The State Budget has delivered a $348 million boost to Western Australia’s Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund over the next four years, expanding support for medical research, innovation, and commercialisation across the State.
The new investment builds on the $292 million already awarded to more than 810 recipients since the FHRI Fund was established in 2020. It will support more researchers, innovators, and industry partners while accelerating the delivery of WA’s health and medical research priorities.
The funding will also underwrite implementation of the FHRI Fund Strategy 2025-2030, a long-term framework for strengthening the State’s health and medical research and innovation system. The strategy is accompanied by the FHRI Fund Scheme Annual Investment Plan, which sets out how and when funding will flow to programs and initiatives each financial year.
The Spotlight Program turns to rheumatic heart disease
A key component of the fund is the Spotlight Program, which targets one major, uniquely Western Australian health issue each year with multi-year investment of up to $25 million per round.
This year’s Spotlight focuses on rheumatic heart disease, a critical and ongoing public health challenge that disproportionately impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The upcoming FHRI Fund Open Day will announce the rheumatic heart disease Spotlight recipient, with a new Spotlight priority to be launched later this year.
“This funding boost to the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund ensures Western Australia will support our world-class researchers and innovators to deliver solutions to the health challenges facing our community,” Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson said.
“The Cook Labor Government is continuously working to build strong foundations and a long-term strategy to position Western Australia as a leader in health and medical research and innovation. Ultimately, this investment is about improving health outcomes for Western Australians now and into the future.”
