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Transcript of NATIONAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN 2007-2009
STRATEGIC PLAN 2007-2009
N H M R C
www.nhmrc.gov.au
W O R K I N G T O B U I L D A H E A L T H Y A U S T R A L I A
NATIONAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCILSTRATEGIC PLAN 2007-2009
STRATEGIC PLANSTRATEGIC PLANSTRATEGIC PLAN
© Australian Government 2007
Paper-based publication
This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968,
no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the
Commonwealth available from the Attorney-General’s Department. Requests and inquiries
concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright
Administration, Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit,
Canberra, ACT, 2600 or posted at: http://www.ag.gov.au/cca
ISBN Print: 1864962577
© Australian Government 2007
Electronic documents
This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in
unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use, or use
within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968,
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Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Garran
Offices, National Circuit, Canberra, ACT, 2600 or posted at: http://www.ag.gov.au/cca
Online: 1864862631
To obtain information regarding NHMRC publications contact:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: Toll free 13 000 NHMRC (13 000 64672) or call 02 6217 9000
Internet: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au
N H M R C
www.nhmrc.gov.au
NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009 3
CONTENTS
Message from the Minister 5
NHMRC – THE NEW ERA 6
Challenges for Australian Health and Medical Research 6
Our Structure 8
Major National Health Issues 9
How NHMRC will Address these Health Issues 14
NHMRC STRATEGIC PLAN 15
Mission 16
Values 16
Strategic Objectives 16
Meeting Tomorrow’s Health Challenges 23
EXCELLENCEEXCELLENCEEXCELLENCE
In all we do.
NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009 5
Message from the Minister
The National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) strategic plan for
2007-2009 should help to keep Australia at the forefront of health and medical discovery.
Our ability to use these discoveries to address the health issues impacting on our community
has been built on an internationally recognised research sector, which includes six Nobel
Prize winners for Physiology and Medicine. Now, more than ever, we need to support our
researchers and health professionals as they strive to tackle the unseen and emerging health
challenges of tomorrow.
This strategic plan outlines the major objectives of the NHMRC over the next three years, the
major health issues that may emerge in the coming years and the steps needed to address
them. To ensure Australia is well placed to meet emerging health challenges, the NHMRC
has developed five key objectives to:
Support the best research;
Produce the highest quality evidence and advice;
Pursue research at the highest of ethical standards;
Encourage new avenues of investment; and
Build a better NHMRC.
The Government is committed to the ongoing support of the NHMRC, and in strengthening
Australia’s health and medical research capacity. This was confirmed in May 2006 with
a $905 million increase in spending towards health and medical research, including
$500 million over four years to increase support for medical research, $170 million over nine
years for the prestigious Australia Fellowship to support Australia’s best researchers, and
$235 million to support our medical research institutions.
I look forward to receiving reports on progress against the initiatives in the current plan and
wish the NHMRC success in its ambitious endeavours.
The Honourable Tony Abbott MP
Federal Minister for Health
19 February 2007
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RESEARCHRESEARCHADVICE
6 nHMrc Strategic Plan 2007-2009
NHMRC – THE NEW ERA
Challenges for Australian Health and Medical Research
Good health and wellbeing is something we
wish for. If we do become ill, we want the
health system to provide us with the best
possible care.
Overall, Australians experience good health,
but we still suffer from the major health
burdens of the developed world (e.g. cancer,
heart and vascular disease, mental illness,
bone and muscular diseases, obesity and
diabetes), and in some communities, most
notably many Indigenous communities,
diseases of the developing world.
Our health system is unique and often faces
unique challenges. It is a combination
of public, private and community-based
health care and relies on many different
professions. It extends from primary care
to tertiary hospitals, from dense inner
urban to remote low
density locations.
