Riding on the Brain’s Back: Building a Strong Brain Science Research Community

In 2019, it was estimated that brain-related disorders cost Australia over $74 billion per annum and constituted over 20% of the burden of disease in Australia.1 Yet despite an abundance of research talent and innovation, early and mid-career brain scientists are leaving the research sector at an alarming rate, primarily due to job insecurity.2 At a time where the health of the population and the economy are increasingly reliant on brain science discoveries and applications, it is critical that Australia retain early and mid-career brain scientists to address one of the biggest scientific problems: Because many brain science projects are multi- and interdisciplinary, with both medical and non-medical applications, researchers often fall foul between the rigid mandates of the Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council (including the Medical Research Future Funding they administer) schemes.