In the world of thoracic oncology, we often talk about “breakthroughs”, the moments where data becomes a discovery, and discovery becomes a life-extending treatment. But today, the greatest barrier to these breakthroughs isn’t a lack of scientific clinical innovation; it is a policy-driven bottleneck.
Recent reports have highlighted a trend in federal medical research funding. Despite the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) growing significantly, the government has maintained a $650 million annual spending cap. This has resulted in over $1 billion in earnings being held back rather than being deployed into innovative research where it is needed most.
The Cost of Inaction for Lung Cancer Research
For the TOGA community, this isn’t just a matter of balance sheets. It is a matter of stalled progress.
We see the landscape of lung cancer research: there are high-quality, peer-reviewed projects ready to launch today. These are initiatives designed to improve early detection, refine personalised therapies, and address the inequities in access to care across Australasia.
Under the current funding restrictions, these projects remain unfunded despite their merit. When we cap our investment in research, we aren’t just saving money; we are losing time.
The Low Survival Cancers Mission
In March 2024, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Hon Mark Butler announced a $150 million investment in the Low Survival Cancers Mission focusing on improving outcomes for people with a cancer where the 5-year survival rate is less than 50%. This includes common cancers like pancreatic, lung and liver cancers.
The MRFF 3rd 10 year investment plan has this fund making its first $14.4 million disbursement in 2027-28, thus we are not expecting to see this grant opportunity open until late 2027, with successful research projects likely to commence halfway through 2028, and outcomes from this research not likely to be materialise before 2030.
In lung cancer alone, a person dies every hour of every day. Over thirty people are diagnosed with lung cancer every day. Over 25% of those diagnosed die within 3 months of diagnosis. That’s almost 20,000 lives lost to lung cancer while they wait for the government to deliver on an MRFF announced 2 years ago. They do not have time to wait.
A Workforce at Risk
Beyond the projects and disease, there is an additional cost. The uncertainty of the current grant cycle is driving a “brain drain” in Australian science and clinical research. Our most talented early and mid-career researchers—the individuals who should be leading the next decade of lung cancer trials—are being forced to leave the sector for more stable roles.
Australia has a proud history of scientific excellence, but reputation alone cannot sustain an industry. Without a commitment to using the MRFF as it was intended, we risk hollowed-out research institutions and a healthcare system that falls behind the global standard. If this is not amended soon, the dearth of research funding will have decimated the highly trained and experienced research workforce in Australia.
How has TOGA addressed this issue?
How You Can Help: A Call to Action
The science is ready. The funding exists. What is missing is the political will to remove the cap and let Australian innovation work.
As members of TOGA, your voice carries the weight of clinical expertise and frontline experience. We are asking you to advocate for the release of these funds to ensure lung cancer research gets the momentum it deserves.
1. Contact Your Local MP Personal stories from clinicians and researchers are incredibly powerful. Use the template below to send an email to your federal representative asking them to advocate for the full use of MRFF funds.
2. Share the Message Online Raise awareness through your digital channels by highlighting the gap between available research funding and the current success rates for grants.
Email template: Send this to your local MP
Subject: Release the MRFF funds. Medical research matters.
Dear [MP Name],
I am writing to you as a member of the community and a professional in the field of thoracic oncology, concerned about the ongoing underspend and delayed release of funds from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
Australia has a strong history of high-quality medical research and scientific discovery. However, without immediate action to sustain investment in our researchers, our highly trained and experienced workforce will contract, and be difficult to rebuild. Our reputation as a global leader in medical innovation will not be maintained, and our world class health system, which has consistently delivered research advances to patients through investigator-initiated clinical trials, risks decline. This includes the timely release of the Low Survival Cancers MRFF funding announced in 2024.
In lung cancer specifically, we have projects ready to change the trajectory of the disease that are currently sitting on the shelf, while families lose a loved one to this disease every hour of every day.
I ask that you advocate for MRFF funds to be used as intended; to support research that will define the future of Australian healthcare and give those living with thoracic cancers hope that research will save their lives.
Thank you for representing our community on this vital issue.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Your Title/Organisation]