It needs to provide
care to all members
of our community
from the very young
to the very old, address the health needs
of both sexes, the chronically ill, and
people from diverse backgrounds and
places of origin. Individuals have widely
differing expectations of the system. It is
understandable then that the health care
system, perhaps our single largest industry,
also relies on health research to develop,
expand and improve. Research provides
the evidence base to improve prevention,
treatment and the effectiveness of health
care. It leads to innovations that transform
diagnosis and treatment, and generates
the growth of new industries. It helps us
understand ourselves as human beings.
Internationally, health and medical research
delivers new insights into the human
condition and the processes that lead to ill
health. Australia has contributed strongly
to this international effort, and this has
benefited both individual and community
health here at home. Our health faces many
challenges, both old foes and new and
emerging threats.
NHMRC is the leading health research
agency for the country and so to meet the
health challenges facing Australia, NHMRC
must:
Fund the best and most relevant
research to improve the health of all
Australians and adopt the outcomes of
health research conducted elsewhere
around the world;
Influence and support the infusion of
evidence from research into improving
the actions of health professionals and
the health care system, and into public
health policies;
Provide leadership in the ethical
framework in which Australian health
is delivered and research is conducted;
and
Work to ensure the discoveries of health
and medical research contribute to
growth of an innovative industry
sector.
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The NHMRC is the leading health research agency for the country
nHMrc Strategic Plan 2007-2009 7
This Strategic Plan casts NHMRC’s triennial strategies within a longer term context, sets
a series of objectives that challenge and stretch our organisation, and drives health and
medical research and innovation into the future.
NHMRC will serve Australia through the support of excellence in all we do. This Strategic
Plan emphasises the translation of research into policy and practice, by supporting research
ideas that improve clinical and public health policies and practices, clinical applications, and
national wealth, via the Virtuous Cycle1.
Figure 1 – The Virtuous Cycle
Advances in health research make possible new treatments not dreamed of until now,
but also produce new ethical dilemmas previously not thought of. NHMRC is the only
organisation charged with national responsibilities in health ethics and this plan presents
a stronger commitment to action in promoting and ensuring the best ethical behaviour in
Australian health and medical research.
We work for the Australian community, accountable to the Government. We aim to improve
the health and wellbeing of Australians and people around the world, now and into the
future.
Professor Warwick Anderson AM Professor Michael Good
Chief Executive Officer Chairman
THE VIRTUOUS CYCLE
Research Investment
Knowledge Creation
Healthier Australians
Improved Health Care
National WealthGeneration
GOVERNMENT
RESEARCH
OUTCOMES
1 Commonwealth of Australia (2004) Sustaining the Virtuous Cycle – for a healthy, competitive Australia – Investment Review of Health and Medical Research, Canberra.
8 nHMrc Strategic Plan 2007-2009
Our Structure
NHMRC is Australia’s peak body for supporting health and medical research; for developing
health advice for the Australian community, health professionals and government; and
for providing advice on ethical behaviour in health care and in the conduct of health and
medical research.
NHMRC became an independent statutory agency within the Health and Ageing Portfolio on
1 July 2006. This change brought with it an amended National Health and Medical Research
Act 1992 (the NHMRC Act), which defines the NHMRC as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO),
the Council and Committees, and the staff of the NHMRC (see figure 2). 1 July also brought
with it new members of Principal Committees and Council, and a new CEO.
Figure 2 – Structure of the National Health and Medical Research Council
The NHMRC Act requires the CEO to develop a strategic plan setting out:
The CEO’s assessment of the major national health issues that are likely to arise during
the period; and
The manner in which the CEO proposes to perform his or her functions in dealing with
those issues during the period.
Each NHMRC strategic plan must contain a national strategy for medical research and
public health research.
•
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CEO
MINISTER for Health & Ageing
Council
Staff
Research Committee
Australian Health Ethics Committee
National Health Committee
Human Genetics Advisory Committee
Embryo ResearchLicensing Committee
NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009 9
RELEVANCERELEVANCEIn meeting the needs of all Australians.
