- Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund Open
Day connects researchers
- New FHRI funding initiatives to inject $16 million
into the sector
- WA Clinical Trials Roadmap to set standards for
clinical trials
The Cook
Government is planning to invest $16 million into driving a connected and
innovative ecosystem for Western Australia's health and medical research sector.
Medical Research Minister
Stephen Dawson made the announcement at today's Future Health Research and
Innovation (FHRI) Fund Open Day. He said the event was vital in uniting the
State's top health and medical researchers to help improve future healthcare in
WA and showcase new ideas.
The Minister announced the consultation process for the newly
developed WA Clinical Trials
Roadmap would begin. The framework will set the standard for quality and
capacity of clinical trials in WA, and guide future FHRI Fund investments.
Five
new FHRI funding programs were
announced with the State Government planning to invest up to $16 million into
the sector as the programs roll out.
The
programs include the Early Career Child Health Research Fellowships which have
been designed to keep more WA-based PhD graduates involved in local child
health research.
There is also the Targeted Call - Health System Solutions program which will
support the development of innovative solutions to significant business
challenges identified by public Health Service Providers.
Since
the last open day in March, almost $60 million has been awarded to 87
recipients.
Today's Open Day was held at The University Club of Western Australia and
co-hosted by WA Health's Office of Medical Research and Innovation and the WA
Life Sciences Innovation Hub (WALSIH).
Several prominent guest speakers
presented at the event including Chief
Operating Officer and Managing Director of OncoRes MedicalDr
Simon Graindorge, new FHRI Fund Advisory Council Chair Rebecca Tomkinson and
Professor Fiona Wood AO, who also recently joined the council.
The Cook Government established the FHRI
Fund in 2020, which is backed by the State's almost $1.8 billion sovereign
wealth fund. This has resulted in nearly $250 million being available over the
next four years to support health and medical research and innovation in
Western Australia.
Information about funding outcomes and other funding opportunities can be
found on the FHRI Fund website.
Comments attributed to Medical Research
Minister Stephen Dawson:
"With the future of healthcare underpinned by innovation and technology,
research is critical for finding new and better ways of
delivering healthcare and improving the health of Western Australians.
"Working toward creating a better-connected ecosystem can
turn ideas into a reality, improve patient outcomes and lead to a more
responsive healthcare system.
"These open days provide an opportunity for the sector to collaborate
and develop new ideas that can make a significant difference to those working
in the health and medical
innovation sector.
"The Cook
Government remains committed to helping more local researchers pursue
innovative medical research projects with new grants backing world-leading
research projects that save lives here in WA and around the world."
