Targeted Translation Research Accelerator Impact Report

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Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death and disability in Australia – and globally – and represent a significant challenge to Australia’s health system.

With the goal to reduce the burden of disease, the Australian government established the Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) for diabetes and cardiovascular disease – a $124.5 million funding allocation from the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative.

In 2020, MTPConnect was selected to deliver the initial $47 million TTRA investment as a coordinated and collaborative program of translational research to transform health outcomes. MTPConnect adapted its proven approach, pairing non-dilutive funding with mentoring, commercialisation and implementation support, to accelerate the clinical translation of promising Australian research addressing sector- and community-identified unmet needs in diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

New TTRA Impact Report – Interim Outcomes

As the TTRA program has passed the halfway point and with the funding pool fully committed, a new report has captured the interim outcomes to date: ‘Transforming health outcomes for diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Australia – Interim report on impacts of the first Targeted Translation Research Accelerator 2020-2023’.

Across 2022-2023 and four rounds of competitive funding opportunities, the TTRA program has established two national Research Centres and invested in 22 Research Projects: Round 1 Research Projects, Round 2 Research Projects and Round 3 Research Projects.

Tangible outcomes that will benefit patients and economic growth include:

  • 46 new products, solutions and technologies, which are now progressing towards translation
  • The formation of three new spin-out companies
  • 17 pre-clinical and clinical trials have commenced, and,
  • 459 trial participants have been recruited.

Read the Report for further details, the impact of this transformative program so far, case studies and more.

Download the TTRA Impact Report February 2024