Major National Health Issues
The NHMRC Act requires an assessment of the major national
health issues likely to arise during the triennium. In developing this
assessment the CEO has consulted with the Council, each Principal
Committee of NHMRC and the staff. These issues are considered in
developing NHMRC’s work plans to implement this Strategic Plan,
through coordination of activities in research, research synthesis and
guidelines, and health advice.
NATIONAL HEALTH ISSUES: Australian governments have identified the following as major health issues:
Arthritis and
musculoskeletal conditions;
Asthma;
Cancer and cancer
prevention;
Cardiovascular health;
Diabetes;
Health workforce;
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Human influenza
pandemic;
Indigenous health;
Injury prevention;
Mental illness;
Stem cell research; and
Water quality.
•
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These issues will continue to receive strong research attention
from NHMRC, and will be a major focus of activities where
NHMRC provides evidence–based advice to governments and the
community.
10 nHMrc Strategic Plan 2007-2009
2 http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/research_sector/policies_issues_reviews/key_issues/national_research_priorities/default.htm).
In particular, NHMRC will concentrate on
health inequalities in Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander communities, with a focus on
prevention, delivery of care and governance,
and will consider the social, cultural and
economic factors which contribute strongly
to the health of individuals and communities.
NHMRC remains committed to achieving
five per cent funding from the Medical
Research Endowment Account for research
relevant to Indigenous people.
NATIONAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES:
The Australian Government has adopted the
following four National Research Priorities2:
An environmentally sustainable
Australia;
Promoting and maintaining good
health;
Frontier technologies for building and
transforming Australian industries;
and
Safeguarding Australia.
NHMRC has a particular responsibility for the
National Research Priority, Promoting and
maintaining good health, and the priority
goals of:
A healthy start to life;
Ageing well, ageing productively;
Preventive health care; and
Strengthening Australia's social and
economic fabric.
NHMRC will support the Government’s
efforts under the National Research Priorities.
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CURRENT HEALTH ISSUES
There are other health issues in Australia in
addition to those identified above. Some of
these issues are outlined in Table 1. NHMRC
anticipates that these issues will be subject
to ongoing consideration by governments,
non-government organisations, research
organisations, and the community over the
period of this Strategic Plan.
NHMRC will assist government and
community consideration of these issues
in a variety of ways, including the
development of research activities.
In particular, NHMRC will work closely
with the Australian Government Department
of Health and Ageing, and the State and
Territory governments to develop the
research program and present the evidence
required in advising governments.
EMERGING HEALTH ISSUES
In addition to the current issues identified
above, there are issues of emerging
importance that NHMRC will consider during
the current triennium. Some of these are
outlined in Table 2.
NHMRC will direct its research activities
and advice to inform government and
community consideration of these issues.
nHMrc Strategic Plan 2007-2009 11
3 Complementary Medicines in the Australian Health System, Expert Committee on Complementary Medicines in the Health System - Report to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing; September 2003
Table 1 – Major health issues during this triennium
ISSUES COMMENT
Effective health care Changing demographics, quality care and the impacts of new therapies
and diagnostics will increase the pressure on Australia’s health care system,
particularly resulting from increasing numbers of very elderly people
requiring health care, the growing incidence of chronic illness, health
inequalities in Indigenous communities, and the need for continuity of care
and community support.
There is a need for the health workforce, including allied health workers,
to be skilled and experienced to be able to introduce research evidence
into practice and policy. There is concern about a decline in research
trained health professionals.
Advances in research will impact on the cost of health care. There is
pressure for taxpayers to subsidise an increasing range of new therapies,
bolstered by an increasingly health literate population.
NHMRC will support activities, with the Department of Health and Ageing,
to provide the research base for dealing with the major issues, including
quality of care, and through the National Institute of Clinical Studies
and partnerships, develop strategies for the implementation of research-
informed approaches in health practices and policy development.
