Victorian Government Announcement of COVID-19 Research Investment

On 11 May 2020 the Victorian Government announced further investment of $8 million into research that aims to understand the immediate and potentially longer-term impacts of COVID-19. This is in addition to $4 million in COVID-19 research funding announced on 3 March 2020. The total package of $8.56m comprises programs of funding for biomedical research, cohort studies into the long term impacts of COVID-19 and health services research projects to enhance models of care.

In the coming days expressions of interest will be sought relating to:

• Biomedical research into the long-term impacts of COVID-19 - up to $2million of funding will be available through a competitive process
• Biomedical research to understand COVID-19 immunity - up to $1m of funding will be available through a competitive process
• Seed funding of clinical trials - up to $100k for each project related to the biomedical research above and selected through a competitive process
• Studies into the long term impacts on health care workers - up to $3m of funding will be available through a competitive process. It is expected that this study stream will complement existing research in our health services. Research collaborations with broad engagement are encouraged.

The remaining $2.36m within the funding announced includes:

• $1.8 m in Health Services Research through partnerships with our Advanced Health Research Translation Centres at Monash University and the University of Melbourne and a range of leading health services. It also includes collaborations with Western Alliance (Deakin University and regional/rural health services) and Cochrane Australia’s work on “Living Evidence”.
• $560k has also been provided to look at the long term impacts on children and families in partnership with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare.

All of these investments will build upon the great research that is already underway. It will strengthen the many collaborations across the sector in our shared goal of understanding and addressing the immediate and longer-term impacts of COVID-19.

If you have any questions regarding the Victorian Government’s investment or wish to discuss your researchers’ interest in submitting a proposal for funding, please make contact via email to OHMR@dhhs.vic.gov.au and a member of my team will be in contact with you via email or phone to assist you with your inquiry.

For any urgent matters please contact Bernadette King, Manager, Office of Health and Medical Research by email at bernadette.king@dhhs.vic.gov.au or on 9096 2096.