Australia's Albanese Government has allocated A$73m ($48.7m) for 19 projects to develop and deploy new medical technologies.

The funds will help construct and upgrade facilities for advanced health and medical research for Australians.

These research projects are expected to provide better cancer treatments, depression treatment without medication, deeper insights into gut health, and new vaccines.

Grants totalling A$2.9m ($1.9m) will be used for developing a device, which treats depression using closed-loop, non-invasive brain stimulation.

The project will involve the testing of the prototype device and the development of digital infrastructure to expand the use of this device in clinics and homes.

Around A$9.8m ($6.5m) will be used to advance the development of cancer treatment, Targeted Alpha Therapy, which directly delivers radiation to kill cancer cells without harming other body parts.

The government has allocated around A$2.9m ($1.9m) to support the purpose-built human microbiome biobank, which helps researchers study the impact of micro-organisms in various ways on human health.

Furthermore, A$4.3m ($2.8m) will be used for funding a purpose-built vaccine laboratory and access to expertise to allow researchers in Australia to develop and launch new therapies and mRNA vaccines.

Australia's Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler said: “To pursue big ideas and find solutions to complex health problems, our researchers need world-class, state-of-the-art facilities, equipment and technology.

“These grants fund projects that will provide the critical launchpads for researchers to discover and test better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat serious health conditions.”

The projects have received funding under the National Critical Research Infrastructure Initiative, which is a ten-year investment of A$650m ($433m) by the Australian Government from the Medical Research Future Fund.