Obesity This represent a serious and growing national health concern and an
increasing burden on the health care system. There is a need to examine
the key risk factors that lead to obesity, and actively pursue opportunities
to provide the scientific support for holistic national strategies to reduce
the individual and community health burdens. NHMRC will make obesity
prevention and treatment a major focus for the triennium to support a
comprehensive national strategy.
Complementary and
alternative medicines
One in two Australians3 regularly use complementary and alternative
medicines with Australians spending more on complementary and
alternative medicines than prescription drugs. NHMRC will initiate new
approaches to research and the provision of evidence based advice
in complementary and alternative medicines during this triennium.
Depression, dementia
and addiction
These are major health issues which, over recent years, have reached
increasing prominence. There is national interest in depression (e.g. the
establishment of beyondblue and other initiatives), dementia (in an ageing
population) and addiction (including to newer “recreational drugs”).
NHMRC will target research to develop the evidence base in this area
during the triennium.
Social and
environmental effects
on health
Research shows that strong cohesive societies have better health than
dysfunctional communities with the health of the individual inextricably
linked to the health of their community. Community and individual
health is affected by local social and lifestyle factors and the physical
environment, including food and nutrition, alcohol, smoking, recreational
drug use, exposure to environmental extremes, isolation and loneliness,
sexual health, access to and knowledge of health information, and many
others. Of particular significance, disadvantage in the first years of life,
including in foetal life, may have long lasting effects and directly influence
health in adulthood. NHMRC will support research and evidence building
in this important area.
12 NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009
Table 2 Emerging Health Issues
ISSUES COMMENT
Genetic testing The rapid growth in knowledge about human genetics has lead to the
widespread introduction of genetic testing in medicine and in everyday
life. NHMRC will address major issues in this area during the triennium,
including:
- The need for new guidelines and standards (e.g. disclosure of
genetic information; ethical aspects of genetic testing; and genetic
registers);
- Ethical issues;
- Implications for business; and
- The possibilities of individualised medicine (e.g. pharmacogenetics,
nutrigenetics, etc).
Health disasters It is not possible to predict fully the disasters in health that we might
face. However, the threats include new infectious diseases (especially
the possibility of avian influenza pandemic), the possible impact of
terrorism (e.g. biological, radiological and physical) and the effects of
heat extremes (especially in the elderly).
Water quality Australia is focussing on the water shortages that many urban and rural
communities are facing. Public trust in the safety – immediate and long
term – of their water supply is essential, and unsafe water supplies
can and do cause much ill health and death worldwide. For Australia,
it seems inevitable that the safety of recycled water (direct, through
treated, or indirect through discharge from upstream towns and cities)
will be important over this period.
Regenerative
medicine
Research over the past several decades is providing us increasingly with
the ability to manipulate cells for therapeutic purposes, to repair and
regenerate diseased and degenerated tissues. A wide range of new
possibilities has arisen, including the use of adult and embryonic stem
cells. During the next few years, the aspects of this area that seem
destined to dominate are:
- The immense challenges that face research in this new cell biology
area;
- Regulation of new research endeavours; and
- The ethical debate around the use of stem cells derived from human
embryos. There are deep and sincere views held for and against the
use of human embryos in research, and this debate seems set
to continue and grow.
RESPONSIVENESSRESPONSIVENESSRESPONSIVENESSAddressing Australia’s immediate and
longer term health challenges.
NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009 13
ISSUES COMMENT
Public confidence in
research
Public support for health and medical research demands that we
maintain the highest possible transparency and standards in all we
do. Recent events internationally (e.g. failures in clinical trials in
UK, fraud in Korea, reports of ethical transgressions in Australia) put
public confidence at risk. NHMRC will continue to strengthen ethical
oversight in Australian health and medical research, and to promote high
standards, including:
- External, transparent review of all our processes and achievements;
- Timely reviews where ethical guidelines have been breached in the
conduct of health and medical research in Australia;
- Better coordination and surveillance of human experimentation;
- A strong code against research misconduct and fraud;
- A coordinated national approach to multi-centre research;
- Diligent and transparent regulation of stem cell research; and
- Educational initiatives.
