This shouldn't be a partisan issue. This is about Australian lives and livelihoods.
Since joining the medical research sector, I’ve had my eyes opened to a crisis that most Australians have no idea exists. And it upsets me greatly.
I work alongside some of the most brilliant, dedicated researchers in this country – colleagues and friends who spend countless hours — often hundreds and hundreds of hours per grant application — meticulously crafting proposals that could lead to life-saving breakthroughs.
They pour their hearts and souls into this work. They sacrifice time with their families and friends. They do it because they believe they can make a difference.
And last week, 92% of them were told “no”.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grant success rate was just 8%.
Let me be blunt: this is not okay.
That means 11 out of every 12 researchers — brilliant, dedicated, award-winning scientists working to find new diagnostics and treatments for heart disease, cancer, dementia — were rejected. Not because their research wasn’t good enough. But because there simply isn’t enough funding.
Before I worked in this sector, I had no idea how dire the situation had become. Now I can’t stay silent.
Here’s what this means in real terms:
World-class researchers are shutting down their labs;
Groundbreaking projects are being abandoned mid-stream;
Scientists are leaving the field entirely, taking years of expertise with them;
We’re increasingly reliant on philanthropic support, which is unsustainable – but please, if you are in a position to give, the need has never been greater.
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The researchers I work with aren’t just chasing grants. They’re chasing cures. They’re the people who could develop the treatment that saves your parent, your partner, your child.
But right now, they’re struggling to keep the lights on.
The system is broken. It’s actively damaging researcher well-being and Australia’s capacity to innovate. Young emerging researchers simply will not make it.
We need urgent action:
- Release the remaining Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) dollars;
- Increase investment in the next Federal Budget;
- Restore Australia’s position as a leader in medical research.
This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. This is about Australian lives and livelihoods.
To the federal government: medical research can’t wait. Fund the future, or we’ll lose it.
Heidi Krause is the communications manager for the Heart Research Institute.
This article was originally published on Ms Krause’s LinkedIn feed. Read the original here.