Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)

Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) The Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) is the oldest peak professional society representing Australian health and medical researchers.

The ASMR aims to advocate for the Australian health and medical research sector, to
foster excellence in health and medical research, to expand the interface between basic science and clinical research, to promote community understanding and support of health and medical research

What do grant reviewers actually want?It's one of the most asked questions in research, and on 13 May we're bringing you...
28/04/2026

What do grant reviewers actually want?

It's one of the most asked questions in research, and on 13 May we're bringing you someone uniquely placed to answer it.

Join us for our second 2026 Professional Development Webinar, where Dr Phil Batterham (Co-Head, ANU Centre for Mental Health Research) will pull back the curtain on the grant review process.

Phil was awarded the inaugural NHMRC Peer Review Excellence Award (Senior/Experienced Researcher) in 2025, so when he talks about what reviewers are looking for, it's worth listening!

📅 Wednesday, 13 May 2026
🕓 4:00–5:00pm AEDT
💻 Delivered via the Instats platform

This is an honest, practical conversation designed to help you strengthen your next application. Whether you're early in your research career or a seasoned investigator, understanding the reviewer's perspective is a genuine competitive advantage.

New this year: ASMR's 2026 Professional Development Webinars are hosted on Instats, giving registrants access to thousands of hours of on-demand research training from leading academics worldwide. You'll need a free Instats account to register.

Register here 👉 https://lnkd.in/g-y3-pQG

📣 The ASMR South Australian Scientific Meeting returns on 23 September at U City, Adelaide.This is a conference built ar...
27/04/2026

📣 The ASMR South Australian Scientific Meeting returns on 23 September at U City, Adelaide.

This is a conference built around community. It brings together researchers across disciplines, from basic science, clinical, public health and beyond, in an environment that genuinely supports knowledge-sharing at every career stage.

Whether you're presenting for the first time or looking to expand your professional network, it's a worthwhile day.

ASMR members are also eligible for our prestigious research prizes, including the annual Ross Wishart Memorial Award.

📋 Registration
Members: Students $90 | ECR/MCR $130
Non-members: Students $155 | ECR/MCR $280

Not yet a member? Membership pays for itself and opens doors beyond this event. Join here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gNvSqFr

🟪 Abstracts open 1 June
Find out more here ➡️ https://asmr.org.au/sa/

SA colleagues, share this with your networks and teams. The more disciplines in the room, the better the conversation.

What does it feel like to be told you're an outstanding scientist... Just not outstanding enough to be funded?That's the...
14/04/2026

What does it feel like to be told you're an outstanding scientist... Just not outstanding enough to be funded?

That's the reality facing many of Australia's best medical researchers right now. In a new piece for The Australian, ASMR CEO Dr Shane Huntington OAM writes about a funding crisis decades in the making, and what it means for the people on the ground.

The numbers are stark: grant success rates below 10%, and a $24 billion Medical Research Future Fund releasing just $650 million a year. The potential is there. The will needs to follow.

ASMR is continuing to push for change, alongside more than 30 patient and community organisations who joined our recent letter to Health Minister Mark Butler. Because the community has the most to lose, and the most to gain.

Read the full article: https://asmr.org.au/news/asmr-in-the-australian-a-research-funding-drought-means-australia-is-repeating-history/

04/03/2026

Many researchers spend more than 25% of their time each year simply applying for funding.

Our highly-trained medical researchers are spending hours doing paperwork when they could be spending time doing research and working with patients and community members.

On top of that, many of the grant schemes they're applying for have success rates lower than 10%. In the likely event that they miss out on that funding, this adds up to an enormous amount of wasted time, effort, and money.

Funding our current grant schemes adequately will help to minimise this waste.

Email Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, and Health Minister Mark Butler now to ensure Australian medical research is adequately funded ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ggZn8HnS

Become an ASMR member now to support our ongoing advocacy ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gNvSqFr

26/02/2026

It's been a big 12 months for the Australian Society for Medical Research.

We've grown a lot, had many important conversations, and been part of some fantastic campaigns.

Through the incredible hard work and dedication of our 66 volunteers across Australia, we:

🟪 Hosted a sold out National Scientific Conference in Brisbane
🟪 Held fantastic state-based Scientific Meetings with record attendance
🟪 Hosted Gala Dinners alongside our 2025 National ASMR Medallist Tour with Dr Daniel Timms, inventor of the BiVACOR total artificial heart.
🟪 Connected with hundreds of thousands of people online, all sharing the same frustrations and hopes for the future of our sector.

