In this issue

1. AAMRI news – Convention update
2. Government update –  new Government administrative arrangement
3. Sector news – new $750m Queensland Cancer Centre
4. NHMRC update –  A Guide to support the Code
5. MRFF update – Grant variation policy
6. Funding and award opportunities – Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Research Grants open
7. Reports and resources – National Standard Operating Procedures for Clinical Trials
8. Events and courses –  Conversation on Ageing: Laureate Professor Peter Doherty

Do you have something that you would like featured in a future newsletter? Send it through to communications@aamri.org.au

1. AAMRI news

AAMRI is recruiting a new CEO

After six years in the role Dr Peter Thomas will be moving on from AAMRI on 20 July and will be moving to the Heart Foundation to take up the position of National Manager, Public and Local Affairs. AAMRI is now recruiting a new CEO. If you would like to lead an influence peak body organisation then we want to hear from you!

AAMRI Convention – potential change of date

The change of government means that it is highly likely that the parliamentary sitting calendar will change. As the AAMRI Convention is held to coincide with a sitting week it is probable that the dates of the Convention will also need to be changed. AAMRI will send out updated communications as soon the new sitting calendar is confirmed.

2.  Government update

Albanese Ministry

Of note to our sector are the following:

• Minister for Health and Aged Care – The Hon Mark Butler MP
• Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care – Ged Kearney MP
• Minister for Industry and Science – Ed Husic MP
• Minister for Education – The Hon Jason Clare MP

New Administrative Arrangement Orders

The Government has published new Administrative Arrangement Orders outlining the portfolio responsibilities for different departments. There are not many notable changes for the health and medical research sector. To summarise the arrangements of note:

• Department of Health & Aged Care – NHMRC, health research, gene technology regulation Finance – administration of the MRFF Act and the fund (as is the case)
• Department of Education – ARC, block grants, university research policy, higher education policy, research infrastructure (including NCRIS)
• Department of Industry, Science and Resources – CSIRO, science policy, science engagement and awareness, biotechnology (excluding gene tech)

Dutton Shadow Ministry

Of note to our sector are the following:

• Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care – Senator the Hon Anne Ruston
• Shadow Minister for Science, the Digital Economy and Government Services – The Hon Paul Fletcher MP
• Shadow Minister for Education – The Hon Alan Tudge MP

Consultations

National One Stop Shop – public forums

Phase 2 consultations on the National One Stop Shop for clinical trials and health-related human research are now underway. Register here to attend the public consultations forums being held on Fri 17 June, Fri 24 June and Wed 29 June 2022.

NSW industry policy blueprint

Stakeholders are now being asked to provide input on what will be the state’s first white paper on industry policy. Open until 24 June 2022.

Review of the South Australian Mental Health Act 2009

People are invited by the independent South Australian Law Reform Institute (SALRI) based at the University of Adelaide to share their experiences in using, accessing and dealing with South Australia’s mental health laws as the first stage in a review of the Mental Health Act 2009 (SA). Closes 14 July 2022.

National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is proposing to include a revised Chapter 2.1 in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, 2007 (updated 2018). Closes 01 Aug 2022.

3.  Sector news

Reforming Australia’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) System

As part of Medicine Australia’s five-year Strategic Agreement with the Federal Government there will be an independent review of Australia’s HTA system – the first of its kind in nearly 30 years. The Review will run from July 2022 – June 2023.

Harnessing research for better health: A vision for integrating research into healthcare

The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences is conducting a project to improve healthcare for Australians by better enabling research to be conducted within the health system.

New $750m Queensland Cancer Centre

A brand new world class stand alone cancer hospital will be built in Brisbane as part of this year’s record health budget.

Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) launched in VIC

The reNEW partnership between the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the University of Copenhagen, and Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands will bring together experts from around the world.

Registration for importing or manufacture industrial chemicals

Universities, colleges, research institutes, charities and not-for-profit organisations that import or manufacture industrial chemicals (and products designed to release industrial chemicals) may need to register with the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme.

