To the Editors: Bourne and colleagues1 describe an important disconnect between the relative burden of musculoskeletal conditions and investment in clinical research in Australia. A similar disproportionate allocation of funding is looming in conditions of communication and swallowing, which affect one in seven Australians.2 These disorders typically concern vulnerable populations of early development and ageing, including those with autism, stroke and neurodegeneration.
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- 1. Bourne AM, Whittle SL, Richards BL, et al. The scope, funding and publication of musculoskeletal clinical trials performed in Australia. Med J Aust 2014; 200: 88-91. <MJA full text>
- 2. Speech Pathology Australia. Speech pathologists urge Australians to ‘tell their story'. Aug 2012. (accessed Dec 2013).
- 3. National Health and Medical Research Council. The last ten years of NHMRC research funding dataset 2004–2013 [database]. Aug 2013. (accessed Aug 2013).
- 4. Parliament of Australia, Community Affairs References Committee. Prevalence of different types of speech, language and communication disorders and speech pathology services in Australia. 2013. (accessed Feb 2014).
- 5. Mitchell RJ, McClure RJ, Olivier J, Watson WL. Rational allocation of Australia's research dollars: does the distribution of NHMRC funding by National Health Priority Area reflect actual disease burden? Med J Aust 2009; 191: 648-652. <MJA full text>
Adam Vogel is funded by NHMRC Early Career Fellowship and ARC Discovery and Linkage grants.