MRFF

• Record number of geneType tests processed, with six times more commercial samples received compared to the prior corresponding period.
• Launched Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment Test (HBOC) via an exclusive Santa Monica event for a select group of clinicians.
• Discussions continue with potential partners to access Indonesia's healthcare market, with the geneType Multi-Risk test
  Expanding Global Footprint UK.
• GTG believes results from this trial will form an important step in introducing risk assessments test such as geneType into routine general practice.

• The grant will provide funding for the CASSOWARY Trial: a randomised controlled trial of the clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of a multi-cancer polygenic risk score in general practice.
• GTG is the National Research Partner for trial which is to be led by Professor Jon Emery.
• The trial results will inform future policy including the 5-year goal in the Australian Cancer Plan of using genomics for risk-stratified cancer screening.
• As the sole industry partner, GTG will receive funding to cover the supply of test kits and the analysis of the sample returned.

• The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is a A$20 billion fund to support Australian health and medical research.
• It was set up in 2015 to deliver practical benefits from medical research and innovation to as many Australians as possible.
• Unlike the other research funding agencies, such the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), most of the MRFF funding is priority-driven.

Assess gaps in evidence

• However, most researchers and institutions will simply argue more funding is needed for their own research.
• If the board seeks to satisfy such lobbying, it will produce fragmented funding that aligns poorly with the health needs of Australians.
• A better approach would be to systematically assemble evidence about what is known and the key evidence gaps.

Seek public input

• A structured framework for engaging with the public is also missing in Australia.
• The public’s perspective on research prioritisation has often been overlooked, but as the ultimate consumers of research, they need to be heard.
• Research is a highly complex and specialised endeavour, so we can’t expect the public to create sensible priorities alone.

Consider our comparative advantages

• A single research grant, even if it involves a few million dollars of funding, is unlikely to lead to a medical breakthrough.
• Instead, the MRFF should prioritise areas where Australia has a comparative advantage.
• However, there is an area where Australian researchers have an absolute advantage: using research to improve our own health system.
• Now that is something the MRFF should consider as a funding priority.

• SAN DIEGO and ADELAIDE, Australia, March 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BioCina , a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has been awarded a $5 million AUD grant under the Federal Government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Grants scheme to fund work with its industry partners to develop enabling technologies for manufacturing precision mRNA vaccines.
• The project will help BioCina address the post-pandemic mRNA demand for specific and essential attributes of new personalized RNA products.
• The project will help BioCina address the post-pandemic mRNA demand for specific and essential attributes of new personalized RNA products.
• The first is an increase in mRNA manufacturing and associated analytical capability at BioCina, and the second is a microfluidics-based device for parallel manufacturing at the small scales required for the personalized therapeutic vaccines market.