Annual Report 2015–2016

During the year the NHMRC Council endorsed five guidelines: Patient Blood Management Guidelines
Module 6: Neonatal and paediatrics; Clinical practice guidelines and principles of care for people with
dementia; Clinical practice guidelines: PSA Testing and Early Management of Test-Detected Prostate Cancer;
National Evidence Based Guideline on Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetes;
and The Australian Immunisation Handbook, 10th edition.
RESEARCH INTEGRITY
NHMRC plays a leadership role in ensuring the high ethical standards and integrity of Australian health and
medical research through the provision of codes of practice and other guidance.
In partnership with the Australian Research Council and Universities Australia, NHMRC is leading the review
of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2007. This critically important code is
undergoing a substantial revision to strengthen guidance to researchers on research integrity and to support
institutions in managing allegations of research misconduct.
During the year, NHMRC’s Australian Health Ethics Committee developed Ethical guidelines for organ
transplantation from deceased donors in partnership with the Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA) and the
Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ). Significant progress was made in the rolling
review of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, review of the Ethical Guidelines
on the Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology in Clinical Practice and Research, and updating of the Policy
on the Care and Use of Non-Human Primates for Scientific Purposes.
PART 1 Overview
Throughout 2015-16, as always, NHMRC has relied on the advice of its Council and Principal Committees.
We are deeply appreciative of the breadth, depth and wisdom of the counsel we receive from the Chair
of Council Professor Bruce Robinson AM, the Chairs of the Principal Committees Professor Sharon Lewin,
Professor Kathryn North AM, Professor Ian Olver AM and Professor Graeme Samuel AC, the Chair of
the Embryo Research Licensing Committee Professor Constantine Michael AO, the chair of the Principal
Committee Indigenous Caucus Professor Sandra Eades, and all the members of their committees.
We thank the very large number of people who serve on expert working committees, grant review panels
and the Community and Consumer Advisory Group and contribute to peer review and other activities in
which we require expert advice. Finally, NHMRC thanks the community of researchers. We are proud of
the extraordinary contribution they are making through their research to the health and well-being of all
members of our society – young and old, now and in the future.
Professor Anne Kelso AO
Chief Executive Officer
September 2016
Annual Report of the National Health and Medical Research Council 2015–2016
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