Unlock the MRFF: An Open Letter from Australia’s Medical Research and Scientific Community
29 March 2026
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pipeline that spans from research through to manufacturing and commercialisation, Australia remains constrained by an outdated framework that has not kept pace with modern innovation systems.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
Endorsed by Australia’s Medical Research and Scientific Community
Associate Professor Adrian Achuthan University of Melbourne
Dr Venkateswar Addala QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Jessica Adsett QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
A/Professor Chantelle Ahlenstiel Kirby Institute, UNSW, Sydney
Dr Nagham Ailabouni The University of Queensland
Dr Jane Allan
Dr Andrew Allsebrook Lead Demonstrator, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland
Dr Holly Anderton Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor Katherine Andrews Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Griffith University
Associate Professor Sof Andrikopoulos CEO, Australian Diabetes Society
Dr Simon Apte Chief Scientist, Queensland Lung Transplant Service Research Laboratory, The Prince Charles Hospital and The University of Queensland
Professor Ruth Arkell John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
Dr Leonardo Arpesella The Peter Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne
Dr Mitra Ashayeripanah Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Dr Anneliese Ashhurst Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney
Dr Caroline Ashley The University of Sydney
Dr Ricardo Ataide Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Oyime Poise Aula QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Melanie Bahlo The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Oguzhan Baltaci Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
A/Prof Bridget Barber QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Larisa Barnes Daffodil Centre and University Centre for Rural Health, The University of Sydney
Associate Professor Tim Barnett University of Western Australia, The Kids Research Institute Australia
Professor Simon Barry Research Professor, Group Leader, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide University
Chief Hospital Scientist women’s and children’s health network Adelaide, South Australia
Chief Technology Officer, Carina Biotech
Professor Antony Basten AO Garvan Institute
Dr Cameron Bastow Monash University, School of Clinical Sciences
Dr Emma Bateman Supportive Oncology Research Group - Adelaide University; Cancer Treatment Toxicities Group, Adelaide University
Professor Ross Bathgate Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health
Dr Anouk Becker Monash University
Professor Sammy Bedoui University of Melbourne, Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity
Associate Professor Jonathan Beesley QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
A/Professor Susann Beier UNSW
Professor Katy Bell Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney
Professor Scott Bell Griffith University and Gold Coast University Hospital
Dr Peter Bell The University of Queensland
Olivia Bellas Adelaide University, College of Health, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
Professor Gabrielle Belz Frazer Institute The University of Queensland
Dr Katherine Benfer Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland
Dr Taylah Bennett Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Patrick Bergin Director, Queensland Radiology Specialists
Laureate Professor Sam Berkovic AC Epilepsy Research Centre, University of Melbourne (Austin Health), President-elect, Australian Academy of Science
Professor Stuart Berzins Professor, Immunology, Federation University
Dr Vijay Bhoopalan Australian National University
Dr Ashley Bigaran Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre, Austin Health
Dr Saraid Billiards Chief Executive Officer, Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes
Associate Professor Katrina Binger Monash University
Dr Kavita Bisht Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland
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
Dr Conor Bloxham QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Mikael Boden The University of Queensland
Dr Emma Bolderson Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, School of Biomedical Sciences
Professor Claudine Bonder OAM Head, Vascular Biology & Cell Trafficking Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, Adelaide University
President, Australian Vascular Biology Society
Associate Professor Natalie Borg Senior Research Translation Fellow, RMIT
Dr Erika Bosio University of Western Australia
Jessica Boulter University of Western Australia
Mr Adam Bowles Country Director, OneAdvanced Asia Pac
Professor Josephine Bowles The University of Queensland
Professor Glen Boyle QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Sarah Boyle Centre for Cancer Biology, Adelaide University
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
Dr Amanda Brandon University of Sydney
Professor Michael Breakspear School of Science, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle
Professor Timothy Bredy Queensland Brain Institute
Dr Jennifer Bridge Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland
Dr Elliot Brooks Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Monash University
Dr Ryan Brown Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Dr Cheryl Brown University of Adelaide
John Bruning CEO Australasian College of Paramedicine
Dr Vanessa Bryant Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor Rachelle Buchbinder AO School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
Mr Maxim Buckley Adelaide University, SAHMRI
Professor Thomas Burne The University of Queensland, Queensland Health
Dr Deborah Burnett University of New South Wales
Professor Ashley Bush Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, The University of Melbourne
Tabitha Byron Federation University Australia
Dr Chelisa Cardinez Australian National University, John Curtin School of Medical Research
Associate Professor Nicole Carnt The School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW, Sydney
Rebekah Cassidy CEO, AusBiotech
