200-plus medical research jobs cut as budget, health crisis grows

Victoria’s cash-strapped research institutes have cut the roles of more than 100 scientists working on lifesaving medical research,as state government funding for key costs drops to “record low”

Victoria’s cash-strapped research institutes have cut the roles of more than 100 scientists, with more expected, in a blow to medical research.

Victoria’s cash-strapped research institutes have cut the roles of more than 100 scientists working on lifesaving medical research in the last year, a peak body has warned.

The Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes Victorian chapter linked the growing number of job losses across the sector to the state government’s “record low support” for the true cost of their work.

New figures from the association show at least 200 jobs have been lost in the last 12 months, including 130 research roles.

The true number was likely higher, they said, as only some institutes reported their figures, and more job cuts are expected, putting critical research and patient’s access to clinical trials at risk.

The Herald Sun understands one institute has already closed three laboratories because it could no longer afford to run them, and unless it receives urgent funds, will likely close three more.

The latest job losses figures come just weeks after the association warned long-term national and state funding shortfalls had pushed the sector to the brink of financial crisis.

They have called on the state government to provide an urgent $60m to cover the costs that federal research grants – also too low – fail to fully cover, such as equipment, IT and laboratory maintenance.

Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes President and Hudson Institute of Medical Research director Professor Elizabeth Hartland.

Hudson Medical Research Institute Professor director Elizabeth Hartland said institutes were “facing unprecedented deficits”, and could no longer cover researchers between research grants.

“Normally, in a medical research institute, we’d be able to use discretionary funds to cover them across that period until they can be successful in the grant system again,” she said.

“All these highly trained people are facing job losses because there’s simply no bridging funding for them.”

She said the Hudson – one of 14 institutes in the association’s Victorian chapter – had been forced to make “difficult” decisions.

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute director Professor Kathryn North said they also had some job cuts, and “everyone” was “struggling”.

“It’s getting to a point where we’re having to make really difficult choices about what we can and cannot do,” she said.

Murdoch Children's Research Institute Professor Kathryn North said they have to make “really difficult choices” about what research to fund. Picture: Mark Stewart

“When we want to do deep dives or take chances to make really great discoveries, that’s what goes first.

She said all their work focused on “providing the best and latest therapies for all Victorians”.

“We don’t want to slow down, and we especially don’t want to go backwards,” she said.

“We . . currently receive less than every other State to help us cover the cost of our state-of-the-art facilities and the latest technologies.”

The Herald Sun revealed last month modelling, commissioned by AAMRI, found nine institutes were on track for financial collapse within just a few years. It found the current funding shortfall of $200m was expected to reach $370m over the next five years.

A Victorian Government spokesman said they had invested more than $1bn in medical research in the last decade.

“We will continue to back our world-leading scientists and researchers to continue driving innovation and create lifesaving treatments,” he said.