The Australian Government's Innovation Report

In addition to the continued large investments made through the Programme Grants and Project Grants
schemes, the NHMRC will invest $5 million in A healthy start to life for all Australians research programme, as
well as programmes addressing dementia research in collaboration with the Department of Health and Ageing,
further enabling grants under the $10 million Model Biological Systems programme, and new awards to be
made under the Health Services Research programme ($20 million) and the Population Health Capacity
Building ($23 million) schemes.
In 2005-06, approximately 65% of all NHMRC research funding reflected the Australian Government’s
National Research Priorities. Of that, 90% (more than $261 million) covered the priority Promoting and
maintaining good health, for which the NHMRC is the lead agency.
During 2005-06, the NHMRC:
• launched two publications showcasing internationally recognised research projects and world class
research results, the majority of which demonstrated future potential commercial outcomes;
• increased funding for individual researchers by 21% through its people support awards (up from $77.2
million in 2004-05 to $93.4 million). This included funding for postgraduate and postdoctoral training,
early and mid-career development and senior researchers;
• developed health advice for the Australian community covering a broad range of topics and issues as
diverse as nutrient reference values, and a tool for small communities to develop drinking water
management plans;
• endorsed clinical practice guidelines developed by other organisations that met the high standards
required to gain NHMRC approval. Guidelines on diabetes, screening to prevent cervical cancer,
immunisation, stroke rehabilitation and recovery, and the diagnosis and management of lymphoma
were approved;
• completed community and stakeholder consultations on:
o the review of the National statement on ethical conduct in research involving humans;
o the 4th edition of the Staying healthy in childcare guidelines;
o Making decisions about tests and treatments—a guide to better communication between healthcare consumers
and healthcare professionals;
o Increasing cultural competency for engaging people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to
improve health; and
o the Australian drinking water guidelines;
• reviewed the current national guidelines for ethical human research and field tested a companion
document to Values and ethics: ethical guidelines for conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
health research;
• undertook collaborations with the Australian Research Council and the Australian Vice Chancellors’
Committee on the reviews of the National statement on ethical conduct in research involving humans and the
Joint statement and guidelines on research practice;
• joined with the Primary Care Division of the Department of Health and Ageing to fund a $4 million
General Practice Clinical Research Programme;
• secured Australia’s membership of the international Human Frontier Science Programme with
Australian researchers being awarded programme funding of $1.4 million during the year;
• awarded 19 new proof-of-concept Development Grants ($4.1 million) and six new Industry Fellowships
($2.1 million) to develop a better understanding of commercialising research outcomes;
42 Backing Australia’s Ability