Nanotechnology New nanotechnologies are ready to transform many aspects of
manufacturing, and provide many advances in health diagnostics and
treatments.
New food
technologies
Good nutrition is the cornerstone of good health and there are many
new issues that have arisen in recent times, such as;
- Concerns about foods from genetically modified crops and animals;
- The benefits and risks of nutriceuticals; and
- Professional concerns about dietary and nutrition advice and
advertising.
Global health Australian researchers accept a responsibility to contribute to the
improvement of health throughout the world, and to contribute to
growing activities to address the health burdens of the developing world.
LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP
Leading Australia’s national health and medical research efforts, setting authoritative advice, supported by high ethical standards.
14 NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009
BALANCEBALANCEBALANCE
How NHMRC will Address these Health Issues
The issues listed above are broad and dealing with them successfully
will involve cooperation and effort from all sectors of the Australian
community, including governments, the private sector, research
sector, non-government organisations including professional
colleges, and the community.
Having identified these major issues, NHMRC will target through its
research, ethics, regulatory and advisory functions where it can add
most value to the country in meeting these challenges. NHMRC will
seek to work and make partnerships with relevant organisations
as required.
To help Australia meet tomorrow’s health challenges, NHMRC will
give priority to addressing the challenges identified in the preceding
section.
NHMRC will not be limited to these identified issues and will
continue to monitor and address major issues as they arise.
NHMRC will develop a detailed business plan, outlining the role
of the Council, Committees and staff, to address issues outlined
above and NHMRC’s strategic objectives outlined in the Strategic
Plan below.
Supporting all forms of research including molecular, cellular, and clinical research targeted at individual health.
NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009 15
BALANCE
NHMRCSTRATEGIC PLAN
NHMRC will only support excellence in
research, because the best outcomes flow
from the best research.
NHMRC is committed to all research relevant
to health - including biomedical, clinical,
public health and health services research.
NHMRC recognises that multidisciplinary
approaches are needed to solve the complex
problems of health.
NHMRC has developed and will implement
a series of realistic and achievable strategies
to meet the expectations of all levels
of government, the health and medical
research sector, and the community.
To achieve these goals NHMRC will:
Continue to support excellence
in health and medical research,
including
- Supporting robust project and
program grant research built on the
best ideas of Australian researchers.
- Developing strategic approaches
to the major health issues likely to
arise and other emerging issues.
Support the best researchers in
all research approaches, through
competitive research fellowships
schemes including for early and mid-
career researchers.
•
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Support key national assets needed
for research, such as gene and tissue
banks, national animal welfare
initiatives and access to large scale
research facilities.
Work to further implement the
recommendations of the Investment
Review of Health and Medical
Research (the Grant Review)
on policy and practice focused
research, and to provide more active
assistance in research to inform
policy development in health.
Continue its commitment to
improving Indigenous health
through building capacity and
implementing the Road Map: a
strategic framework for improving
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
health through research.
Increase its commitment to
supporting the best ethical conduct
in health care and in research.
Provide evidence and informed
advice to governments and the
community.
Ensure diligent and transparent
administration of the regulatory
framework established by the
Prohibition of Human Cloning
Act 2002 and the Research
Involving Human Embryos Act
2002, including implementing the
amendments to those Acts passed
by the Federal Parliament.
Improve communications with
all our stakeholders through
a comprehensive communications
strategy.
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16 nHMrc Strategic Plan 2007-2009
Mission
Working to build a healthy Australia.
Values
The NHMRC adheres to and promotes the following values:
Excellence: In all we do.
Relevance: Meeting the needs of all Australians.
Responsiveness: Addressing Australia’s immediate and longer term health
challenges.
