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Cancer research in Australia

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Cancer Australia’s review of funding to research projects in Australia 2016-2018

To identify opportunities for developing strategic priorities in cancer research and future investment, Cancer Australia has undertaken a review of funding awarded up to July 2015, for cancer research projects and research programs in Australia for 2016 to 2018.

This review of funding to cancer research projects and programs was made possible through the co-operation and provision of data by major funders of cancer research in Australia who together provided 90% of funding to cancer research projects and research programs in Australia 2006 to 2011.

Highlights from review of funding to research projects in Australia 2016-2018

  • Over $252 million in funding to cancer research in 2016 to 2018.
  • The Australian Government was the largest funder providing more than $187 million (74%).
  • 95% of the identified research projects are being supported by a single funding source.
  • The level of proportional funding to many cancers was low compared with their burden on the Australian population.
  • The majority of projects (81%) have one or more named collaborators.

View the highlights: Review of Funding to Research Projects in Australia 2016-2018.

Cancer Australia’s national audits of funding to cancer research

Cancer Australia’s recent audit describes, for the first time, the breadth of cancer research funding in Australia, resulting in the first national picture of funding to cancer researchers, capacity and infrastructure. 

Cancer Research in Australia: an overview of funding initiatives to support cancer research capacity in Australia 2006 to 2011 presents findings from Cancer Australia’s two National Audits of funding to cancer research.

The Report presents the first national data on career funding for cancer researchers, and specific initiatives which build cancer research capacity and infrastructure. The Report also combines the data with the funding provided to cancer research projects and programs.

The findings in this report can assist funders of research to make strategic funding decisions that deliver tangible health benefits to the Australian community.

The key findings from the national audits include:

  • Over $1.7 billion in funding was provided to cancer research between 2006 and 2011.
  • The Australian Government was the largest funder, providing more than $1 billion (58%).
  • Total funding to support cancer research capacity increased 41% from 2006–2008 to 2009–2011.
  • 91% of all grants and awards to support cancer research capacity were funded by a single funding source.
  • Career funding for cancer researchers totalled $304 million, and annual funding almost doubled from 2006 to 2011.
  • Mid-career Fellowships were the least commonly awarded Fellowship type in 2006–2011.
  • Scholarships and Fellowships in the areas of Prevention research, Public Health, and Health Services Research, received the lowest levels of funding in 2006–2011.
  • Funding for initiatives which build cancer research capacity and infrastructure totalled $453 million, and annual funding increased almost 50% from 2006 to 2011.
  • The level of proportional funding to many cancers was low compared with their burden on the Australian population.
  • Measured per head of population (per capita) and as percentage of each country’s economic output (Gross Domestic Product, GDP), the level of funding to cancer research was similar in Australia, Canada and the UK.
  • The pattern of funding across the cancer research continuum was similar for Australia, Canada and the UK.

Find out more about:

Report - published in 2015

Report published in 2014

Cancer Australia is continuing to review the patterns of national funding to cancer research in Australia to identify opportunities for future research funding priorities.