Lucy Caughey University of Melbourne
Dr Tyani Chan Chief Executive, Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology Inc
Dr Janin Chandra Senior Research Fellow & Senior Research Fellow, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland
Mirren Charnley Swinburne University and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Zeeshan Chaudhry Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Jasneek Chawla The University of Queensland & Children's Health Queensland
Dr Brendon Chua The Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, The University of Melbourne
Professor Amy Chung University of Melbourne, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Dr Michael Clark The University of Melbourne
Dr Daniel Clarke Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne
Professor Brett Collins The University of Queensland
Dr Iain Comerford School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide
Dr Laura Cook University of Melbourne
Dr Alistair Cook University of Western Australia
Professor Helen Cooper Executive Director, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland
Professor Matt Cooper Chief Executive Officer, Sitala Bio, VP Forbion
Dr Claudio Counoupas Centenary Institute
Dr Fiona Cousins Senior Research Scientist, Endometrial Stem Cell Biology, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Associate Professor Andrew Cox Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre / University of Melbourne
Dr Amanda Cox School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University
Professor Brendan Crabb AC Director and CEO, Burnet Institute
David Craik AO Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Samantha Cronin University of Sydney
Dr Courtney Cross Adelaide University
Dr Kelly Crossley Monash University
Dr Henrietta Cserne Szappanos QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
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 Criselle D'Souza Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Sarah Dart The University of Western Australia
Dr Pallave Dasari Adelaide University
Dr Alexander Davenport Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Ainsley Davies Australian National University
Dr Samantha Davis Research Scientist, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), CSIRO
Professor Mark Dawson Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and University of Melbourne
Dr Caleb Dawson Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Glicia De Almeida QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Dominic De Nardo Monash University
Assistant Professor Nathalie Dehorter The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Marloes Dekker School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland
Dr Nathan Delang The University of Queensland
Dr Erika Della Mina Tangye Laboratory at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Dr Paddy Dempsey Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute and Deakin University
Dr Evelyne Deplazes Director, Higher Degree by Research, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland
Dr Sapna Devi Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne
Dr Aakanksha Dixit The University of Queensland
Dr Alessandra Donato The University of Queensland
Professor Denise Doolan Director, Research Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Professor Brian Drew Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute
Dr Lelinh Duong University of Western Australia
Riley Easton UTS
Associate Professor Lisa Ebert Group Leader and Affiliate Associate Professor – Cancer Immunotherapy Research
Centre for Cancer Biology – an Adelaide University/Central Adelaide Local Health Network alliance
A/Prof Sidonia Eckle Lab Head, NHMRC Emerging Leadership and University of Melbourne Dame Kate Campbell Fellow, The University of Melbourne
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
Jack Edwards Monash University
Dr Stacey Ellery Hudson Institute of Medical Research
A/Prof Anselm Enders John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
Dr Jessica Engel QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Christian Engwerda QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Carolyn Evans Vice Chancellor and President, Griffith University
Professor Darryl Eyles Queensland Brain Institute
Professor Aude Fahrer Australian National University and University of Canberra
Associate Professor Pouya Faridi Head, Translational Antigen Discovery Laboratory, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Director, Clinical Proteomics Facility, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University
Professor Mark A Febbraio Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute
Dr Rita Ferreira Australian National University
Professor Vito Ferro School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Anne Fletcher Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University
Dr Heather Flores School of Biological Sciences, Monash University
Professor Alistair Forrest Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and University of Western Australia
A/Prof Marina Fortes School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences (SCMB), The University of Queensland
Dr Cristina Fortuno Moya QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Associate Professor David Frazer QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Emeritus Professor Ian Frazer AC Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Christopher Freeman The University of Queensland
Professor Ben Freedman OAM Heart Research Institute Sydney and University of Sydney
Professor Juliet French QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Kathryn Friend Director, Chameleon Science
Dr Celine Gallagher College of Health, Adelaide University
Professor Maher Gandhi CEO, Translational Research Institute
Professor Ruth Ganss University of Western Australia
Professor Elizabeth Gardiner The Australian National University
Emerita Professor Mary Garson School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Kate Gartlan QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Associate Professor Tracey Gaspari Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University
Mr Matthew Giblett QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Paul Gill 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