Leadership: Leading Australia’s national health and medical research
efforts, setting authoritative advice, supported by high ethical
standards.
Balance: Supporting all forms of research including molecular, cellular,
and clinical research targeted at individual health.
Working with others: Supporting research across in a wide range of research
organisations.
Impact: Promoting policy, practice and commercial impacts.
Engagement: Collaborating nationally and internationally.
Accountability: Operating at the highest professional, and transparent
standards.
Diversity: Embracing a richly diverse workforce, operating in a
collaborative, open and sharing environment.
Strategic Objectives
This Strategic Plan covers the period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2009 and has five
strategic objectives:
OBJECTIVE 1 tHe BeSt anD MOSt releVant reSearcH
OBJECTIVE 2 eViDence BaSe FOr HealtH POlicY anD Practice
OBJECTIVE 3 HigH etHical StanDarDS
OBJECTIVE 4 increaSeD inVeStMent (tHe VirtUOUS cYcle)
OBJECTIVE 5 tO BUilD a Better nHMrc
NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009 17
These objectives have been established to meet the challenges of the current and future
health environment. Achievement of these objectives is the combined responsibility of the
CEO, the Council, the Committees and the staff of NHMRC.
To ensure NHMRC achieves the targets established by the vision for the next decade, it will
be essential to set, monitor and report against key quantifiable and achievable Performance
Indicators that also significantly stretch the organisation. During the 2003-2006 Triennium,
NHMRC developed its Performance Measurement Framework4. NHMRC’s Performance
Measurement Framework will be revised to align with the five objectives outlined in the
new Strategic Plan.
NHMRC will help Australia deal successfully with health issues as they arise. These include
emerging issues for the health system or individuals, or new health and medical research
developments. Some of these developments may arise as new ethical issues. NHMRC,
therefore, needs to be flexible to meet unforeseen challenges that may arise during the
period covered by this Strategic Plan. In addition to this Strategic Plan, the NHMRC is
required to provide an annual Statement of Intent in response to the Minister’s annual
Statement of Expectation. NHMRC’s annual Statements of Intent will be made publicly
available on NHMRC’s website (www.nhmrc.gov.au) and should be read in conjunction with
this Strategic Plan.
To achieve all the objectives, NHMRC will encourage and promote involvement of
Australians in getting skills, experiences and careers in research, policy development,
evidence-based health practice and ethics.
4 see http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/pmf2006.htm
WORKING WITH OTHERSWORKING WITH OTHERSWORKING WITH OTHERSSupporting research
across in a wide range of research organisations.
18 NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009
OBJECTIVE 1 THE BEST AND MOST RELEVANT RESEARCH
KEY STRATEGIES MECHANISMS
• Identify and support the best research and
researchers.
• Peer reviewed, open, transparent and
contestable processes.
• Short and long term research support.
• Funding across approaches relevant to health.
• Fellowships in the best research approaches.
• Improve research funding processes. • International review.
• Match research outcomes with Australia’s
needs.• A robust Request for Application process
targeting major health issues.
• Policy and practice focused research
initiatives.
• Commercialisation development support.
• Increase support for Indigenous health
research.
• Build Indigenous research capacity and
increase research support.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Objective evidence of excellence, transparency and quality, such as peer review of
final reports and bibliometric analysis, as outlined in the NHMRC’s Performance
Measurement Framework5.
International review completed by 31 December 2007.
Growth in all research approaches relevant to health.
Five per cent funding from Medical Research Endowment Account for research relevant
to Indigenous people.
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5 see: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/pmf2006.htm
IMPACTIMPACT
Promoting policy, practice and commercial impacts.
NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009 19
OBJECTIVE 2 EVIDENCE BASE FOR HEALTH POLICY AND PRACTICE
KEY STRATEGIES MECHANISMS
• Increase access to best research evidence. • Systems to develop the best advice on current
and emerging health issues relevant to the
Australian community.
