Aim
To strategically target research funding, an understanding of the national landscape of cancer research investment, and how this landscape changes over time, can provide an important evidence base to inform policy directions and priorities for investment. Building on its previous national audits, Cancer Australia has undertaken an audit of funding provided to cancer research projects and research programs in Australia covering the period 2012 – 2020.
Method
Funding information was requested from Australian and international organisations likely to have directly funded cancer-related research projects and research programs in Australia. The funded research was classified using the Common Scientific Outline to show the pattern of funding across the research continuum and allow identification of trends in national cancer research funding over six trienniums covering 2003 to 2020.
Results
The pattern of funding across the cancer research continuum in 2012 – 2020 demonstrated proportionally highest levels of investment in the fields of cancer Biology and Treatment, with proportionally lowest levels of investment in Aetiology and Prevention research.
Over the six trienniums from 2003 - 2020, Early Detection, Diagnosis and Prognosis, and Treatment research have been increasing areas of research funding focus, with the proportion of funding to Biology becoming less prominent. Proportionally low levels of funding to Aetiology and Cancer Control, Survivorship and Outcomes Research have not changed. Lowest levels of proportional investment across this period have been in Prevention research and this proportion has decreased since 2003.
Conclusions
Data from this audit have identified areas across the cancer research spectrum where there are opportunities to strengthen investment by informing Cancer Australia’s future research priorities, and the data and findings are expected to also be of value to other funders of cancer research, policy makers, researchers and consumers.