An Audit of Research Funding for Intellectual Disability Health in Australia

ABSTRACT

People with intellectual disability in Australia experience significant and partly preventable health inequities and premature mortality. Health and medical research is a key mechanism for identifying, addressing and preventing health inequities through evidence‐informed clinical care, services and policy. However, it is not known if Australia's research investment aligns with these needs. We conducted a national audit of Australian health research grants that primarily focused on intellectual disability and commenced between 2019 and 2024. Grant abstracts were identified through the Dimensions database and supplementary searches of funder websites. Each grant abstract was coded to the Health Research Classification System (HRCS) health categories and research activity types. Thirty‐three grant abstracts, totalling AU$20.3 million, met the inclusion criteria, with mean funding of approximately AU$615 000 per grant. Most funding was provided by government sources, with the National Health and Medical Research Council contributing 69.5% of total funding, and the Medical Research Future Fund 26.5%. By health category, most funding was awarded to grants coded to general health (58.5%) and congenital disorders research (25.8%). By research activity type, most funding was awarded to grants coded to research on health and support services (32%) and finding and diagnosing illnesses (25%). Australian investment in intellectual disability health research remains limited. Greater strategic alignment between research funding and population health needs is required to support equitable health outcomes for people with intellectual disability.