Australia’s medical research community is facing a funding paradox. While the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) has grown to a record $23.85 billion, a legislative cap means hundreds of millions of dollars are sitting idle: money that could be driving discoveries, supporting researchers, and addressing some of our nation’s most urgent health challenges. What is
At NARF, we believe that collective voices can create real change. So, we’re celebrating a major win for equity in the health and medical research workforce: the NHMRC has announced improved flexibility for Investigator Grant holders, following strong community advocacy led by NARF President, Gina Ravenscroft. How it started In early 2025, Gina took to
In the fight against common, complex disorders—such as mental health conditions, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders—genetics has long held the promise of revolutionizing healthcare. Dr. William Reay, this year’s prestigious NARF Postdoctoral Award recipient, has made groundbreaking strides in this arena with his innovative work on the Pharmagenic Enrichment Score (PES) platform. The PES is
The Australian Government is currently considering structural arrangements to better coordinate the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and NHMRC’s Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA) funding. A national consultation on the governance and administration of these funds has concluded, with the Government now considering its formal response. Following an internal survey, executive committee discussions, and member
NARF Executive Meeting with Deputy Chief of Staff Clare Firth: Navigating Research Funding Challenges in Australia On the 30th of April, 2024, the NARF Executive team met with Clare Firth, the Deputy Chief of Staff and Medical Research Advisor to Minister Mark Butler, to discuss the evolving landscape of research funding in Australia. This meeting