Ms Cassandra Gordon Adelaide University
Professor John P Greenwood Director and CEO, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
A/Prof Judith Greer The University of Queensland
Dr Carolina Gubert Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University
Professo rAndrew GundlachDepartment of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne
Dr Anand Gururajan Children's Institute of Medical Research
Dr Jennifer Habel University of Melbourne
Johanna Hadler QIMR Berghofer Medical Research 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 James Harber Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, University of Western Australia
Ms Tiffany Hardy QIMR Berghofer
Professor Natasha Harvey Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University
Professor Kieran Harvey Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Monash University, University of Melbourne
Thelma Harvey
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 Jodie Hillen The University of Queensland
Professor Massimo Hilliard The University of Queensland
Dr Dana Hince The University of Notre Dame, Australia
Professor Benjamin Hogan University of Melbourne Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Georgina Hollway Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer
Professor Edward C Holmes The University of Sydney
Professor Jeff Holst UNSW Sydney
Professor Angela Hong Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney
Associate Professor Tony Hooker Director, Centre for Radiation Research, Education and Innovation, Adelaide University
Professor Livia Hool University of Western Australia
Dr Lauren Howson Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
ProfessorJames Hudson QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Christopher Hunter QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Nicholas Huntington Cancer Immunotherapy Head Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Australia
Dr Shane Huntington OAM Chief Executive Officer, Australian Society for Medical Research
Kieran Hyslop QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Melinda Iliopoulos Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Associate Professor Adam Irwin Principal Research Fellow, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland
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
Rebecca Jaeger Australian National University
Dr Christopher Jara Garvan Institute of Medical Research, University of New South Wales
Dr Alban Johansson QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
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
Rebecca Johnston QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
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
Dr Mathew Jones The University of Queensland
Tiffany Jong The University of Queensland
Professor Axel Kallies Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne
Dr Jeeva Kanesarajah Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer
Anthony Karamalakis Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Associate Professor Guna Karupiah Associate Professor of Biomedicine, University of Tasmania
Professor Frances Kay Director and CEO, Hunter Medical Research Institute
Co-Chair, Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes NSW
Dr Lukasz Kedzierski Group Leader, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne
Mr Connor Keegan Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Tony Kelleher Director and Scientia Professor, Kirby Institute
Dr Jason Kelly Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute
Dr Sabine Kelly Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor Bruce Kemp AO St Vincent's Institute, University Melbourne Department of Medicine
Sarah Kempe QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Prof Stephen Kent University of Melbourne
Nouf Khan Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
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
Dr Hamish King Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Erica Bremner Kneipp Director, AusBiotech
Kiara Knuckey The University of Queensland and The Queensland Lung Transplant Service
Professor David Komander Head, Ubiquitin Signalling Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor Jason Kovacic President, Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes
Director and CEO, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
Mr Tobias Kratina Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Peter Kruger President College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, The University of Queensland
Dr Snehlata Kumari Frazer Institute, 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
Dr Najoua Lalaoui Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
A/Prof Michael Landsberg School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland
Dr Rebecca Lane QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute CEO
Georgina Laverty-Bill CEO, the Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation
Associate Professor Kate Lawlor Research Group Head, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University
Professor Andrew Lawrence Deputy Director, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health
Dr Ariane Lee Research Officer, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne
Professor Peter Leedman AO Chief Executive Officer and Director, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research
Professor of Medicine, The University of Western Australia
Dr Michael Leitner QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
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
Dr Min-Hsuan Lin QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Geoffrey Lindeman Cancer Biology and Stem Cells Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Katie Lineburg QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Jingwen Liu School of Public Health, College of Health, Adelaide University
Professor Richard Lock Children's Cancer Institute, Minderoo Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney
Dr Rink-Jan Lohman The University of Queensland
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
Professor Stephen Lord Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales
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
Mr Graham Magor QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Megan Maher The University of Melbourne
President, Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
Mr Parteek Mandhan The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience
A/Prof Stuart Mannering Head, Human Immunology, St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research
Dr Samuel Manning Monash University
A/Prof Ashley Mansell La Trobe University
Professor Francine Marques Monash University, Victorian Heart Institute
Dr Felix Marsh-Wakefield Senior Research Officer, Centenary Institute/University of Sydney
Professor Nick Martin Emeritus Distinguished Scientist, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Associate Professor Wolfgang Marx Deakin University
Professor Duncan Maskell University of Melbourne
Professor Seth Masters Head, Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease,
Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Dr Natalie Matosin Al & Val Rosenstrauss Senior Fellow, Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation, The University of Sydney
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
Dr Mhairi Maxwell Senior Manager in CSL Nonclinical Pharmacology
Dr Jemma Mayall University of Newcastle
Dr Nadia Mazarakis Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Professor Robin McAllen
Ms Kerrie McAloney QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
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
Professor Craig McBride Queensland Health, The University of Queensland, Griffith University, Bond University, Queen Mary University of London
Associate Professor Amy McCart Reed University of Queensland
Dr Barbara McClure Adelaide University
Dr Melanie McCoy University of Western Australia
Dr Christopher McCrory University of Melbourne
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
Associate Professor Helen McGuire School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney
A/Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo Deputy Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Jennifer McIntosh Melbourne School of Global and Population Health, The University of Melbourne
Eamonn McKenna Queensland University of Technology
Emeritus Professor Elspeth McLachlan University of New South Wales
Holly McLeod Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Dr Christopher McMillan Research Fellow, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Brendan McMorran The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University
Professor Julie McMullen Deputy Director, Heart Research Institute, President of ISHR-Australasian Section
Dr Christopher Menne Research Officer, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne
Professor Alexander Menzies Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney
Professor Frederic Meunier Queensland Brain institute, The University of Queensland
Miss Dominika Michalek University of Melbourne, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Nicole Mifsud Monash University
Professor Suzanne Miller The Ritchie Centre, Monash University and Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Dr Socorro Miranda-Hernandez James Cook University
Dr Brittany Mitchell QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Mehdi Mobli Professorial Research Fellow, The University of Queensland
Senior Group Leader, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Dr Marcela Montes de Oca Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Mr Brandon Moore Swinburne University
Professor James Murphy Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Bageshri Nanavati Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Associate Professor Najla Nasr Westmead Institute for Medical Research
A/Professor Severine Navarro QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Sam Nayler QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Georgia Neate Monash University
Dr Drew Neavin Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Dr Michelle Neller QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Hannah Newnes University of Western Australia
Keng Heng Ng Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Tan Nguyen Deakin University
Dr Tina Nguyen Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Theresa Nguyen Monash University
Dr Wilson Nguyen QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Kien Nguyen Thanh Queensland University of Technology
Professor Sandra Nicholson Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Jane Nikles The University of Queensland
Dr Michael Nissen Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland
Dr Jonathan Noonan Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Mr George Normore Children's Hospital Research Centre, The University of Queensland
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
Emeritus Professor Robyn O’Hehir AO FAHMS Professor of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, School of Translastional Medicine, Monash University
Associate Professor Meredith O'Keeffe Monash University
Prof Megan O'Mara Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Tracy O'Mara QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Thomas O'Neil University of Sydney
Dr Lorraine O'Reilly Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Nchafatso Obonyo Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and Critical Care Research Group
Dr Lena Oestreich The University of Queensland
Dr Lotta Oikari QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Amanda Oliver QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Adrienne Oneil School of Medicine, Deakin University
Dr Athena Ong Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Damian Oyong Burnet Institute
Dr Alex Pagnozzi Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Assoc. Professor Nirmala Pandeya Group Head, Cellular-Stress and Immune Response Laboratory
Centre for Cancer Biology and Scientific Lead, Myeloid Metabolism Lab, Adelaide University
Professor Tony Papenfuss Deputy Director, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor Michael Parker Director, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne and Group Leader, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research
Mr Michael Parsons QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Robert Parton The University of Queensland
