Unlock the MRFF: An Open Letter from Australia’s Medical Research and Scientific Community
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Senator The Hon Jenny McAllister
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
The Hon Sam Rae MP
Minister for Aged Care and Seniors
Dear Minister Butler, Senator McAllister and Minister Rae
Australia stands at a critical juncture for medical research and innovation. The decisions we make now will shape our health, economy and sovereign capability for decades.
Australia has a proud legacy of advancing global knowledge and leading global scientific achievements. From identifying the cause of stomach ulcers, development of the cochlear implant and pacemaker technology through to spray-on skin and transformative vaccines, Australian researchers have delivered breakthroughs that save and improve lives globally. We consistently outperform our size. But the knowledge tree needs to be nurtured, watered and tended. Without this, it withers and dies.
With investment in research and development currently at 1.7% of GDP, Australia sits in the bottom third of all OECD countries. Our research and innovation system is suffering, and underperforming where it matters most: translation, scale and sustained capability.
Funding success rates have fallen to unsustainable levels. For major national schemes, success rates have dropped to below 10%, and for early- and mid-career researchers, closer to 4%. In practical terms, 96% of emerging scientific talent is locked out of the system.
The consequences are immediate and visible. Our best researchers are leaving our shores or choosing not to enter careers in science due to insecurity and lack of opportunity. Nowhere is this more evident than the serious decline in domestic post graduate students. We are at real risk of losing a generation of capability. Australia is not deficient in ideas or talent; the deficiency is in the system that under funds talent and tomorrow’s healthcare.
Fragmented policy, declining real investment, excessive complexity, and poor national coordination are limiting our ability to convert discovery into impact. While other nations are investing strategically across the full innovation pipeline that spans from research through to manufacturing and commercialisation, Australia remains constrained by an outdated framework that has not kept pace with modern innovation systems.
At the same time, critical funding is not being fully deployed.
The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) was established to deliver up to $1 billion annually for lifesaving research. Yet significant capacity remains underutilised while our research workforce contracts and opportunities diminish.
Australia cannot afford this mismatch.
Medical research is not a discretionary investment. It underpins better health outcomes, reduces long-term healthcare costs, drives high-value industries, and strengthens national resilience.
As leaders in the scientific community of Australia, we call on the Australian Government to take three immediate and practical steps:
Unlock the full capacity of the MRFF: Lift the effective cap and ensure the Fund delivers its intended $1 billion annually to health and medical research.
Make science a viable, sustainable career: Establish a dedicated, nationally coordinated funding stream that supports secure career pathways for early- and mid-career researchers, the cohort on which future breakthroughs depend.
Build a connected, end-to-end innovation system: Implement a coherent national strategy that links discovery research to translation, manufacturing and commercialisation, ensuring Australia captures the health, economic and sovereign benefits of its own discoveries.
These actions are achievable, evidence-based, and aligned with the recommendations of the recent Ambitious Australia report. Taken together, they would lift Australia from episodic excellence to a consistently high-performing innovation system.
The stakes are clear. Without action, Australia risks becoming a nation that generates ideas for others to commercialise, exporting our talent, capability, and future industries. With action, we can build a globally competitive, sovereign innovation engine that delivers for patients, the economy and the nation.
This is not only about science. It is about every Australian. And about giving brilliant minds the chance to achieve brilliant outcomes. And this will benefit us all.
The breakthroughs that improve lives, reduce costs and create jobs depend on sustained investment in people and systems long before outcomes are visible.
Australia has the talent. It has the ideas, and the resources. What is needed now is coordinated national leadership.
We urge the Government to act with urgency, by unlocking the MRFF, supporting the Ambitious Australia recommendations, and committing to a modern, nationally connected innovation ecosystem that secures Australia’s future.
