Jean Hailes for Women's Health is managing the first Medical Research Future Fund allocation to endometriosis research announced in the Australian Government's National Action Plan for Endometriosis.
The $2.5 million will be used as the first building block for enabling research into national and international priorities for endometriosis research. Once a collaborative research environment has been established, further funding opportunities through the Medical Research Future Fund and other funding bodies, will be pursued.
The milestones and management outline are detailed below. We are currently in the establishment phase and progressing well as described in the initial report provided to the National Action Plan for Endometriosis Implementation Committee. Approximately 65% of the allocated budget of $2.5 million will be allocated to specific research that meets the objectives of the funding. The remainder will be spent on management and establishment of the national clinical trial network, database and biosample repositories as per the funding agreement.
Project governance
Establish national project oversight committee and chair with agreed project governance framework
Project management
Identify and engage project manager (Dr Cecilia Ng, 3 years allocated funds for salary and oncosts)
Develop detailed arrangements to support research active clinicians and scientists and develop call for applications
ALSWH analysis
Engage ALSWH fellow and start analysis ($128,000 per annum for 2 years allocated)
Project governance
Prepare project completion report
Project management
Continue to manage database, clinical trial and biosample repositories and clinician and scientist networks
Database
Maintain national database including demographic data, medical and surgical history, symptom and impact data including quality of life instruments, sonography data, surgical datasets, pathology results, outcome data from index events (medical and surgical).
Biosample repository
Maintain national linked repository for biological samples linked to the national health administrative database, biofluid samples for collaborative linked studies (current and future), and tissue samples of varying phenotypes of endometriosis
Further research
Report and publish results from funded projects and identify further priority areas of research
View Progress Report prepared for National Action Plan for Endometriosis Implementation Committee
