- Senator the Hon Penny Wong , Minister for Foreign Affairs
- The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Disability and the NDIS
From cutting-edge vaccine technology to life-saving antivenoms, the Albanese Government is backing Australian-led research to transform health outcomes across our nation and our region.
Through the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) Centres of Research Excellence (CRE) grant scheme, 24 research leaders and their teams will be supported with $72 million to undertake research to tackle some of the toughest medical challenges and turn world-class research into real solutions.
Professor Katherine Andrews from Griffith University will lead a multidisciplinary team within the Vaccine Adjuvant Discovery and Development (Vaccine-ADD) CRE, to address research gaps and improve vaccine development.
Adjuvants exist in many vaccines to improve their effectiveness and longevity. However, there are limited adjuvants currently in use, restricting the development of vaccines, including for people with reduced responsiveness.
The CRE scheme supports researchers in capacity building activities including in specific areas of need identified by NHMRC. This year, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade partnered with NHMRC to co-fund CRE grants in One Health research, supporting collaboration and transdisciplinary action between human health, animal health, and ecosystems to address challenges that affect the Pacific and/or Southeast Asia.
Professor Joshua Francis from the Menzies School of Health Research will lead Research Excellence and Surveillance to promote One Health Solutions for Timor-Leste and the region (RESPOSTA).
REPOSTA will strengthen One Health research partnerships across Timor-Leste, Australia and Indonesia by responding to challenges that are regional priorities.
Full details of the researchers and projects funded are available to download on NHMRC's outcomes of funding rounds page.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong:
"A strong, healthy region benefits us all – these new research partnerships will help to strengthen expertise, deliver innovation and create practical solutions to our region's shared health challenges.
"We are supporting our nation's brightest minds to turn their research into breakthroughs that could save lives and keep Australians safe."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler:
"The Albanese Government is investing in Australia's world-class researchers to solve some of the hardest problems in health.
"We are fortunate to be living through a supercharged period of discovery and the 24 researcher driven projects are more proof of that fact."
Quotes attributable to Minister for International Development, the Hon Dr Anne Aly:
"Australia is committed to supporting resilient, equitable and inclusive health systems across our region."
"We are working with Indo-Pacific partners to enhance health expertise, strengthening our collective abilities to prevent the spread of future pandemics."
Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh:
"Since 2010, NHMRC's CRE scheme has provided support for research teams to pursue collaborative research and develop capacity in clinical, health services and public health research, as well as in basic science research since 2024.
"At its core, this scheme promotes the effective translation of research into knowledge, policy and practice, effectively building workforce capability within the sector.
"This investment is a commitment to the health of all Australians and into the future of our national health system– congratulations to all successful chief investigators and their teams receiving funding today."