The next phase of Australian Genomics is under way after the Australian Government approved the NHMRC Grant Program 2024-25.
The $5.9 million in funding means Australian Genomics will continue to support researchers and the roll-out of genomic technologies into the health system through a suite of new and continuing projects.
Its nationally coordinated approach to government-funded genomic research and partner arrangements with state, territory and commonwealth governments will continue to build the evidence to inform policy and practice.
This grant funding was announced by the Government as part of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2023-24 with the deferral of the commencement of the new entity, Genomics Australia, until 1 July 2025.
Australian Genomics will achieve the intended outcomes of the Grant Program with projects including:
- Building evidence to support the implementation of an organised expanded reproductive carrier screening (ERCS) program for Australia.
- An international scan of emerging disruptive health genomics technologies
- An evaluation of MBS usage data assessment, post implementation
- Modelling workforce and system capacity
- Genomic acceptability – societal preferences, public opinion and analysis
Genomics tools and resources will expand across multiple project areas including workforce education, national consistency of diagnostic and clinical practice, data capture and standardisation, Indigenous priorities in genomics, and clinical consent for genomic testing.