The bad news is that there's still a lot of work to be done.

The good news is that we're only just getting started.

Want to be part of what's next?

Renew your ASMR membership now to join the journey, be part of this growing community, and have your voice heard and amplified 👉 https://asmr.org.au/membership/

17/02/2026

When students in Australia enrol in a PhD, they do so with the expectation of finding work in their field after graduation.

Early career researchers dedicate up to a decade of their lives to gaining critical skills and knowledge that allows them to do the medical research that benefits all Australians.
Due to the chronic underfunding of Australian medical research, that promise of a future career in medical research is not being fulfilled, and ECRs are leaving our sector - and the country - in droves.

The ASMR was created over 60 years ago by passionate EMCRs who wanted to create positive change in their sector.

Today, we support graduate researchers and EMCRs by creating opportunities for professional development, supportive environments to share your work and develop a professional network, and by amplifying your voices in conversations with policymakers.
But there’s only so much that can be done while the sector remains drastically underfunded.

Email key politicians now to ensure that Australian medical research is adequately funded to support EMCRs ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ggZn8HnS

Become an ASMR member now to support our ongoing advocacy ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gNvSqFr

13/02/2026

When we invest in medical research, we're investing in access. Adequate funding means Australians can participate in clinical trials for new cancer treatments, heart disease therapies, and rare disease interventions right here at home, rather than having to travel overseas or miss out entirely.

Without sustained research investment, these trials simply don't happen on our shores. Our patients lose access to cutting-edge treatments, and our researchers struggle to retain the infrastructure needed to deliver world-class care.

It's straightforward: funding medical research keeps tomorrow's treatments accessible to Australians today.

Email Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, and Health Minister Mark Butler now to ensure Australian medical research continues to save Australian lives ➡️ https://www.moniqueryan.com.au/medical_research_matters

Become an ASMR member now to support our ongoing advocacy ➡️ https://asmr.org.au/membership/

02/02/2026

🎬 Behind the scenes of something special.

A few weeks ago, we were on set filming with Monique Ryan MP and her incredible team for the campaign. We couldn't be more proud to stand alongside them in this fight for Australia's research future.

Removing the arbitrary cap on the MRFF is essential to secure the future of our sector, supporting breakthrough medical research and ensuring every Australian has access to world-class medical innovation.

Over 3000 voices have already spoken up. Now we need yours.

It takes less than 2 minutes to send an email directly to the MPs who can make this happen. Your support makes a difference.

➡️ Add your voice now: https://lnkd.in/ggZn8HnS

We will always amplify the voices of our community. We will always fight for sustainable funding for Australian medical research. Together, we can make this change happen.

Become an ASMR Member or join one of our state committees at ➡️ asmr.org.au

27/01/2026

📢 ASMR's 2026-27 Federal Budget Submission: Investing in Australia's Research Future

Australia's health and medical research sector stands at a critical juncture. With grant success rates at historic lows (just 8.1% for the 2025 Ideas round), we're losing world-class researchers and innovative discoveries before they reach patients.

ASMR's pre-budget submission calls for two strategic investments to secure Australia's research future:

1️⃣ Unlock the Medical Research Future Fund – Remove the arbitrary $647M annual disbursement cap. Parliamentary Budget Office analysis shows $1B annual disbursements would still see the fund grow to $30.1B by 2035-36.

Add your voice to Monique Ryan MP's campaign here: https://lnkd.in/ggZn8HnS

2️⃣ 20% Boost to the Medical Research Endowment Account – An immediate investment in discovery research and the talented researchers conducting it, as a stepping-stone toward sustainable long-term support.

This strategic investment is essential to support the researchers who've invested decades in training, fund their discoveries that could transform healthcare, and ensure Australia's capacity to address emerging health challenges.

Read our full submission and learn more about why this investment matters: https://lnkd.in/g6ggRnFs

Become an ASMR member here: https://lnkd.in/gNvSqFr

16/01/2026

Applications are OPEN for our 2026 State Committees!

Our State Committees work at the intersection of grassroots action and national impact.

If you're ready to create the research ecosystem you want to work in, learn more and apply here: https://asmr.org.au/state-committees/

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Sydney, NSW

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