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- » Demographic study
- » New funding scheme - Parternship Projects for Better Health
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Project Grants
This year NHMRC received 2697 applications, which were considered by 42 Grants Review Panels in Melbourne over a period from the 28 July – 15 August 2008. The awards were announced by the Minister for Health & Ageing, the Honourable Nicola Roxon, on 16th October, 2008. 688 new project grants were supported (26.6% of the submitted grants), including 53 New Investigator project grants (i.e., applicants for their first ever NHMRC Project Grant). 75% of the applications received were judged worthy of funding by the GRPs (that is, were nominated to Categories 4 and higher).
Fellowships
NHMRC received 229 applications for appointment in the NHMRC Fellowship scheme in 2008. NHMRC currently (in 2008) supports 346 researchers on NHMRC Research Fellowships, including 67 Senior Principal Research Fellows, 83 Principal Research Fellows, and 196 Senior Research Fellows. Five years ago, there were 275 NHMRC Research Fellows. Research Committee is currently considering whether some adjustments should be made to the scheme, particular to increase flexibility for Fellows and to ensure that our assessment processes are fully in accord with the objectives of the Scheme.
NHMRC currently supports 207 Career Development Awards. This compares to 42 in 2005. In 2008, we have received 405 applications. If current levels of appointment are maintained, this will lead to around 333 Career Development Awards by 2011.
NHMRC currently support 352 Training Fellowships undertaking research in Australia and 199 Training Fellowships in overseas locations (CJ Martin, Neil Hamilton Fairley and Sidney Sax Fellowships).
We estimate that more than 7500 Australians (out of the ABS/ASMR estimated health and medical research workforce of 20,000) are supported on our schemes across the board, including on our Project, Program and Capacity Building Grants, Centres of Clinical research Excellence, and specific fellowships.
We are currently considering the consequence for NHMRC’s schemes on the introduction of the new Future Fellowship scheme announced recently by the Government, to be administered by our sister organisation, the Australian Research Council.
Demographic Study
To help NHMRC plan its researcher development, we have commissioned a demographic analysis of the entire health and medical research workforce. We have a responsibility to plan our future support of researchers (through specific Fellowships and through support of Project and Program Grants) on the basis of best possible evidence of current and future needs and numbers.
New funding scheme — Partnership Projects for Better Health
This major new translational research scheme was introduced by NHMRC in June 2008 to increase policy and practice focussed health and medical research. A unique funding vehicle has been developed to support larger projects designed to meet the need for research that is more effectively integrated into health care delivery and that can better inform the development of health policies.
Applications are sought from partnerships of researchers and organisations or institutions charged with providing and improving health care delivery. The deadline for receipt of applications is 19 December 2008. As for all NHMRC schemes, this is a competitive funding mechanism, and applications will be ranked in accord with peer review against the selection criteria.
Research collaborations internationally
NHMRC will shortly announce the tumour type for which Australia will take primary responsibility in the International Cancer Genome Consortium (www.icgc.org).
A collaboration with the Wellcome Trust and New Zealand Health Research Council has supported 10 grants for research in the health issues of our region of the world. We are currently finalising arrangements for the replacement scheme, with at least one new partner.
NHMRC is also an active member of the Human Frontiers Science Program, in which Australian scientists have considerable granting success. Our partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation also continues.
Finally, we are also nearing finalising the next call for research into the health problems of indigenous and native peoples in Canada, New Zealand and Australian, in partnership with the NZ Health Research Council and the Canadian Institute of Health Research.
Reports
Two recent government commissioned reports are of interest and relevance to health and medical researchers:
- The National Innovation System Report (Cutler Review)
- The Preventative Health Taskforce Review, Australia: the healthiest country by 2020
The National Health and Hospital Reform Commission continues its important work and will also report again soon. NHMRC is strongly of the view that research and evidence generation, transfer and implementation need to be at the heart of the reform of our hospital and healthcare system.
Professor Warwick Anderson AO
Chief Executive Officer
National Health and Medical Research Council
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