The government is boosting Australian led stem cell research through $25 million in grants, to help find and develop innovative, safe and effective treatments for devastating diseases and injuries.

Through the Australian government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), the Stem Cell Therapies Mission is investing $150 million over 10 years to support world-leading stem cell research, which will improve health outcomes, in partnership with patients and carers.

Up to $25 million is available over five years from 2021-22 through two funding streams -

• Stream 1 – up to $15 million to support the development of novel stem-cell based treatments by disease-focused large-scale multidisciplinary teams.
• Stream 2 up to $10 million to support large-scale projects that will focus on pre-clinical evaluation and screening of new treatments using human tissues made from stem cells involving large-scale multi-disciplinary teams.

To receive grants, projects must be working towards a final product or therapy, have a feasible pathway to market, and consider the ethical, legal and social issues associated with the treatment.