25 June 2020
The Morrison Government is investing $21.8 million in vital research that could mean major breakthroughs in treating a range of neurological disorders, including early Alzheimer’s disease, autism and encephalitis.
This research could change lives. It could save lives.
Neurological disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent in Australia. They account for a third of all diseases, with the number of people affected increasing by almost 20 per cent between 2003 and 2015.
Health and medical research is the single best way to advance health care – and our Government is profoundly committed to backing our best and brightest health and medical researchers in finding new treatments for patients both in Australia and internationally.
A total of 10 research projects, to be conducted by researchers around the nation, will be funded. They include new treatments for the rare Parkinson’s Disease-like supranuclear palsy, reducing fatigue in patients after a stroke, and reducing persistent pain after breast surgery.
The funding is through the Morrison Government’s landmark Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
In one key project, more than $1.4 million will be invested in an Australian trial by University of Melbourne researchers.
The trial focuses on an implantable brain computer interface, its application – a hands-free controller for personal computers and devices, helping to restore lost function to patients with severe paralysis, due to spinal cord injury, stroke, motor neuron disease and muscular dystrophy.
These research projects mean new hope for Australians suffering from debilitating neurological disorders.
They are supported through our Government’s Clinical Trials Activity initiative, an unprecedented 10-year, $614 million investment to help Australian researchers and patients test new treatments through national and international clinical trials.
The initiative aims to increase clinical trial activity in Australia, give Australian patients more access to clinical trials, show which treatments and medicines work best, and enable researchers to collaborate internationally and bring international trials to Australian patients.
These trials are vital to evaluating the effectiveness and safety of medicines, devices, services and interventions to help prevent, detect or treat illness and disease.
Neurological disorders are one of the priority areas for research funding under the initiative. Others are reproductive cancers, childhood brain cancer, and rare cancers, rare diseases and areas of unmet medical need.
Further information on the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff.
Read the complete media release and list of funded projects.
