Research Fund Secretariat

Description

The HMRF was established by the Health Bureau (HHB) in 2011 to make funding health-related scientific research more effective, by consolidating two former funds (the Health and Health Services Research Fund and the Research Fund for Control of Infectious Diseases) while also expanding the funding scope and injecting HK$1 billion into the consolidated fund. In 2016, the approved commitment of the HMRF was increased by HK$1.5 billion to further expand its scope to incorporate the Health Care and Promotion Fund (HCPF), so as to achieve synergy and efficiency, and enhance flexibility in the deployment of funds. The expanded HMRF provides support for the health promotion projects in addition to the support for health and medical research, research infrastructure, and research capacity building initiatives. With added resources and a strengthened emphasis on evidence-based research, the HMRF will be able to fund health promotion projects of larger scale and bigger capacity for community participation, and facilitate the translation of science into practice through collaboration and partnership between academics and community organisations. In 2021, the approved commitment of the HMRF was further increased by $1.3 billion to sustain its operation of the HMRF and to enhance its funding scope.