The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Australian government medical research funders are launching a collaborative £15.5 million funding initiative to support joint clinical trials. This partnership between the UK and Australia will focus on platform trials designed to address areas of unmet health and care needs, leveraging the expertise and resources of both nations.
The joint UK-Australia research call welcomes applications across all health areas meeting funding criteria, with particular interest in childhood, brain, and prostate cancers; stroke and traumatic brain injuries; neurodegenerative diseases; and cardiometabolic conditions, including obesity. Platform trials, known for their efficiency in evaluating multiple interventions within a single study (as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic), will be the focus of this initiative.
Baroness Gillian Merron, Minister responsible for Life Sciences and Innovation at the UK Department of Health and Social Care, emphasized the importance of international collaboration in transforming the UK into a life sciences superpower. "This partnership will harness the power of innovation in the fight against devastating diseases like cancer – ensuring patients are offered the highest-quality treatments and ultimately saving lives," she stated.
Professor Lucy Chappell, NIHR CEO, highlighted the potential of this partnership to drive innovation in health and care, ultimately saving and improving lives. Natasha Ploenges, CEO of the Health and Medical Research Office, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, added that the collaboration will fund clinical trials in key areas of unmet clinical need, paving the way for groundbreaking treatments with global benefits.
Professor Steve Wesselingh, CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), expressed excitement about exploring untapped global talent through this joint call. He noted that the outcomes of these platform trials could help combat many areas of health and medical research where there is an unmet clinical need.
The funding will support UK-based project components with UK funds and Australian costs with Australian funding. Successful platforms will be commissioned over five years to evaluate interventions outlined at the application stage. Applications must be submitted by 10 am BST on July 23, 2025. A webinar is scheduled for November 19, 2024, to support applicants.
