Medical Research Future Fund consultation to inform the third Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities 2020-2022

Overview

Consistent with the Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015 (the Act), the independent Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB) is conducting a consultation to develop the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities 2020-22 (the Priorities). The 2020-22 Priorities must be tabled in the Australian Parliament by 6 November 2020.

The Priorities are considered by the Minister for Health before the Commonwealth Government decides on the disbursement of funding from the MRFF. It is therefore important that the community – patients, clinicians and researchers alike – are engaged in consultation.

AMRAB is interested in hearing reflections on the current set of MRFF Priorities, the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities 2018-2020, and their ongoing appropriateness to guide MRFF investments in health and medical research over the next 12 month period in which the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy 2016-21 (the Strategy) remains in operation.

The Priorities must be consistent with the Strategy. As the current Strategy expires during the life of the next Priorities (in November 2021), the consultation will specifically focus on revisiting the Priorities in the contemporary context and seek to identify opportunities to use the next twelve months as a period of consolidation under the current Strategy.

Those to be engaged include the Australian public, organisations with expertise in health and medical research and innovation, consumer representatives, clinicians and health services managers.

This consultation will commence in September 2020, and will include opportunity for public submissions. The process will be supported by public webinars and where necessary targeted virtual roundtable discussions. Details and booking arrangements for the webinars will be made available on the MRFF website. Public submissions can be submitted through this consultation page.

This consultation will inform AMRAB’s determination of the 2020-22 Priorities as required by the MRFF Act.

A Consultation Guidance Paper prepared by AMRAB can be accessed from the bottom of this page.

Webinars are being held on 29 September and 7 October, involving a presentation from AMRAB members followed by an opportunity for feedback and comment. To register for the webinar on 29 September, please visit the MRFF registration page.  

To register for the webinar on 7 October please visit the following registration page.