Victorian medical researchers driving innovation and saving lives

Victorian health and medical researchers are paving the way for the future of healthcare, as the Victorian Government awards $2.9 million to fund local life-saving projects.

The latest round of Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund (VMRAF) grants have been awarded to 10 projects across 8 organisations including hospitals, medical research institutes and universities.

Western Health’s maternal care research team secured funding to run a clinical trial to test an antibiotic for treating Amniotic Fluid Sludge – a major contributor to preterm births.

Every year in Australia, 28,000 infants are born preterm (before 37 weeks’ gestation) – an incredibly stressful time for new parents and a significant cost to the healthcare system. Thanks to their VMRAF grant, Western Health’s research could help more babies reach full term for a safe and healthy start to their lives.

The VMRAF supports early-stage research and fast-tracks innovative projects from research to real-world impact – improving the lives of people here at home and around the world.

Since 2017, the VMRAF has invested more than $22 million to advance Victoria’s medical research sector, supporting hundreds of research projects and fast-tracking results so Victorian patients can get help quicker.

Victoria has emerged as a world leader in cutting-edge health and medical research, thanks to government investment of more than $1 billion in medical research over the past decade. This funding supports the workforce of more than 30,000 researchers and drives incredible breakthroughs in treatment and care.

To view the full list of grant recipients, visit Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund.