WCHN

Online family-based group treatment for parents of children with an eating disorder as first line treatment: an economic evaluation

Project Lead: Professor Tracey Wade

Partner Organisations: Flinders University, University of British Columbia, SALHN, WCHN

Read more about the 6 successful 2023 Catalyst Scheme projects here or in our two impact stories:

Don’t miss out on applying for Health Translation SA’s impactful MRFF Catalyst Grant Scheme, opening in May 2024 (Apr 2024)

Unveiling the Inaugural MRFF Catalyst Grant Scheme Recipients (Nov 2023)