Two million dollars in grant funding is to be offered to Australian researchers in a bid to develop a vaccine for the newly uncovered dangerous health threat novel coronavirus.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the $2 million in grants would be provided from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) for an open and competitive Grant Opportunity to develop the vaccine.
“This is a task that’s not only important for Australia, it’s very important more broadly for our region as well, which is very exposed and very vulnerable at this time,” Mr Morrison said.
“So that is our focus, working the science, working the problems and putting the right measures in place to protect Australians.”
He said the Grant Opportunity would complement the world-leading vaccine research work already being undertaken by the Doherty Institute, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and University of Queensland.
“[We are] looking to the future and using the best minds we have available in this area and they’re the best in the world to ensure that we can put our best foot forward in keeping Australians safe and ensure that we can manage our way through this process,” Mr Morrison said.
“Research plays a critical role in ensuring Australia maintains its world-class health system and is particularly important as the world responds to coronavirus.”
He said the Grant Opportunity, under the MRFF Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative would open soon and information would be available on the GrantConnect website.
