Australian medical researchers on the rise

Rumors of drastic cuts the research budget spark protests.To protest researchers March in Melbourne on April 12 to alleged cuts of Australia's medical research budget.Paul Gleeson

Scientists are rally, which are deep cuts on their way for State funding of medical research in cities in Australia in response to rumors.

The national health and medical research budget took thousands of researchers on the streets of Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide on Tuesday to cut Research Council (NHMRC), to protest the main source of public funding for researchers in the field. The cuts are probably off$ 400 million (US$ 419 million) in the next three to four years in total. More rallies are later in the week in Perth, Darwin, and Brisbane in place.

As part of the discoveries must dollar campaign, a grassroots organization started by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of medical research in Melbourne the protests were organized. "The turnout was phenomenal," says Doug Hilton, Director of the Institute, which in the Melbourne rally competition. And he adds not only scientists the protest occurred. "About 1000 were patient groups and the general public - that's what was really inspiring."

Rumours of looming cuts started circulating in the March, although the Australian Federal budget for qualifying will be presented to 10 not Parliament. The Department of health and ageing declined to comment on the reports. If that says the leaked numbers - Hilton, from Cabinet level talks - are accurate, it would be a cut of around 14-19% of the budget of NHMRC, which includes US$ 715 million last year.

Researchers would be disproportionately strong are affected. Two-thirds of the budget of NHMRC will support qualifying round in the last financial aid granted to few years, says Paul Gleeson, head of the Department of Biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Melbourne. "A reduction is effective the cuts the success rate of new grants of around 21% to 10% or less."

The cuts would come as part of a tough budget which has already declared Finance Minister penny Wong will be. After the final expenditure increases the threat as a result of the global financial crisis avert recession has committed the Government, the budget for the excess back 2012-13. In addition to the squeeze, the land looks a great reconstruction Bill after natural disasters earlier in the year, including the huge floods and a category 5 cyclone now.

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But medical research funding is not the place to fat, trimming, says Hilton. Medical research could find some efficiencies in areas such as General Administration, but that's not what includes NHMRC funding. "NHMRC funding direct costs for the experiments simply covering," he says. "I think the argument that fat in this part of the sector is a complete misinterpretation of the situation of the Federal Government."

In fact, says the cuts would suggest a fundamental misunderstanding of the Federal Government, Cathy Foley, President of the Federation of Australian scientific and technological companies. "I have the concern is the apparent lack of understanding which is done as research - you can not only research enable and disable," she says. The funding cuts means researchers lose their jobs, and they can not back.

Discoveries, that need dollars for a two-year moratorium calls the funding cuts time for researchers with the Government a ten year roadmap for the sector work. "There is no point slashing we consider stable budgets and then look at the future from the point of the crisis - and plan properly," says Hilton. The activists have requested to discuss these proposals a meeting with the Minister of health. "We are trying to engage productively with Government", says Hilton. "If they are unresponsive to the session then the pressure only ramp will we."

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