• Processes to rapidly identify evidence gaps.
• Facilitate the utilisation of health advice. • Interactions with relevant Australian, State and
Territory governments, and non-government
organisations.
• Promote effective uptake of evidence into
practice.
• Implement the NHMRC’s policy and practice
plan.
• Integrate the National Institute for Clinical
Studies within the NHMRC.
• Programs to evaluate uptake methodologies.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Relevance and usefulness of health advice.
Partnerships with relevant organisations.
National Institute for Clinical Studies integrated by the end of March 2007.
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ENGAGEMENTENGAGEMENTENGAGEMENTCollaborating nationally
and internationally.
20 NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009
OBJECTIVE 3 HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS
KEY STRATEGIES MECHANISMS
Address important ethical issues. Develop a workplan to address the ethical
aspects of NHMRC’s priority health issues.
Address ethical dimensions of relevant current
and emerging health issues.
Drive best practice ethical review of
research.
Promote the National Statement on Ethical
Conduct in Research Involving Humans
and the roles of Humans Research Ethics
Committees and Animal Ethics Committees.
Streamline multi-centre research.
Promote responsible conduct and
governance of research.
Promote the Australian Code for the
Responsible Conduct of Research, the National
Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research
Involving Human and the Australian code of
practice for the care and use of animals for
scientific purposes.
Ensure compliance with Australian ethical
standards.
Propose a national systematic approach to
promote compliance with national research
ethics guidelines following a review of
existing processes.
Investigate alleged breaches in conduct of
health and medical research.
Perform our functions under the Research
Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 and the
Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 with
diligence and transparency.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Relevance and usefulness of ethical guidelines and advice.
Completion of an implementation plan for national harmonised system of ethical
review of multi-centre research by August 2007.
Development of a framework for a national systematic approach to promote compliance
with national research ethics guidelines.
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ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITY
Operating at the highest professional and transparent standards.
NHMRC Strategic Plan 2007-2009 21
OBJECTIVE 4 INCREASED INVESTMENT (THE VIRTUOUS CYCLE)
KEY STRATEGIES MECHANISMS
• Work with government to support the
best investment in health and medical
research.
• Engage with relevant government and non-
government agencies.
• Encourage industry investment in research
and development.
• Undertake a review to identify where the
NHMRC can provide the greatest impact.
• Seek to promote researcher/industry/business
sector interaction.
• Encourage philanthropic investment in
health and medical research.
• Develop and expand relationships with
private sector.
• Working in regional and global
partnerships.
• Establish agreements to support multi-national
research, and implementation of advice and
ethics.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Total levered research support in Australia.
Interaction between researchers and the private sector.
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ACCOUNTABILITY
DIVERSITYDIVERSITYDIVERSITYEmbracing a rich,
diverse workforce, operating in a collaborative, open and sharing environment.
22 nHMrc Strategic Plan 2007-2009
OBJECTIVE 5 tO BUilD a Better nHMrc
KEY STRATEGIES MECHANISMS
• Develop more responsive NHMRC. • Staff profile to better align with NHMRC’s new
vision.
• Implement Investment Review
recommendations by recruiting additional staff
experienced in health and medical research.
• NHMRC Principal Committees to bring to
the attention of NHMRC issues of national
importance.
• Coordinate internal strategic functions. • Integrate research, advisory, regulatory and
ethics functions.
• Improve NHMRC’s internal expertise and
capacity.
• Strengthen NHMRC’s internal scientific
capacity.
• Communicate effectively. • Improve communications with government,
health professionals and the community.
• Improve national and international
cooperation and collaboration.
• Develop broad ranging national and
international multidisciplinary partnerships.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Improved community and government recognition and trust in the NHMRC as an
authoritative health body.
Greater recognition of the NHMRC as a value to the Australian community.
