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NHMRC Funding and WA Dr Nik Zeps Research Committee, NHMRC School of Surgery, UWA SJOG Pathology Radiation Oncology, SCGH Budget Appropriations Australian population – March 2010 (percentage by state) 10% Gross State Product (a measure of the value added by economic production; percentage by state) 14% Percentage of NHMRC research expenditure by state WA share 8.2% 6.8% 5.8% NHMRC project grants: Success rate by state and year 2010 by State 2010: Top ranking • • • • • • • • Uni Melb Monash Uni Syd UQ Uni of Ade UNSW UWA MCRI 95 (396) 24.0% 93 (289) 32.2 % 90 (435) 20.7% 56 (243) 23.0% 45 (219) 20.5% 43 (250) 17.2% 40 (190) 21.1% 28 (93) 30.1% Proportio n of 2001 Funding Proportio n of 2010 Funding University of Melbourne 13.2% 13.4% University of Sydney 9.5% 12.2% Monash University 8.7% 9.4% University of Queensland 8.7% 8.6% University of New South Wales 6.0% 7.6% University of Adelaide 6.3% 6.1% Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 5.2% 4.9% University of Western Australia 7.5% 4.7% Queensland Institute of Medical Research 3.1% 3.8% Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute 2.1% 2.6% Murdoch Childrens Research Institute 1.0% 2.5% Garvan Institute of Medical Research 2.3% 2.1% Australian National University 1.9% 2.0% University of Newcastle 1.6% 2.0% Menzies School of Health Research 0.9% 1.5% Flinders University 3.1% 1.2% Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research 0.5% 1.1% Grant Admin Institution NHMRC postdoctoral fellowships: Success rate by state in 2008 12% WA accounted for 4% of the total applications WA comparative data: Other recent examples of NHMRC funding • Program grants 2002- 2007 – WA 35% success rate, national success rate 39% – WA had 8% of the total number of applications • Career Development Awards 2007 – WA 3% success rate, national success rate 18% – WA had 8% of the total number of applications • Postgraduate scholarships 2008 – WA 2% success rate Postgraduate scholarship 2010 WA comparative data Summary • Based on 2009-2010 data, Western Australia – – – – Has 10% of the national population Contributes 14% of national production Gets 6% of total NHMRC funding Has the lowest recent success rate of any state for project grants – For other schemes (program grants and people support), WA submits relatively low numbers of application per capita and has low success rates Project Grants 2010 by Institution (for funding >$3 million) UWA comparative data • UWA is by far the most successful WA institution • However, by implication, low WA application numbers and success rates are also those relating to UWA Possible reasons for NHMRC disappointment • Research institutes in WA are not as well developed as those in other states • Collaborations from WA are more difficult because of the tyranny of distance • Local expert and peer support needed to buttress applications are not as well developed as elsewhere • Greater involvement of WA researchers on key NHMRC committees and panels would ensure – national awareness of WA medical science – enhanced local knowledge of application procedures, standards and strategies State Investment • WA is significantly behind other states • Victoria: Secret of success? – Biogrid ($11million) – VCA (VCB $13 million) – VCCC ($1 billion)