Mr Scott Paterson Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Jason Paxman La Trobe University
Dr Natalie Payne Monash University
Professor Jonathan Payne Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Dr Mehrdad Pazhouhandeh Ian Frazer Centre for Children's Immunotherapy Research, The University of Queensland
Associate Professor Jonathan Penm The University of Sydney
Dr Louis Perriman Research Officer, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne
A/Prof Jody Peters The University of Queensland
Professor Kevin Pfleger The University of Western Australia and Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research
Dr Viet Cuong Pham Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Dr Kha Phan
Professor Simon Phipps Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Professor Olivier Piguet NHMRC Leadership Fellow
Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology | Director FRONTIER Frontotemporal Dementia Research Group
President, International Society for Frontotemporal Dementias
School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre | 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
Dr Eunice Poon Postdoctoral Research Officer, The University of Queensland
Professor Sandro Porceddu Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology
Sebastian Porras School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, TheUniversity of Queensland
Professor Joseph Powell Director UNSW Institute for Genomics and Health, University of New South Wales; Director Translational Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Professor Steven Prawer University of Melbourne
Professor Thomas Preiss Shine-Dalgarno Centre for RNA Innovation, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
Dr Carla Proietti Research Fellow, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Dr Amy Prosser University of Western Australia
Professor Damian Purcell University of Melbourne, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Professor Anthony Purcell Monash University
Dr Liang Qiao Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Westmead Institute for Medical Research
Dr Raymond Qin Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Noah Rahman QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Grant A Ramm Director and CEO, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Lucille Rankin Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor Gina Ravenscroft University of Western Australia
Muhammad Asif Raza
Dr William Reay Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania
Associate Professor Joanne Reed Director, Centre for Immunology and Allergy at Westmead Institute
Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney
Professor Christopher Reid Curtin University
Associate Professor David Reid QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Nicholas Reynolds Vice Chancellors Senior Research Fellow, RMIT 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
Professor Avril Robertson Associate Dean Research & Deputy Executive Dean, Faculty of Science
Professor of Biotechnology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
Affiliate Professor, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland
Dr Harley Robinson QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Nirmal Robinson Group Head, Cellular-Stress and Immune Response Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology Adelaide University
Professor Jennifer Rolland Monash University
Dr Rutger Röring Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
Dr Ina Rudloff Senior Research Scientist, Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Dr Fiona Russo The University of Queensland, University of Southern Queensland
Dr Timothy Sadlon Postdoctoral Scientist, Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Adelaide University
Dr Silvia Saggiomo QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Leanne Sakzewski The University of Queensland, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
Dr Natalia Sampaio Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Dr Selwin Samuel Clinical Associate Lecturer School of Dentistry The University of Queensland
Dr Kerrie Sandgren Senior Research Scientist, The Westmead Institute, The University of Sydney
Laureate Professor Ingrid E Scheffer AO The University of Melbourne
Gemma Schlegel Monash University
Dr Alexander Sedgwick The University of Melbourne
Professor Kate Seib Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Griffith University
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
Associate Professor Alexandra Sharland Associate Professor of Transplantation Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
Professor Jonathan Shaw Deputy Director (Clinical and Population Health) Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Professor Meru Sheel The University of Sydney
Professor Kirsty Short University of Queensland
Professor Oliver Sieber Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Suranjana Sikdar University of Adelaide
Prof John Silke Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Professor Jodie Simpson Cure4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Professor Fiona Simpson NHMRC Leadership Fellow, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland
Dr Shobi Sivathamboo Monash University
A/Prof Mariusz Skwarczynski The University of Queensland
Dr Clare Slaney Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
A/Prof Andrii Slonchak QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Ronald Sluyter Head of the Immunology and Cell Signalling Group, University of Wollongong
Professor Peter Sly Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland
Dr Annabelle Small Department of Rheumatology, Flinders University
Dr Shiva Soltani Dehnavi Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Eccles' Institute of Neuroscience, JCSMR, ANU
Dr Annalise Spek
Professor Amanda Spurdle Senior Group Leader, QIMR Berghofer
Ms Anastasia Spyridopoulos University of New South Wales
Professor Kate Stacey
Associate Professor Danielle Stanisic Griffith University
Associate Professor Samantha Stehbens University of Queensland, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Interim Director Research, & President National Association Research Fellows
