Australia could be left exposed to biowarfare or a new pandemic if medical research funding promises are broken, researchers warn.

Independent MP and former neurologist Monique Ryan joined academics and doctors calling for the delivery of billions of dollars earmarked for medical research.

The Medical Research Future Fund was set up in 2015 with the promise of distributing up to $1 billion a year to researchers, once the total balance reached $20 billion.

The balance is now more than $24 billion but the amount disbursed has stayed at $650 million for a decade.

"In real terms, the government spending from the (fund) is decreasing," Dr Ryan said at Parliament House on Thursday.

"Early and mid-career researchers are finding that they have no career prospects and they are being forced to

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