by Sasha Nimmo
The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is holding a national consultation to ask Australians about what the priorities of the fund should be from 2018-2020. The first set of MRFF Priorities expire on 8 November 2018.
There is an opportunity for everyone to make a submission using the form on the website. The consultation closes on 31 August. There have been public consultation sessions held around Australia.
In 2014 the Australian Government created the $20 billion MRFF. $1.4 billion will be spent in the first five years. The MRFF provides a major injection in health and medical research funding. The MRFF is in addition to the ongoing funding of the National Health and Medical Research Council. Read more about the MRFF’s principles and programs.
It is estimated that ME affects between 94,000 and 242,000 Australians. Around 25% are so severely affected they can’t leave home or bed. Medical research in Australia has been very limited, the federal government last funded a study into chronic fatigue syndrome in 2005.
Australia has spent just $1.6 million since 2000 on research into ME and CFS and more than a million dollars was spent on fellowships for Prof Andrew Lloyd who researches graded exercise therapy and cognitive behahioural therapy.
It is time for equitable biomedical research funding for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
Make a submission to the Medical Research Future Fund here.