New $100 million nationwide program for clinical trials to be launched in Hobart

A new $100 million health research fund aims to remove barriers to participating in clinical trials for the one-third of Australians living in regional areas.

FEDERAL Health Minister Greg Hunt will on Friday use Tasmania to launch a new program aimed at delivering clinical medical research trials in regional areas.

Mr Hunt will visit the University of Tasmania to spruik the Federal Government’s $100 million Medical Research Future Fund.

The Morrison Government announced the program in April as a pre-election commitment.

It is not yet known how much of the funding package would be available to Tasmanian researchers.

Grant applications for the program open on Friday.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt will visit Tasmania to launch a $100 million research grants program.

Mr Hunt said the funding would improve the health of those in rural, remote and regional areas through access to innovative clinical trials.

“Australians in rural, regional and remote areas face barriers to taking part in clinical trials, including distance, cultural difference, geographical isolation and workforce capacity,’’ he said.

“Clinical trials are a significant contributor to advancing new drugs, medical devices and treatments.

“Almost a third of Australians live in rural, regional and remote areas, and rural and remote communities have significantly worse health outcomes, and shorter life expectancies.

“People in rural, remote and regional areas should not be disadvantaged when it comes to accessing trials, purely because of where they live.”

Mr Hunt said the fund would seek to remove barriers to participating in clinical trials, including improving facilities and equipment, reducing costs for patients and increasing research capacity.

He said the fund was about ensuring patients could access clinical trials where they live.