Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Targeted Health System and Community Organisation Research - APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

The Program aims to support research that addresses questions that focus on the comparative effectiveness of health services and areas of health system practice with low or insubstantial evidence.

The Program will also address gaps in knowledge and evidence relating to health system issues important to the public, providing opportunities to explore consumer-driven research. These health system research questions require more focused research and usually reflect high community need, but low commercial interest.

Up to $9.8 million is available for up to three review cycles under this grant opportunity in 2018-19. The first round contains two health system research questions. It is anticipated that only one application for each health system research question will be funded.

Health system research question topics for this grant opportunity are:

• Melanoma Surveillance Photography (MSP) to improve early detection of melanoma in very high risk (or high risk) patients; 

OR

• Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assist in the diagnosis, staging and pre-surgical planning of breast cancer.

Objectives

·  health system research questions which aim to address critical knowledge gaps in relation to the comparative effectiveness of a health service and/or health system practice with low or insubstantial evidence, and;

·  gaps in knowledge and evidence relating to health system problems important to the public, providing opportunities to explore consumer-driven research.

Expected Outcomes

·  address critical gaps in knowledge and evidence that inform improvements in current practice and have measurable impacts on patients and/or economic benefits;

·  support HTA and regulatory committees to make informed decisions on the cost effectiveness and budget impact of new and currently funded health care initiatives, and;

·  support consumer-driven research and research that improves clinical practice and health outcomes important to the public.

Eligibility
A person can only be named as a Chief Investigator on one application. Up to 10 Chief Investigators may be included as members of the research team.

Further information about this call including scheme guidelines can be found at: www.grants.gov.au using the search number: GO2016.

Key dates

·  MRO compliance check deadline (via Pure): 23 January 2019

·  Funder external deadline: before 5pm AEDT 6 February 2019

Please contact us at mhs@monash.edu if you have any queries about this funding opportunity.