$400m funding boost to pave way for medical breakthroughs
Over 250 research projects will be bankrolled by the Morrison Government thanks to $400 million funding boost that hopes to foster “world-leading” medical breakthroughs and help coronavirus research.
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Victorian medical experts will receive almost half of a $400 million federal funding boost for research tackling everything from binge eating and online depression treatments to dementia screening and genetic cancer risks.
The Herald Sun can reveal 267 research projects will be bankrolled by the Morrison Government on Wednesday, including $84.7 million for 61 programs aiming to find new ways to tackle infectious diseases, which could be used to help coronavirus research.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the “world-leading” research would “improve the lives of all Australians”. Other projects include:
— STUDYING how ketamine can be used to treat depression.
— CREATING early intervention and prevention programs for boys and men with eating and body image disorders.
— TESTING whether kids can be kept out of hospital by providing intravenous antibiotics orally or at home.
— INTEGRATING 3D printing into one-step surgery to regenerate joint cartilage.
— INVESTIGATING how wearable diagnostic tools can be used to monitor conditions including epilepsy, pre-eclampsia and heart attacks.
While grant applications closed before the coronavirus pandemic, Health Minister Greg Hunt said some of the work “may contribute to our understanding of COVID-19 and translate into new treatment strategies and trials”.
He pointed to a $1.7 million study by Monash University’s Professor Allen Cheng, which he said would “transform the prevention and treatment of influenza and its complications by developing innovative public health and treatment strategies that can be applied globally”.
Victorian researchers will receive $184 million in funding — from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund — for 124 projects.
Across the country, $46.5 million will be spent on cardiovascular disease, $87.1 million on cancer and $54 million on mental health.
“Our government will strengthen Australians’ health through research to prevent illness and deliver better health care as we recover and restore our nation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Hunt said.
“This vital investment across the broad health spectrum will continue the proud Australian tradition of discovery and translation for the better health for all.”
Another $42 million worth of grants is currently being awarded through the Medical Research Future Fund for specific coronavirus research.