What did the funding cover?
The fund was open to researchers whose principal investigators were based in the Auckland/ Northland region, AMRF granted up to a maximum of $100,000 for each research project, from an initial investment of $500,000.
This was over and above the Foundation’s average of more than $3.5 million – granted annually for a wide range of medical research each year – including dementia, cancers, stroke treatments, antibiotic development, heart health and youth mental health.
The fund focused solely on biomedical, clinical and population-health research, specifically investigating COVID-19, its impact and outcomes. Our aim was to fund a wide range of research covering focus areas such as bio-medical studies and identifying new treatments through to studies exploring the societal impacts of the lockdown.
Why was it important?
Our reasoning was simple. If we didn't gather the data about what we were learning during a pandemic, we are doomed to be no further ahead next time, and the experts are all saying there will be a next time. COVID-19 – like the flu, may never be truly eradicated, and there may be other world-wide pandemics in our future.
The lessons we learn will be applicable in the future, and it's vital we ensure that the information is there when we need it. AMRF provided funding for a wide range of applications, looking not only at prevention and treatment strategies but also at isolation measures and impacts, including recuperation and anxiety as well as research projects focused on gathering large datasets in population health.
