Annual Report 2015–2016

Structural review of NHMRC’s grant program
NHMRC seeks to improve individual and population health by supporting excellence across the spectrum of
biomedical, clinical, public health and health services research and by providing opportunities for a diversity
of researchers at all career stages. In recent years, rising application numbers to NHMRC schemes and
rising costs of research have led to falling funding rates. The time spent by applicants and peer reviewers
in preparing and evaluating the large number of proposals, the great majority of which cannot be funded,
is a significant cost to Australia’s health and medical research effort. Concerns have also been raised that
low funding rates are discouraging early and mid-career researchers from a research career and inhibiting
exploration of new areas of research.
Recognising these issues, in 2015–16, we commenced a major review of the structure of NHMRC’s grant
program to determine whether we can streamline the current suite of funding schemes, while continuing
to support the best Australian research and researchers. An Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Professor
Steve Wesselingh, was established to assist in the review. The consultation paper released in July 2016
was followed by open consultation meetings around the country and a call for submissions. Feedback from
this process will inform the consideration of alternative structures by the Expert Advisory Group,
Research Committee and Council in late 2016, followed by detailed planning for the implementation of
any changes.
PART 1 Overview
Medical Research Future Fund
The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), established by the Australian Government in 2015–16, is a
significant and welcome new investment which will ultimately double the Commonwealth funds available
for health and medical research. Strategic alignment between the priorities for expenditure from the MRFF
and the Medical Research Endowment Account administered by NHMRC is essential if Australia is to
obtain the best possible health outcomes from these two funds. My membership of the Australian Medical
Research Advisory Board, formed to advise the Minister for Health on the strategy and priorities for MRFF
expenditure, provides one pathway to ensure this alignment. At NHMRC, we will continue to work closely
with the Minister, the Department of Health and others as we shape NHMRC’s own strategy and priorities in
this changing funding environment.
Priority-driven research
NHMRC supports both investigator-initiated and priority-driven health and medical research.
Targeted Calls for Research (TCRs) are one of the mechanisms through which NHMRC directs funding
to research on specific health issues that are not being addressed through other schemes. In 2015–16,
NHMRC developed a new framework for identifying and prioritising TCR topics, drawing on advice from the
Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council, NHMRC Council and our Principal Committees, among others.
An important part of this new framework is an online pathway for community and professional groups to
make the case for targeted health research funding in their areas of interest. An external committee has
been appointed to assist in evaluating and recommending topics for support as a TCR.
Throughout the year NHMRC funded three TCRs including Preparing Australia for the Genomics Revolution,
Wind Farms and Human Health and Preventing Obesity in 18–24 Year Olds.
Annual Report of the National Health and Medical Research Council 2015–2016
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