Foundation signatories
Professor John Fraser AO
Professor & Pre-Eminent Specialist in Intensive Care Medicine, The Prince Charles Hospital
Director, Critical Care Research Group, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Director, ICU, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital
Executive Director, Queensland Spatial Biology Centre, Wesley Research Institute
Professor Trent Munro
Industry Professor and Director, Biotechnology Innovation, The University of Queensland
Emeritus Professor Paul Young
School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences,
The University of Queensland
Endorsed by Australian Nobel Laureates
Nobel Laureate Emeritus Professor Peter C Doherty
Patron Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne
Nobel Laureate Emeritus Professor
Barry J Marshall AC
University of Western Australia
Distinguished Professor Nobel Laureate
Brian Schmidt AC
2011 Nobel Laureate in Physics
Member, Doherty Council
Former Vice Chancellor and President, Australian National University
Endorsement from across the Australian Medical Research and Scientific Community
Associate Professor Sof Andrikopoulos CEO, Australian Diabetes Society
Professor Melanie Bahlo The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Associate Professor Tim Barnett University of Western Australia, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Professor Ross Bathgate Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health
Professor Sammy Bedoui University of Melbourne, Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity
Professor Scott Bell Griffith University and Gold Coast University Hospital
Olivia Bellas Adelaide University, College of Health, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
Professor Gabrielle Belz Frazer Institute The University of Queensland
Dr Patrick Bergin Queensland Radiology Specialists
Laureate Professor Sam Berkovic AC Epilepsy Research Centre, University of Melbourne (Austin Health), President-elect, Australian Academy of Science
Dr Vijay Bhoopalan Australian National University
Dr Saraid Billiards Chief Executive Officer, Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes
Professor Mark Blaskovich Professorial Research Fellow & Group Leader, Director of Translation, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Director, ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance
Professor Jeffrey Braithwaite Professor of Health Systems Research
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences
Founding Director, Australian Institute of Health Innovation
Director, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science
Chair, International Academy of Quality and Safety
Macquarie University
Professor Michael Breakspear School of Science, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle
John Bruning CEO Australasian College of Paramedicine
Professor Rachelle Buchbinder AO School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
Professor Ashley Bush Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The University of Melbourne
Rebekah Cassidy CEO, AusBiotech
Professor Brett Collins The University of Queensland
Professor Matt Cooper Chief Executive Officer, Sitala Bio, VP Forbion
Professor Brendan Crabb AC Director and CEO, Burnet Institute
David Craik AO Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Professor Tony Cunningham AO Director, Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research
Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
Vaccine Theme Leader, Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Sydney
Former President, Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes
Dr Ainsley Davies Australian National University
Professor Denise Doolan Director, Research Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Professor Brian Drew Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute
Associate Professor Dale Edgar The Institute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame Australia; and, State Adult Burn Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital
Dr Emily Edwards Monash University
Professor Carolyn Evans Vice Chancellor and President, Griffith University
Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer AC Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland
Professor Ben Freedman OAM Heart Research Institute Sydney and University of Sydney
Kathryn Friend Chameleon Science
Professor Maher Gandhi CEO, Translational Research Institute
Professor Elizabeth Gardiner The Australian National University
Associate Professor Tracey Gaspari Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University
Associate Professor Neil Glassford Monash Health; School of Clinical Sciences and School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
Associate Professor Anita Goh National Ageing Research Institute; The University of Melbourne, Royal Society of Victoria; Australian Association of Gerontology
Professor John P Greenwood Director and CEO, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Professor Christoph Hagemeyer Monash University, Monash Biomedical Imaging and Department of Diabetes, School of Translational Science
Dr Chris Hammett Cardiologist, Principal Investigator / National Lead Investigator for Commercial Clinical Trials, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Professor Ross Hannan (Honorary) John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
Professor Anthony Hannan Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Ashraful Haque University of Melbourne
Dr Emily Harman Austin Hospital Intensive Care Unit
Professor Ian Henderson Executive Director, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Professor Michael Hickey Monash University
Professor Ian Hickie AO Co-Director, Health and Policy and Professor of Psychiatry
Scientific Advisor to Innowell Pty Ltd, Faculty of Medicine & Health, Central Clinical School, Brain and Mind Centre, Youth Mental Health & Technology, The University of Sydney
Dr Dana Hince The University of Notre Dame, Australia
Professor Edward C Holmes The University of Sydney
Professor Jeff Holst UNSW Sydney
Professor Angela Hong Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney
Dr Shane Huntington OAM Chief Executive Officer, Australian Society for Medical Research
Scientia Professor Rebecca Ivers AM University of New South Wales
Deakin Distinguished Professor Felice Jacka OAM Food & Mood Centre, Deakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation
Professor Kim Jacobson Monash University
Professor David Johnson PSM Director of Metro South Kidney and Transplant Services
Medical Director, Queensland Kidney Transplant Service
Chair of Australasian Kidney Trials Network
Princess Alexandra Hospital and The University of Queensland
Professor Ricky Johnstone Executive Director Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Head, The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne
Director, Barrie Dalgleish Centre for Multiple Myeloma and related blood cancers
Professor Daryl Jones Monash University, University of Melbourne, Austin Health