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nHMrc Strategic Plan 2007-2009 2�
Meeting Tomorrow’s Health Challenges
There has never been a time when health research has been better poised to tackle
human health problems and to stimulate the creation of new industries. We understand
the fundamental biological mechanisms of life at a depth much more profound than even
a decade ago, we understand the influence of the social and physical environment
on health much better. We have many new and powerful potential diagnostic and
therapeutic approaches opening up and a very able and flexible, internationally
oriented research workforce.
The challenges now are to continue to expand the frontier of knowledge across all
research approaches – biomedical, clinical, public health and health services research –
and maintain globally leading positions in the most important areas for the future. An
even bigger challenge, is to ensure that new knowledge is captured for the benefit of
health, through new diagnostics, new products, new therapies, evidence informed policy
development, and evidence based best practice in care delivery.
NHMRC will help Australia meet these opportunities because of our unique research, advice
and ethics framework, but to do this the NHMRC will need to continue to evolve.
We need to make sure that we can identify and support the best and most important
research and researchers, build excellence in all research approaches, develop a more
robust means of supporting priorities, and ensure that the gaps between knowledge
generation and better health and national wealth are bridged more efficiently and effectively.
We face many challenges, particularly the poor health of Indigenous Australians.
We have also unique opportunities, not least of which will come from research and health
engagement with the countries of south-eastern Asia.
Its an ideal time then to seize these opportunities and build a stronger NHMRC for the
future. A major task for the triennium will be to work with government to build a new
vision for NHMRC as Australia’s peak health and research body. We will critically examine
what Australia needs from the NHMRC in the future.
We have an ambition to be the benchmark internationally for supporting research, providing
evidence based advice to the community and setting ethical standards.
24 nHMrc Strategic Plan 2007-2009
the national Health and Medical research council
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health • Aged Care • Blood and Blood Products • Cancer • Cardiovascular Health • Child Health • Clinical Practice Guidelines – Standards for Developers – Topics • Communicable Diseases, Vaccinations and Infection Control • Diabetes • Drug and Substance Abuse • Environmental Health • Ethics in Research–Animal • Ethics in Research–Human • Genetics and Gene Technology
• Health Procedures • Health Promotion • Human Cloning and Embryo Research • Indigenous Health • Injury including Sports Injury • Men’s Health • Mental Health • Musculoskeletal • NHMRC Corporate documents • NHMRC Session Reports • Nutrition and Diet • Oral Health • Organ Donation • Poisons, Chemicals and Radiation Health • Research • Women’s Health
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) was established in 1936 and is now a statutory body within the portfolio of the Australian Government Minister for Health and Ageing, operating under the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992 (NHMRC Act). The NHMRC advises the Australian community, the Australian Government, and State and Territory Governments on standards of individual and public health, and supports research to improve those standards.
The NHMRC Act provides four statutory obligations:
• to raise the standard of individual and public health throughout Australia;
• to foster development of consistent health standards between the States and Territories;
• to foster medical research and training and public health research and training throughout Australia; and
• to foster consideration of ethical issues relating to health.
The NHMRC also has statutory obligations under the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 (PHC Act) and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 (RIHE Act).
The activities of the NHMRC translate into four major outputs: health and medical research; health policy and advice; health ethics; and the regulation of research involving donated IVF embryos, including monitoring compliance with the ban on human cloning and certain other activities. A regular publishing program ensures that Council’s recommendations are widely available to governments, the community, scientific, industrial and education groups. The Council publishes in the following areas:
NHMRC publications contact: Email: [email protected] Internet: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au Free Call: 13 000 NHMRC (13 000 64672)
or 02 6217 9000
To Order Publications: National Mailing and Marketing PO Box 7077 Canberra BC 2610 Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 6269 1000 Fax: (02) 6260 2770
STRATEGIC PLAN 2007-2009
N H M R C
www.nhmrc.gov.au
W O R K I N G T O B U I L D A H E A L T H Y A U S T R A L I A