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NHMRC Licensing Committee
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Composition
The Committee is composed of nine members who are appointed by the Federal Minister with portfolio responsibility for human cloning and embryo research, in consultation with States and Territories. The inaugural committee was appointed in May 2003 and was chaired by Professor John (Jock) Findlay, a Victorian-based internationally renowned expert in research in reproductive medicine. The Minister has announced the members for the new triennium. The current Committee is appointed from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2009, and will be led by Professor John (Jock) Findlay, AM, who has been appointed as Chair for a second three-year term.
Membership
Membership of the NHMRC Licensing Committee is:
Professor John (Jock) Findlay AM, VIC – Chairperson – a person with expertise in a relevant area of research
Professor Findlay is an NH&MRC Senior Principal Research Fellow at Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Victoria, and Chair of the Victorian Infertility Treatment Authority. He is an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) received in 2008 for services to medical research. Professor Findlay was awarded the 2006 Dale Medal from the UK Society for Endocrinology, the highest accolade bestowed by that Society. His research achievements have also been recognised by the UK-based Society of Reproduction and Fertility, who named him as the 2006 recipient of their Distinguished Scientist Award;
Dr Peter McCullagh, NSW – a person with expertise in research ethics
Dr McCullagh is an Honorary Associate of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney and Visiting Fellow, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University. He has also been the President of the National Brain Injury Foundation since 1995 and was a member of the Australian Health Ethics Committee from 1994 to 1999, including being a member of the working groups responsible for the Guidelines on Assisted Reproductive Technology (1996) and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans (1999). He has also been a member of the Calvary Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee since 1992;
Professor Peter Sainsbury – A member of AHEC – a person with expertise in public health research
Professor Sainsbury is Director of Population Health in Sydney South West Area Health Service and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney in public health. Professor Sainsbury is also a member of the NHMRC’s Australian Health Ethics Committee and was a member of the Council of the NHMRC from 2002 to 2006. He was President of the Public Health Association of Australia from 2000 to 2004.
Professor Sainsbury’s professional interests include inequalities in health, social relationships and health, the experience of illness, the history of public health, mental health promotion and social policy.
Professor Donald Chalmers, TAS – a person with expertise in a relevant area of law
Professor Chalmers is Professor of Law at the University of Tasmania, where he is also investigating the regulatory and commercial aspects of human genetic research. Professor Chalmers is a former Chair of the NHMRC's Australian Health Ethics Committee, which presented the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans to Federal Parliament. He is also Chair of the Commonwealth Gene Technology Ethics Committee and the Gene Technology Community Consultative Committee;
Professor Geoffrey Driscoll, NSW – a person with expertise in assisted reproductive technology
Professor Driscoll established and coordinates Masters degree courses in reproductive medicine at the University of New South Wales. After 20 years running IVF Units he was involved in the establishment, and was founding medical director, of IVF Australia. He has been chairman of the subspecialty committee for Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology for the RANZCOG and is an Honorary Life Member of the Fertility Society of Australia (FSA). He was for some years the chairman of the FSA’s IVF Directors Group and is currently deputy chairman of the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC). He is also a director on the board of Access, Australia's national infertility network (a consumer organisation);
Dr Stephen Junk, WA – a person with expertise in embryology
Dr Junk is the Scientific Director of Fertility Specialities, WA, and is the previous Chairperson of the Scientists in Reproductive Technology (SIRT), which is a subgroup of the Fertility Society of Australia (FSA). He is a Member of the Reproductive Technology Council of WA PGD Committee;
Dr Julia Nicholls OAM, SA – a person with expertise in consumer issues relating to assisted reproductive technology
Dr Julia Nicholls is a veterinarian with 30 years experience mainly in small animal practice. She is a member of three Animal Ethics Committees and provides veterinary expertise to the Controlled Substances Advisory Council (SA). She was a member of the South Australian Council of Reproductive Technology (1991-2000), including six years as Deputy Chair (1994-2000);
Dr Kay Pearse, QLD - a person with expertise in consumer health issues relating to disability and disease
Dr Pearse is a principal consultant with CBB Consulting, holds a PhD in Genetics and has a long history of consumer advocacy, particularly in health and disability sectors. Dr Pearse worked as a Senior Policy Advisor with several Queensland Government Ministers for ten years, and prior to that held senior roles with ACROD Qld, Fairfield House Rehabilitation Services and the Flemington Community Health Centre. Dr Pearse is on the Advisory Board of RemServ Remuneration Services and is a current Board member with I-Lab Incubator Pty Ltd and the University of Queensland’s Women’s College Council and International House Board of Management.
Dr Helen Szoke, VIC – a person with expertise in the regulation of assisted reproductive technology
Dr Szoke is the Chief Executive Officer of the Equal Opportunity Commission, Victoria, and a former Chief Executive Officer of the Infertility Treatment Authority, Victoria. She is a former Chairperson of the Royal Women's Ethics Committee, Victoria (1995-1996). Dr Szoke's doctorate is in the regulation of assisted reproductive technology.
The Licensing Committee was saddened to learn of the death in June 2008 of Associate Professor Christopher Newell, who was the member with expertise in consumer health issues relating to disability and disease from May 2003-June 2008.
Functions
A function of the NHMRC Licensing Committee is to consider applications for licences to conduct research involving human embryos. The Licensing Committee must issue licences only where it is satisfied that appropriate protocols are in place regarding consent, that the proposed activity has ethical clearance and the that the research is likely to result in a significant advance in knowledge or improvement in technologies for treatment that could not be achieved by other means. The Licensing Committee maintains a publicly available database containing information about licences that have been issued.
Section 19(3) of the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 requires the NHMRC Licensing Committee to table six monthly reports in either House of Parliament on or before 30 June and 31 December each year, and at any other time as required by either House of Parliament. The reports must include information about both the operation of this Act and licences issued under the Act.
The Licensing Committee is also responsible for monitoring compliance with the legislation through the appointment of inspectors and taking necessary enforcement action, such as canceling or suspending licences.
Meeting schedule
2009
- 13 March 2009 - teleconference
- 6-7 May 2009 - Canberra
- 4 June 2009 - possibly face to face or teleconference (to be confirmed)
2008
- 7 March 2008 (Melbourne)
- 5-6 June 2008 (Canberra)
- 20-21 August 2008 (Canberra)
- 3 December 2008 (Canberra)
2007
- 7 September 2007 (Hobart)
- 3-4 December 2007