Professor Axel Kallies Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne
Professor Frances Kay Director and CEO, Hunter Medical Research Institute
Co-Chair, Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes NSW
Tony Kelleher Director and Scientia Professor, Kirby Institute
Professor Rajiv Khanna QIMR Berghofer
Scientia Professor Matthew Kiernan AM Chief Executive Officer & Institute Director, Neuroscience Research Australia
Professor Glenn F King The University of Queensland
Professor Jason Kovacic President, Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes
Director and CEO, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
Peter Kruger President College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, The University of Queensland
Dr Larisa Labzin Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Anne Karine Lagendijk University of Queensland
Emeritus Professor Nigel Laing University of Western Australia
Professor Peter Leedman AO Chief Executive Officer and Director, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research
Professor of Medicine, The University of Western Australia
Nadia Levin CEO and Managing Director, Research Australia
Melbourne Laureate Professor Sharon Lewin AO Director, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital
Professor Richard Lock Children's Cancer Institute, Minderoo Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney
Associate Professor Sarah Londrigan University of Melbourne
Professor Georgina Long AO Medical Director Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, on behalf of Faculty of Melanoma Institute Australia
Distinguished Professor Alex Loukas Director, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine James Cook University
Professor Kate Loveland Monash University and Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Professor Megan Maher The University of Melbourne
President, Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
Professor Francine Marques Monash University, Victorian Heart Institute
Professor Nick Martin Emeritus Distinguished Scientist, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Gail Matthews Clinical Academic and Infectious Disease Physician
Program Head, Therapeutic Vaccine and Research Program, Kirby Institute
Department Head, Infectious Diseases, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
Professor Grant McArthur AO Consultant Medical Oncologist and Head, Molecular Oncology Laboratory
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Associate Editor, Journal of Clinical Oncology
Lorenzo Galli Chair of Melanoma and Skin Cancers, University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Amy McCart Reed University of Queensland
Professor Steve McGloughlin Department of Intensive Care, The Alfred Hospital, Bayside Health
Professor of Evidence Synthesis, Monash University
Professor Patrick McGorry Orygen: The National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health and Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne
Eamonn McKenna Queensland University of Technology
Emeritus Professor Elspeth McLachlan University of New South Wales
Associate Professor Brendan McMorran The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University
Professor Alexander Menzies Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney
Dr Jonathan Noonan Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Dr Ewan Nurse Monash University
Professor Terence O'Brien Head, The School of Translational Medicine, Monash University
Professor of Medicine (Neurology) and NHMRC Investigator Grant Fellow
Program Director – Alfred Brain, Director of Neurology & Deputy Director of Research, Alfred Health
Associate Professor Meredith O'Keeffe Monash University
Dr Lena Oestreich The University of Queensland
Professor Adrienne Oneil School of Medicine, Deakin University
Professor Tony Papenfuss Deputy Director, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Associate Professor Jonathan Penm The University of Sydney
Professor David Pilcher Senior Intensive Care Specialist, Department of Intensive Care, The Alfred Hospital, Bayside Health
Professor Roger Pocock Monash University
Professor Sandro Porceddu Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology
Professor Joseph Powell Director UNSW Institute for Genomics and Health, University of New South Wales; Director Translational Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Professor Damian Purcell University of Melbourne, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Professor Anthony Purcell Monash University
Professor Grant A Ramm Director and CEO, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Christopher Reid Curtin University
Dakota Rhys-Jones Monash University and Alfred Health
Professor Helen Rizos Deputy Dean, Research and Innovation, Macquarie Medical School Macquarie University, Sydney
Professor Andrew Roberts AM Deputy Director, WEHI
Laureate Professor Ingrid E Scheffer AO The University of Melbourne
Professor Joseph Selvanayagam Professor of Cardiology, Flinders University of South Australia
Director, CIRG, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
Dr Tanuka Sen Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland
Associate Professor Ary Serpa Neto Monash University and Austin Health
Dr Adam Shahine Monash University
Professor Jonathan Shaw Deputy Director (Clinical and Population Health) Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Professor Meru Sheel The University of Sydney
Professor Jodie Simpson Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Dr Shobi Sivathamboo Monash University
Dr Shiva Soltani Dehnavi Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Eccles' Institute of Neuroscience, JCSMR, ANU
Associate Professor Samantha Stehbens University of Queensland, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Interim Director Research, & President National Association Research Fellows
Clare Sullivan Chief Executive Officer, MND Australia
Professor Gilda Tachedjian Burnet Institute
Dr Gethin Thomas FightMND
Vicki Thomson Chief Executive, The Group of Eight
Professor Pall Thordarson Director, UNSW RNA Institute
Professor Kristofer Thurecht Interim Executive Institute Director, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Dr Joshua van Kleef Australian National University, College of Science and Medicine
Professor Jamie Vandenberg President, Australian Cardiovascular Alliance
Co-Deputy Director, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
Dr Melanie White The University of Queensland
Ryan Winn Chief Executive Officer Science and Technology Australia
Professor Dana Wong La Trobe University, School of Psychology and Public Health
Professor Fiona Wood AO Director of the Burns Service of WA and Director of the Burn Injury Research Unit University of Western Australia
Professor Trent Woodruff, The University of Queensland
Professor Naomi Wray The University of Queensland, University of Oxford
Professor Alpha Yap Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Dr Michael Zabolocki South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute