Lung Foundation Australia congratulates all recipients of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grants announced yesterday, a vital step toward new discoveries and new hope for millions of Australians and others around the world.
Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said many worthy projects had now been given the green light and would forge new frontiers in medicine and patient care.
“In particular we’d like to acknowledge the University of Queensland’s grant towards the Max Up Trial, maximising uptake of lung cancer screening and smoking cessation outcomes, which LFA is co-funding through the Hope Research Fund,” Mr Brooke said.
“We also offer our congratulations to Prof Christine Jenkins AM, current Board Member and former LFA Chairperson, and her team at The George Institute who have received a $2 million five-year grant to trial an electronic Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) to improve the diagnosis and treatment of breathlessness.
“As critical as these projects are, this announcement is also an opportunity for LFA to continue to advocate for greater investment in respiratory research to assist the one in three Australians impacted by lung disease.
“We’re urging the Federal Government to fund a dedicated MRFF Respiratory Health Mission in their upcoming Budget, with establishment costs amounting to $500,000.”
Mr Brooke said a comprehensive, multi-year MRFF Respiratory Health Mission would allow researchers to be bold, changing the face of medicine and outcomes for the seven million Australians living with a lung disease.
“Missions allow us to change the current ways of thinking, and this investment would enable key players to work together and exchange insights that lead to better research,” he said.
“The mission would not only position Australia as a global research leader, but also promote new evidence-based approaches to disease management and create jobs and business growth.”
A further investment of $200 million over 10 years to the MRFF Respiratory Health Mission would bring lung health in line with other missions, such as the Cardiovascular Health Mission which received $220 million over 10 years.
Lung disease accounts for 9% of the total disease burden in Australia, impacting not only healthcare utilisation, but also lost quality of life and productivity of individuals, communities, and governments.
Despite this significant burden to Australia, lung disease receives just 2% of research investment – a unacceptably low figure.
For media enquiries please contact:
Anna Jeffries, Lung Foundation Australia Media and Communications Specialist
0408191192
annaj@lungfoundation.com.au