The Western Australian Government has allocated $5.2 million over the next three years to the new Targeted Research Fund (TRF) which has been set up to fund research that impacts directly on the health of Western Australians.

 

Part of the funds will be directed to specific research commissioned by WA Health, while the remainder will be awarded through a competitive process.

 

Areas that could be considered for funding include:

  • primary care access
  • chronic health conditions
  • public health issues significant to the WA community
  • rural, remote and Aboriginal health
  • emerging health risks
  • health service delivery models.

 

An initial investment will be $647,000 over three years to undertake a clinical trial for muscular dystrophy patients.

 

The trial, which involves compounds that have been pioneered in Western Australia, will be conducted in conjunction with WA Health by the Australian Neuromuscular Research Institute and the Muscular Dystrophy Association of WA.