Accolades for Australian clinical trials at annual ACTA awards

Four major awards were presented at the awards evening on 20 May 2022, with the Trial of the Year award going to Professor Steve Webb’s REMAP-CAP trial.

Funding awarded:

• A total of $2.3 million in funding has been awarded for implementation science research in four program areas in WA.
• $2.25 million for new clinical trials centre to open in Joondalup, WA.
• $10m has been awarded to 51 projects in WA as part of the Research Excellence Awards 2022, these Awards are part of WA’s Future Health Research and Innovation Fund.

New funding announced:

• Breakthrough Victoria and University of Melbourne launch  $15 million fund to fast-track commercialisation of Victorian research.
• $119 million investment over 10 years in the 2022-23 NSW Budget for the translation of local RNA research into new products, services and jobs.
• $2 million shared across 12 projects for the first round of recipients from the mRNA Victorian Research Acceleration Fund (mVRAF).

4. NHMRC update

NHRMC Research Integrity Advisors: A Guide supporting the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research

To support the implementation of the 2018 Code, NHMRC, the Australian Research Council and Universities Australia have developed a suite of guides, one of which is the Research Integrity Advisors Guide.

Is COVID impacting your NHMRC/MRFF funded research?

The NHMRC and the MRFF have put in place measures to help assist researchers whose research has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Further information is available on the NHMRC website or in the latest MRFF newsletter.

5.  MRFF update

MRFF webinar presentation resources now available

On 12 April 2022, Dr Masha Somi, Chief Executive Officer of the Health and Medical Research Office in the Department of Health and Aged Care, hosted the most recent MRFF webinar, now available online.

Medical Research Future Fund Grant Variation Policy

The MRFF has released a document that outlines the Department of Health’s policy position on varying a MRFF grant agreement.

Subscribe to the MRFF newsletter

To stay updated about MRFF-related changes, you can review the previous editions of the MRFF newsletter and subscribe to their email list.

6.  Funding and award opportunities

EOIs open for $8 million Tech Central Research & Innovation Infrastructure Fund

The NSW Government is calling for expressions of interest from universities and research organisations to provide physical and digital infrastructure for the Tech Central Precinct, Sydney. Expressions of interest are open until 5pm AEST Friday 17 June 2022.

2023 Cure Cancer EOI for early career researchers. Closes 5pm AEST, 20 June 2022.

NHMRC-AMED 2022 Dementia Collaborative Research Scheme funding commencing in 2022, closes 22 June 2022.

Research Establishment Fellowships, closes 27 June 2022.

DMTC seeks collaborative project proposals in medical countermeasures, EOIs close 30 June 2022.

MRFF 2021 Clinical Trials Activity grant opportunity, minimum data 22 June 2022, closes 06 July 2022.

Arthritis Australia Grants Programme 2023, including fellowships, overseas awards and scholarships. Closes 08 July 2022.

PhD Scholarships – Blood Cancer – from The Leukaemia Foundation and the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand, closes 10 July 2022.

MRFF – 2021 Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant Opportunity, minimum data 29 June 2022, closes 13 July 2022.

MRFF – 2021 Chronic Respiratory Conditions grant opportunity, minimum data 29 June 2022, closes 13 July 2022.

MRFF – Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative – 2021 Consumer-Led Research grant opportunity, minimum data 29 June 2022, closes 13 July 2022.

MRFF – Primary Health Care Research Initiative – 2021 Primary Health Care Digital Innovations grant opportunity, minimum data 29 June 2022, closes 13 July 2022.

MRFF – Preventive and Public Health Research – 2021 Maternal Health and Healthy Lifestyles grant opportunity, minimum data 29 June 2022, closes 13 July 2022.

MRFF – 2021 mRNA Clinical Trial Enabling Infrastructure Grant Opportunity, closes 15 July 2022.

MRFF – Coronavirus Research Response – 2021 mRNA Clinical Trial Enabling Infrastructure grant opportunity, closes 15 July 2022.

MRFF Clinical Trials Activity Initiative – 2022 International Clinical Trial Collaborations Grant Opportunity, minimum data round 1, 20 July 2022.

2022 Victorian Cancer Agency Funding Round, Early Career Research Fellowships & Mid-Career Research Fellowships. Closes 2pm AEST, 26 July 2022.

MTP Connect REDI Fellowship Program, closes 27 July 2022.

MRFF – PPHRI & EPCDRI – 2022 Effective Treatments and Therapies Grant Opportunity, minimum data 13 July, closes 27 July 2022.

MRFF – PPHRI & EPCDRI – 2022 Effective Treatments and Therapies grant opportunity, minimum data 13 July 2022, closes 27 July 2022.

2022 Research Australia Health and Medical Research Awards, now open and closing on 15 July 2022.

Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Research Grants, up to $500,000 available, opens on June 27 and closes 06 August 2022.

MRFF – 2022 Clinician Researchers: Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Grant Opportunity, minimum data 27 July, closes 10 Aug 2022.

MRFF CTAI and EPCDRI – 2022 Pancreatic Cancer Research Grant Opportunity, minimum data stream 1, 24 Aug 2022.

MRFF – 2021 BioMedTech Incubator, closes 25 Aug 2022.

MRFF – Stem Cell Therapies Mission – 2022 Stem Cell Therapies Grant Opportunity, minimum data 24 Aug, closes 07 Sept 2022.

MRFF – 2022 Australian Brain Cancer Research Infrastructure grant opportunity, minimum data 24 Aug 2022, closes 07 Sept 2022.

MRFF – 2022 Cardiovascular Health grant opportunity, minimum data 24 Aug 2022, closes 07 Sept 2022.

MRFF – Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission – 2022 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Grant Opportunity, minimum data 24 Aug 2022, closes 07 Sept 2022.

MRFF 2022 National Critical Research Infrastructure Grant Opportunity, closes 7 September 2022.

MRFF – EPCDR Initiative – 2022 Mitochondrial Donation Pilot Program Grant Opportunity, minimum data 31 Aug, closes 14 Sept 2022

Register with GrantConnect to receive notifications when new opportunities open.

7.  Reports and resources

National Standard Operating Procedures for Clinical Trials

This publication will help organisations to standardise their procedures for clinical trials and teletrials in Australia. The standard operating procedures have been agreed by all states and territories. The publication is part of the National Teletrials Compendium.

8.  Events and courses

Revolutionary Therapeutics – Utilising Personalised Medicine to Treat Cancer, online, 21 June 2022

With guest speaker Professor Dan Peer – Vice President for R&D at Tel Aviv University, Director of the Laboratory of Precision NanoMedicine and Chair of TAU Cancer Biology Research Center.

Conversations on Ageing: Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC, online, 22 June 2022

How can older people contribute to public discourse on ageing and identity? Join NARI on Wednesday 22nd June, 6-7pm AEST for a free online public lecture featuring Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Peter Doherty.

George Talks: A broad perspective of mental health, online, 28 June 2022

The George Institute for Global Health invites you to a #GeorgeTalks event on “A broad perspective of Mental Health” on Tuesday 28 June 2022 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm AEST.

Bionics Institute Graeme Clark Oration, 12 July, 6-7:30pm, MCEC, Melbourne

Australia’s most prestigious free public science event to learn about the future of engineering in medicine.

Bio Connections Australia, Melbourne, 25 July 2022

This years agenda includes the investment landscape, licensing and commercialization potential for assets, vouchers and infrastructure to enable translation, recruitment, translation models and Biotechs learnings and tips.

Bionics Institute Innovation Lecture, 8 Sept, 6pm, Melbourne Museum

Join leaders in Australian medical technology at the inaugural Innovation Lecture event.