Government funding for ophthalmic research made easier

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has overhauled its funding program in a move welcomed by research groups throughout Australia.The new program is expected to reduce the burden of applying for funding across different sches by providing consolidated, five-year grants for high-performing researchers at all stages of their careers. It is hoped this will provide more flexibility for collaboration and more time for reseachers to spend on their projects.Another aim of the revamped program is to provide more opportunities for researchers early in their careers, and also for clinical researchers who split their time between research and caring for their patients.Federal Health Minister Mr Greg Hunt said, “The new program will support research across the spectrum, from discovery through to translation and commercialisation of new therapies and devices, and the implentation of new policies and practices, tackling the challenges facing our health syst.”RANZCO welcomed the announcent and said it would allow researchers more time in the lab, rather than dealing with administrative tasks.RANZCO president Associate Professor Mark Daniell said, “Today’s announcent by the NHMRC is a great step forward in advancing medical research in Australia and will make a huge difference to how research into eye disease is carried out. Grant applications take a lot of time to prepare and can often be discouraging, especially for those at the beginning of their research career. Improvents made to the NHMRC grant program will afford researchers at all stages of their career greater flexibility and creativity when it comes to delivering innovative eye research.”.“Ophthalmic research is fundamental to understanding eye conditions and developing appropriate treatments for patients, which can lead to better patient outcomes and help to prevent avoidable blindness,” he added.