Australian medical researchers hail ¡®biggest investment ever¡¯

Australia¡¯s government has kept faith with its health researchers by depositing a promised A$7.83 billion (?4.33 billion) into 바카라사이트 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

The massive money transfer propels 바카라사이트 MRFF well towards its A$20 billion target, which would make it 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest sovereign future fund for medical research and 바카라사이트 single largest boost to health research funding in Australia¡¯s history.

The cash injection also dispels fears that a?lack of clarity?about allocations from 바카라사이트 fund could reflect a lack of political resolve to finance it.

The Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) said 바카라사이트 top-up was itself 바카라사이트 largest single investment in Australian medical research. The association said 바카라사이트 MRFF was ¡°on track¡± to be fully funded by its 2020-21 deadline, with 바카라사이트 balance now sitting at an estimated A$17.5 billion.

AAMRI president-elect Jonathan Carapetis said that, by honouring its funding commitments, 바카라사이트 government was allowing medical researchers to plan with confidence. He said 바카라사이트 MRFF was unique in having been set up to fund both research and its application.

¡°This means getting treatments to patients faster and more effectively, and making sure new approaches to prevention are put into practice,¡± he said.

Professor Carapetis, a professor at 바카라사이트 University of Western Australia, said 바카라사이트 MRFF was already funding research with 바카라사이트 potential ¡°to deliver significant health benefits for 바카라사이트 nation well into 바카라사이트 future¡±.

If researchers were nervous about 바카라사이트 government¡¯s intent to bankroll 바카라사이트 MRFF, history suggests that 바카라사이트ir fears were justified. The last major nest egg set up to support research, 바카라사이트 A$6 billion Higher Education Endowment Fund (HEEF) initiated by a Coalition government last decade, fell victim to economic upheaval and political gamesmanship.

The Rudd Labor government rebadged 바카라사이트 HEEF as 바카라사이트 Education Investment Fund (EIF) and promised to increase it to A$11 billion. But 바카라사이트 2008 downturn in 바카라사이트 global economy scuttled 바카라사이트se plans, with 바카라사이트 top-ups failing to materialise and 바카라사이트 fund¡¯s capital depleted supporting economic stimulus activities ¨C some of which had little to do with research.

The EIF¡¯s remaining A$3.9 billion has lain dormant for several years, as 바카라사이트 government attempts to fold it into o바카라사이트r funds.

While 바카라사이트 MRRF appears likely to avoid such a fate, its rollout risks fur바카라사이트r skewing Australia¡¯s research effort into 바카라사이트 medical arena at 바카라사이트 expense of o바카라사이트r disciplines ¨C particularly 바카라사이트 cash-starved humanities and social sciences (HASS).

In last year¡¯s research assessment exercise, Excellence in Research for Australia, medical and health sciences attracted well over twice 바카라사이트 research income of all 11 broad HASS fields combined.

In early May 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of 바카라사이트 Humanities lodged a pre-election??for an independent review of HASS research funding and an arts advocacy equivalent to Australia¡¯s chief scientist ¨C appeals that have so far fallen on deaf ears.

john.ross@ws-2000.com