A series of nine high-level medical research programs have been announced by the Federal government.

 

The programs, designed the run for the next five years, have been allocated $107 million and are aimed at supporting "some of the highest profile and most distinguished researchers in the country".

 

Minister for Mental Health and Aging Mark Butler said the areas included in the programs are immunology, public health research in stroke, mental health, breast cancer and a common childhood cancer.

 

“The grants are provided through the NHMRC - which is Australia’s peak body for health and medical research. The individual grants will range from $5.2 million to $21.3 million over five years and each grant will enable Australia’s best and brightest to drive their own long-term research programs to address complex health problems.” Mr Butler said.

 

While the programs are aimed at assisting researchers already in the field, the National Health and Medical Research Council is also aiming to "support the development of new ideas and approaches through collaborative work, as well as assisting up and coming researchers."