Media Releases 2008

5 June 2008

Joint media release by Universities Australia and the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI): Universities Australia and AAMRI support medical research funding.

On the occasion of the Australian Society of Medical Research (ASMR) Medical Research Week, Universities Australia and the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) today reaffirmed their support for continued Government investment in health and medical research.

“We are confident that the Review of the National Innovation System being undertaken by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, will develop a sustainable future for health and medical research, by delivering funding for the full cost of research and funding for research infrastructure,” Professor Richard Larkins, Chair of Universities Australia, said.

Both Universities Australia and AAMRI have made detailed submissions to the Review of the National Innovation System.

“Universities Australia and AAMRI are united in supporting a number of additional key principles including the funding of excellence in research wherever it occurs, encouragement of national and international collaborations, increased public investment in research and development, and career development schemes for researchers,” Professor Larkins said.

“Australia is a world leader in medical research and we need to make the most of our precious investment in research. We should properly fund the best and brightest researchers in universities, medical research institutes and elsewhere. Funding schemes should be competitive and should result in our top researchers being rewarded and supported to carry out their research,” Professor Garry Jennings, President of AAMRI said.

The Access Economics report Exceptional Returns: The value of investing in health R&D in Australia II, prepared for the ASMR and released yesterday at the National Press Club in Canberra, states that Australia’s universities performed 44% of all health research and development over the period 2004- 2005.

“Universities Australia is pleased that this fact confirms that universities’ contributions remain high for these activities in partnership with other private organisations, businesses and government research institutions,” Professor Larkins said.

“Universities and medical research institutes working together will see Australia get the most out of every dollar invested in education, research science and training,” Professor Jennings said.

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Media Inquiries Rebecca Harris – phone: (02) 6285 8106 or 0400 166691