Welcome to the latest update from the SA MRFF Network! We are excited to share some important information and updates we have compiled in relation to the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) in recent weeks. Let’s dive in!
New MRFF Grant Opportunities
We are thrilled to share the availability of these new MRFF Grant Opportunities that have opened since our last update. These grants present exciting funding possibilities for cutting-edge research in various areas. Here are the latest opportunities up for grabs:
- MRFF TBI Mission – 2023 Traumatic Brain Injury Grant Opportunity
- Close Date: 29-Nov-2023, 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
- MRFF Indigenous Health Research Fund – 2023 Indigenous Health Research Grant Opportunity
- Close Date: 06-Mar-2024, 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
Remember that you can see what MRFF grant opportunities are open, forecast and closed here:
Invitation to Learn about Consumer Involvement in MRFF-funded Research
Consumer involvement plays a vital role in improving the quality, relevance, and impact of research. Join this upcoming webinar to learn more about consumer involvement in MRFF-funded research.
The webinar, hosted by Mr. John Stubbs AM, Chair of the MRFF Consumer Reference Panel, and Dr. Masha Somi, Chief Executive Officer, Health and Medical Research Office, will cover the following topics:
- Discussion on the recently released Principles for Consumer Involvement in Research Funded by the MRFF.
- Examples of how effective consumer involvement is put into practice and why it is critical to high-quality research.
Save the date and register for the webinar at 12:00 pm (AEST) on 3 August 2023.
https://kapara.rdbk.com.au/landers/f90dea.html
Funding Rates for Health and Medical Research
Between 2020 and 2022, the MRFF opened 61 grant opportunities across 21 MRFF initiatives and awarded 454 grants, totaling $1,177.3 million. These grants represent half of all MRFF grants awarded since the fund’s inception.
To learn more about funding rates for MRFF grant opportunities that opened between 7 November 2020 and 5 November 2022, we encourage you to read the Financial assistance to support the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities 2020–2022 report.
National Consultation: Improving Alignment and Coordination
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that health and medical research investment delivers maximum benefit to the community while driving long-term economic sustainability. To optimize this investment, the Department of Health and Aged Care and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) are undertaking a national consultation to improve alignment and coordination between the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA).
This consultation aims to identify ways to enhance strategic alignment and coordination between the two funds. Potential models for reform include:
– A coordination mechanism with broad representation to provide coordinated advice and oversight for greater strategic alignment.
– NHMRC managing both funds separately, supporting both investigator-led and priority-led research.
– NHMRC managing the merged funds, supporting research at every stage of the pipeline to meet the needs of Australia’s complex healthcare system.
For more details and to contribute to this important consultation, please refer to the Discussion Paper, which includes guiding questions to shape your response. All stakeholders are invited to submit written contributions by 11.59 pm on Friday, 14 July.
For any inquiries, please contact HMRconsultations@health.gov.au.
Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities from the MRFF!
Note: The South Australian MRFF Network is dedicated to promoting MRFF initiatives and disseminating relevant information to the research community in South Australia. For more information or assistance, please contact enquiries@healthtranslationsa.org.au