Background:
Cancer research in Australia is funded by many different government and non-government organisations. A coordinated approach to funding priority-driven cancer research could maximise national cancer research investment, avoid potential duplication of funded research and target research which yields rapid changes in care and outcomes.
Aim:
To establish a national collaborative approach to funding cancer research in Australia which will impact on policy and practice and lead to improved cancer outcomes.
Strategy:
Cancer Australia developed an annual national priority-driven cancer research project grants scheme, the Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme (PdCCRS), to bring together funders and establish a single grant application process for cancer researchers. The scheme has been intentionally designed to co-fund research in shared priority areas and support research that will directly impact on practice, policy and outcomes.
Programme:
The PdCCRS application process is conducted in collaboration with Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council. Cancer Australia sets its own research priorities and undertakes ongoing grant management on behalf of all funding partners.
Costs and returns:
From 2007-2013, Cancer Australia and fifteen funding partners have supported 240 project grants totalling AUS$82.2M. Approximately 54% of all grants have been co-funded and without co-funding 30% fewer grants would have been funded. As the Scheme has matured in recent years, each dollar invested by the Australian Government, is yielding a 100% return on investment by Funding Partners. All monies provided by funding partners go directly to supporting research.
Outcomes:
A coordinated, centrally-managed national grants process reduces grant review and administration costs. The co-funding model results in more cancer research grants being funded and leveraged new funding from funders who previously did not support research. Joining forces in funding of cancer research efficiently and effectively increases the national cancer research funding pool to support more cancer research.