AMRF Auditorium, University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences The AMRF Auditorium was made possible through a generous donation in 2012 from an AMRF benefactor.
The Auckland Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) was founded in 1955 to provide financial support for medical research. In the 1950’s research was primarily funded by Government agencies such as the Medical Research Council of New Zealand, with the majority of its funding going to researchers at Otago Medical School. A group of prominent Auckland medical specialists and businessmen saw the need to establish an Auckland based foundation in order to provide funding for local scientists and to foster the development of the Auckland Medical Research community.
The Foundation recognised the vital need for scientific work being undertaken alongside the heart of the medical community so it took a leading role in the establishment of a Medical School in the University of Auckland. This philosophy has underpinned the Foundation’s existence and to mark its 50th anniversary it played a major part in the opening of the AMRF Medical Sciences Learning Centre that houses two “museum” collections of anatomy and pathology. These have been of immediate and continuing benefit to the wide variety of students on the medical school campus, including medical, nursing, dental and health science students.
Research is an investment with risk. There is no guarantee of a positive outcome. Yet there is no other way to find out more about disease. Sometimes dividends are immediate – a better way of treating patients with a particular problem – but often the gains are hard won and a long term view must be taken.
Our Philosophy
We adhere to a philosophy which advocates that research enhances the standard of practice of medicine and that research is seen as the lifeline of medicine.
Our Objective
To promote research of high scientific value and purpose in order to improve the medical care of all New Zealanders.
Our Goal
To continue to grow sustainable funding to support medical research.
Our Pledge
Every dollar donated is committed to research.
Our Funding Area
The AMRF research funding area is limited to all recognised tertiary institutions and DHB’s in the greater Auckland and Northland region. The funding area may be extended outside this region only if hosted by a principal investigator who is a member of an Auckland tertiary institution or a DHB clinical unit in the greater Auckland region or Northland.
Our Benefactor
AMRF is extremely lucky that we have an independently endowed fund from which the income received covers administration and overhead running costs for AMRF. This ensures that all other donations received go directly to support research and none to administration.
Our Track Record
| 2016 | Grant Funding | $ 3.62m |
| 2015 | Grant Funding | $ 4.08m |
| 2014 | Grant Funding | $ 3.43m |
| 2013 | Grant Funding | $ 4.48m |
| 2012 | Grant Funding | $ 2.73m |
| 2011 | Grant Funding | $ 3.02m |
| 2010 | Grant Funding | $ 3.30m |
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| 1955-2015 | Total Grants Awarded | $ 67.6m |
Our funding covers the full spectrum of medical and health sciences.
Our prime focus is to assist promising young scientists in getting a good start in medical and health research so that as many as possible will stay in New Zealand and others will be attracted back.
Many medical scientists who received AMRF funding in the early parts of their careers have subsequently gone on to establish international careers and be recognised with distinguished awards in New Zealand. These include:
| Prof Innes Asher | Respiratory Paediatrics |
| Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes | Cardiothoracic Surgery |
| Prof Garth Cooper | Molecular Endocrinology |
| Prof John Fraser | Immunology |
| Prof Sir Peter Gluckman | Paediatric Medicine |
| Prof Jane Harding | Neonatology |
| Prof Kaye Ibbertson | Endocrinology |
| Prof Sir Graham Liggins | Paediatric Medicine |
| Prof Robyn North | Obstetrics |
AMRF Medical Sciences Learning Centre, University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Opened by the Prime Minister Helen Clark in 2005, the AMRF Medical Sciences Learning Centre was funded by the AMRF to celebrate the Foundation’s 50th Anniversary. The Centre has won a national architecture award and houses the medical school’s anatomy and pathology collections. It is used extensively by undergraduates in medicine, science and nursing from the University of Auckland and other tertiary education institutions, as well as registrars in pathology and radiology.
Our selection standards have been uniformly high ever since 1955 thanks to a succession of highly qualified and experienced clinicians and scientists who donate their time to serve on our Medical Committee.
While most researchers receive government funding for their work, it is never sufficient. Without additional support from within the community and corporate sectors, many projects would not be able to be pursued. Currently, we are only able to fund approximately 20% of the grant applications we receive. We are committed to developing partnerships that will increase the proportion of grants that we are able to fund in the future. In particular, AMRF wishes to provide funding for emerging scientists in order to keep our brightest researchers in New Zealand and to attract those overseas to come home.
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