In this issue

1. AAMRI news – AAMRI Convention 29 & 30 Nov
2. Government update –  Review of SA Mental Health Act
3. Sector news – $35.5m for QLD vaccine manufacturing facility
4. NHMRC update –  Consultation: reaching gender equity in Investigator Grants
5. MRFF update – Research Admin Officer Webinar
6. Funding and award opportunities – WA new funding programs
7. Reports and resources – Australia’s Data-Enabled Research Future
8. Events and courses –  Graeme Clark Oration, 12 July

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

1. AAMRI news

Save the date – AAMRI Convention 29 & 30 November 2022

We are pleased to confirm that the AAMRI Convention and Dinner will take place on the 29 & 30 November 2022. The AAMRI Convention will feature two full days of sessions focussing on the most pressing policy and operational issues facing the medical research institute sector. The venue for the AAMRI Convention will be QT Hotel, Canberra. More details to be sent through shortly.

New WA initiative – Major Research Application Support Program

The WA government are providing cash commitments through the Major Research Application Support (MRAS) program for national and international research funding applications to boost their chance of success.  Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM, WA Chair of AAMRI said “The MRAS program will give our researchers a competitive edge by providing crucial support to Western Australian submissions to major competitive co-funding programs.” Read more.

Emerging researchers supported with Victorian Near-miss Awards

Congratulations to the 11 recipients of the Victorian Near-miss Award Pilot, launched this year by The Victorian Chapter of AAMRI (VicAAMRI) and veski as part of the Victorian Health and Medical Research Workforce Project.

2.  Government update

Consultations

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.

Two NHRMC consultations are also open on Reaching Gender Equity in Investigator Grants and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, see details below in the NHRMC section. 

3.  Sector news

$270 million for biomedical research in 2022-23 NSW Budget

The funds are for two new facilities – the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator Complex in Camperdown and the Viral Vector manufacturing facility at Westmead.

$100 million investment for the Breakthrough Victoria – University Innovation Platform

Over the next five years, the platforms will split $100 million between Victorian universities to establish pre-seed investment funds to drive the commercialisation of research. Investments will range from $200,000 to $1 million.

$35.5 million for Queensland vaccine manufacturing facility

As part of the state budget, the funds will support the development of a translational manufacturing (TM) facility, to be built by the Translational Research Institute (TRI).

New Victorian Melanoma and Clinical Trials Centre under construction

The $152 million centre will bring together specialist researchers, clinical care and cancer patient treatment facilities under one roof.

The Centenary Institute joins the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator (SBA)

The SBA will be a state-of-the-art biomedical research complex complementing the University of Sydney and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital campuses.

Medical Discovery Centre in Melbourne underway

The new Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery (ACMD) at St Vincent’s Hospital in Fitzroy – part of the Parkville precinct – has begun construction. The $206 million facility is set to open in 2024.

Funding awarded:

• $3.6 million in funding was recently awarded to 20 early and mid-career researchers under the WA Near Miss Awards: Emerging Leaders 2021 (WANMA) Program.
• 17 projects in WA, ranging between MedTech, digital health, and BioTech, have shared $8 million in funding through the state’s Innovation Seed Fund for health and medical innovation and commercialisation.
• $1.5 million shared has been amongst 11 applicants to undertake feasibility studies or build prototypes in projects that are aimed at strengthening mental health and building resilience and confidence in young adults.

4. NHMRC update

NHMRC consultation: reaching gender equity in the Investigator Grant scheme

Have your say – NHMRC will hold a series of open forums that will include a presentation by NHMRC CEO, Professor Anne Kelso AO, and an open discussion with attendees on the options under consideration. Forums are being held from August 01 – 16, as well as an online zoom session.

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.

NHMRC Research Translation Symposium 2022  – 17-22 Nov 2022

This year’s event will be a be a combination of keynote/plenary, abstract and panel sessions to be held online, combined with face-to-face networking opportunities intended to be held in each state and territory, where possible.

NHMRC delivers assessment on e-cigarettes

National advice on the use of electronic cigarettes based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence has been delivered by Australia’s health and medical research agency. The advice states clearly that the vapour from e-cigarette devices can be harmful and there is limited evidence that e-cigarettes are effective at helping smokers quit.

NHMRC Biennial Awards – Closes 28 Oct 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

MRFF Research Administration Officer Webinar – 2pm (AEST) on 4 August 2022

The webinar will be hosted by the Health and Medical Research Office. The presentation will include an overview of the MRFF grant process, and cover the phases of the MRFF grant lifecycle – from grant opportunity development to post-award management.

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

WA’s Co-Funding Partnership Program (Co-FPP)

Through this program organisations can propose new health and medical research and innovation initiatives. If approved, between $500,000 and $1 million will be committed by the WA state government to set up the initiative, so long as the funding is matched by a partner. The Co-FPP is open continuously.

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, closes 13 July 2022.

MRFF – 2021 Chronic Respiratory Conditions grant opportunity, closes 13 July 2022.

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

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

MRFF – Preventive and Public Health Research – 2021 Maternal Health and Healthy Lifestyles grant opportunity, 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. Minimum data round 2, 03 August 2022.

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

Jack Brockhoff Foundation EMCR Grants program, closes 26 July 2022.

WA Major Research Application Support Program, closes 27 July 2022.

EOIs sought for Alzheimer’s disease research projects, close 27 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.

2022 GSK Award for Research Excellence – deadline extended to 29 July 2022.

Rebecca Cooper Fellowship, open to EMCRs 10-15 years post-docs, closes 01 August, 2022.

Metcalf Prizes for Stem Cell Research, closes 05 August 2022.

Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Research Grants, up to $500,000 available, closes 06 August 2022.

Byron Kakulas Medal, open to West Australian researchers, closes 08 August 2022.

2022 Research Australia Health and Medical Research Awards, now open and closing on 09 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.

NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants 2022 for funding mid-2023, minimum data due 27 July 2022, closes 24 August 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

NHMRC Targeted Call for Research: Involving cultural, ethnic and linguistically diverse communities in dementia research. To be released July – Dec 2022.

Register with GrantConnect to receive notifications when new opportunities open.

7.  Reports and resources

New report: Australia’s Data-Enabled Research Future

The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences has released a new report reviewing the needs and requirements, challenges, and opportunities in Australia’s health data ecosystem.

8.  Events and courses

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 commercialisation 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.

Save the date – Research Australia’s Annual Health and Medical Research Awards – 08 December 2022, Melbourne

More details to come.