Dr Justine Stehn Head of Research, The Kids’ Cancer Project
A/Prof Sally-Anne Stephenson Kimaritec Pty Ltd
Dr Lauren Stern University of Sydney
Dr Erica Stewart Postdoctoral Fellow, Burnett Lab Group
Viral Immunology Systems Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW
Professor Jennifer Stow
Dr Stephanie Studniberg Monash University
Associate Professor Melinda Suchard University of Melbourne
Clare Sullivan Chief Executive Officer, MND Australia
Professor Gilda Tachedjian Burnet Institute
Professor Patrick Tam Children's Medical Research Institute and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
Maxine Tan Senior Research Assistant, QLD Lung Transplant Service Laboratory, The Prince Charles Hospital
Associate Professor Miloš Tanurdžić Associate Professor in Genetics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland
DrThomasTapmeier Senior Research Fellow and Group Head, Uterine Biology and Gynaecological Diseases Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University
Dr Julie Tellier Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Alice Terrett Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
Associate Professor Siok Tey QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital
Dr Gethin Thomas FightMND
Emma Thompson Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University
Vicki Thomson Chief Executive, The Group of Eight
Professor David Thorburn Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne
Professor Pall Thordarson Director, UNSW RNA Institute
Dr Elysia Thornton-Benko BSc MBBS(Hons) PhD FRACGP
Laureate Professor Karen Thorpe The University of Queensland
Professor Kristofer Thurecht Interim Executive Institute Director, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Mr Simon Tria QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor David Tscharke
Assoc Professor Justin Tse The University of Melbourne, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance, Melbourne Academic Centre for Health, Cancer Council of Victoria
Professor Renee Turner Adelaide University
Professor Stephen Turner Associate Director, Research Planning and Infrastructure, The Biomedical Discovery Institute, Monash University
Victoria Turner Cancer Voices NSW
Professor Amanda Ullman The University of Queensland and Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
Dr Ashwin Unnikrishnan University of New South Wales
A/Prof Daniel Utzschneider The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and The University of Melbourne
Professor Claire Vajdic Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney
Associate Professor Sophie Valkenburg Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne
Dr Carolienvan de Sandt Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne
Dr Carolyn Van Eps Senior Medical Officer, Kidney and Transplant Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Acting Director of Physician Education, Princess Alexandra Hospital
Dr Joshua van Kleef Australian National University, College of Science and Medicine
Associate Professor Ysabella Van Sebille Adelaide University
Professor Jamie Vandenberg President, Australian Cardiovascular Alliance
Co-Deputy Director, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
Dr Ajithkumar Vasanthakumar
Dr David Vaughan
Professor Jose Villadangos NHMRC L3 Investigator Fellow
President, Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology
Member, Australian Research Council (ARC) College of Experts
Peter Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne
Dr Rehan Villani QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Jane Visvader Division Head, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Christy Vu University of Melbourne
Professor Jana Vukovic The University of Queensland
Dr Nicola Waddell QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Claire Wainwright AM Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Queensland
Matthew Waldron Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Associate Professor Tara Walker The University of Queensland
Dr Leigh Walker Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
Associate Professor Ronald Walls AM
Dr Nancy Wang Ruth Bishop Fellow and Team Leader, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
Professor Hanna Wardill Adelaide University
Dr Ebony Watson The University of Queensland
Dr Lachlan Webb QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Professor Penny Webb QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Associate Professor Mihir Wechalekar Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre
Madeleine Wemyss
Associate Professor Nicholas West Griffith University, School of Pharmacy and Medical Science
Dr Melanie White The University of Queensland
Alison White University of Melbourne
Dr Clarissa Whitmire The University of Queensland
Dr Connor Williams Adelaide University
Dr Cameron Williams QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Luke Williams The University of Queensland
Dr Kayla Wilson University of Melbourne
Ryan Winn Chief Executive Officer Science and Technology Australia
Dr Dulashi (Anna) Withanage Dona Melbourne University, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Professor Dana Wong La Trobe University, School of Psychology and Public Health
Professor Connie Wong Monash University
DrChee Wai Wong
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
Dr Briar Wormington Research Officer, QIMR Berghofer
Professor Naomi Wray The University of Queensland, University of Oxford
Dr Ben Wylie University of Western Australia
Dr Le Xiong Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Dr Hui Xu Monash University
Professor Alpha Yap Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland
Dr Terufumi Yoshida QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Leonie A Young MAICD Deputy Chair, Australian Gynaecological Cancer Research Foundation
Professor Murat Yucel QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Dr Michael Zabolocki South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
Dr Ali Zaid The Peter Doherty Institute and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne
Dr Rachael Zemek
Dr Shengbo Zhang Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Heran Zhang
Professor Steven Zuryn Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland