In this issue

1. AAMRI news – 2022 AAMRI Policy & Operations Forum
2. Government update – Inquiry into ARC grants
3. Sector news – Clinical trials given R&D Tax Incentive
4. NHMRC update – Gender disparities upcoming webinars
5. MRFF update – Funding announcements
6. Funding and award opportunities – The Bridge Program now open
7. Reports and resources – Report of Govt Services 2022
8. Events and courses – Superstars in STEM Evaluation Report Launch

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

1.  AAMRI news (cont)

AAMRI 2022-23 Budget Submission: looking after our existing scientists in upcoming budget

This budget AAMRI is calling for extra support for our talented scientists. The next generation of medical researchers are being squeezed out of funding programs. Success rates within the NHMRC grant program have fallen to historic lows, particularly for early- and mid-career researchers. AAMRI’s submission calls for new investment in the NHMRC Ideas Grants program. Read our media release here, and our full budget release here.

New Impact CV Template – free download

Professor Katherine Andrews, Director of the  Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, has put her own research journey under the microscope to demonstrate how she tracks the impact of her research, hoping that it inspires early career researchers and seasoned academics to do the same. Professor Andrews developed a downloadable template for researchers to compile their Impact CV. Read more.

AAMRI welcomes $2bn to boost research commercialisation

Earlier this month AAMRI welcomed the government’s announcement that they will be investing $2.2 billion in a Research Commercialisation Plan while calling for MRI involvement as the program is rolled out. More information on our website.

2.  Government update

Consultations

Inquiry into ARC Grants given support in The Senate

A senate inquiry will take place into the Australian Research Council Amendment (Ensuring Research Independence) Bill. This is a private members Bill introduced by the Australian Greens and aims to remove Ministerial vetoes of specific ARC research grant applications. Further submission details will be announced in due course.

The Australian Cancer Plan 2023–2033

Cancer Australia invites you to share your vision for the Australian Cancer Plan. To help frame your thinking you can read the Communique and view presentations from a Ministerial Roundtable about the Australian Cancer Plan held in April 2021. Closes 18 Feb 2022.

Use of primates and other animals in medical research in New South

The NSW upper house is undertaking an inquiry into the Use of primates and other animals in medical research in New South Wales. Closes 31 March 2022.

Provision of general practitioner and related primary health services

This inquiry and report refers specifically to provision of general practitioner and related primary health services to outer metropolitan, rural, and regional Australians. The report will be submitted at the last sitting day in March 2022.

3.  Sector news

STA 2022-23 Pre-Budget Submission

Science & Technology Australia have released their budget submission, stating the 2022 Budget should “double down” on Australia’s return-generating investments in science to prepare for new complex challenges after this pandemic, fast-track our economic recovery and smooth the nation’s climate transition. Read in full on their website.

Everyday Trailblazers campaign

Starting yesterday, the CSL #EverydayTrailblazers campaign features eight CSL scientists including a samurai sword wielding research biologist, a women’s football-playing influenza vaccine production coordinator and a vintage car enthusiast who worked on CSL’s COVID-19 vaccines programs. You can follow along on CSL’s LinkedIn and Twitter feeds.

Partners sought to co-invest in Australia’s first commercial-scale viral vector manufacturing facility

The NSW Government is seeking interest from companies with commercial and biotechnology expertise to co-invest in the Westmead-based viral vector manufacturing facility. The facility will provide ground-breaking trial therapies for infections, cancer and genetic diseases.

Assurance given that clinical trials are eligible for the R&D Tax Incentive

The determination, which was released for public consultation in January, will be the first of its kind to be made under the reforms to the R&D Tax Incentive announced in the 2020‑21 Budget.

Funding announcements:

• $13m for national eating disorder research centre from the Department of Health.
• 24 new companies are sharing in $11.68m through the Australian Government’s $30m Commercialisation Fund.
• $4.8 million in funding over five years through the ARC’s Industrial Transformation Research Program for the ARC Training Centre. for Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins for Drug Discovery (CCeMMP) at Monash University.

4. NHMRC update

Gender disparities in NHMRC’s Investigator Grant Scheme & Webinar

The NHMRC have released a CEO Communique reinstating their commitment that all researchers have equal opportunity to undertake health and medical research regardless of their gender. The communique discusses potential initiatives that have been proposed to reduce these gender disparities. To start a discussion with the research sector on the funding outcomes and these initiatives, the NHRMC plan to host a webinar, with two available times: Thursday 24 February & 03 March 2022.

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

Funding announced:

• $15m to help establish a cancer genomics laboratory in South Australia as part of the MRFF’s $500 million Genomics Health Futures Mission.
• $9.6m for the Victorian Paediatric Cancer Consortium (VPCC) to help advance childhood cancer research and treatment from the MRFF’s Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative.

MRFF grant opportunities calendar

See what MRFF grant opportunities are open and what their status is. You can also track MRFF opportunities through AAMRI’s own calendar.

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

Closing soon

The Bridge Program

The Bridge Program helps researchers, scientists, clinicians and government professionals to navigate the pharmaceutical research commercialisation pathway. Fully funded, it offers online training modules delivered by QUT, and a seminar and event series that attracts high-profile industry leaders as speakers. Closes 21 Feb 2022.

NHMRC – Investigator Grants 2022 – Minimum data 16 Feb 2022, Closes 16 March 2022.

MRFF – EPCDRI – 2022 Models of Care to Improve the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Acute Care Grant Opportunity – Minimum data 16 Feb 2022, closes 02 March 2022.

MRFF – Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative– 2021 Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions in Children and Adolescents Grant Opportunity. Closes 16 Feb 2022.

MRFF – Clinical Trials Activity Initiative – 2021 International Clinical Trial Collaborations Grant Opportunity. Closes 16 Feb 2022.

MRFF – Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission – 2021 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Grant Opportunity. Closes 16 Feb 2022.

MRFF – Genomics Health Futures Mission – 2021 Genomics Health Futures Mission Grant Opportunity. Closes 16 Feb 2022.

MRFF Indigenous Health Research Fund – 2021 Indigenous Health Research Grant Opportunity. Closes 16 Feb 2022.

MRFF – PPHRI – 2021 Optimising the Clinical Use of Immunoglobulins Grant Opportunity. Closes 16 Feb 2022.

MRFF – CRR – 2021 COVID-19 Treatment Access and Public Health Activities Grant Opportunity. Closes 23 Feb 2022.

MRFF – Primary Health Care Research Initiative – 2021 Primary Health Care Research Grant Opportunity. Closes 23 Feb 2022.

MRFF Stem Cell Therapies Mission – 2021 Stem Cell Therapies grant opportunity. Closes 23 Feb 2022.

MRFF – Cardiovascular Health Mission – 2021 Cardiovascular Health Grant Opportunity. Closes 23 Feb 2022.

Nominations are now open for the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences’ Medal for Outstanding Female Researcher, closes 27 Feb 2022.

MRFF – Australian Brain Cancer Mission – 2021 GBM AGILE Grant Opportunity. Minimum data 16 Feb, closes 02 March 2022.

MRFF – PPHRI – 2021 Optimising the Clinical Use of Immunoglobulins Grant Opportunity. Minimum data 16 Feb, closes 02 March 2022.

Nominate for the 2022 ACTA Trial of the Year Awards – there are 4 award categories. Closes 06 March 2022.

MRFF – Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research – 2021 Chronic Neurological Conditions Grant Opportunity. Minimum data 23 Feb, closes 09 March 2022.

Expressions of interest open for Australia’s first, $40m MRFF-backed national biotech incubator, CUREator. To be announced in early 2022.

Register with GrantConnect to receive notifications when new opportunities open.

7.  Reports and resources

Report on Government Services 2022: Health (part E)

Part E includes performance reporting for Primary and community health, Ambulance services, Public hospitals and Services for mental health.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reports

• Elective surgery waiting times 2020–21 – 25 Jan 2022
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific primary health care: results from the nKPI and OSR collections – last updated 04 Feb 2022
• Incidence of insulin-treated diabetes in Australia – last updated 08 Feb 2022
• Mental health services in Australia – last updated 01 Feb 2022
• Palliative care services in Australia – last updated 27 Jan 2022
• Suicide & self-harm monitoring – 03 Feb 2022
• Younger people in residential aged care – Feb 10 2022

8.  Events and courses

Superstars of STEM Evaluation Report Launch

Feb 11, 2022 2pm AEST (online)
Join Science & Technology Australia to launch the results of the first full evaluation of the Superstars of STEM initiative.

Exclusive Offer for AAMRI members

To kickstart your professional development this year, AAMRI members can gain access to some great online courses at an exclusive price. AAMRI members are being offered 20% off all PRAXIS Australia training offers, including Research Essentials, HREC Essentials and all Virtual Workshops. Simply enter AAMRI22 when enrolling.

For more info and to enrol, visit the Praxis website.