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Urgent Research
Introduction
How can the NHMRC decide when there is an urgent need to undertake research? How can we distinguish between urgent health and medical matters and urgent research into health and medical matters? What are the implications of making a definitive statement about the need for urgent research into a health or medical matter?
Following similar recommendations from the United Kingdom and United States of America , the NHMRC has adopted the following definition of urgent research:
Research that must be undertaken rapidly in response to a threat to public health. The threat may be generalised, or specific to a particular group of individuals, and may be identified as either a current major problem, a potential major problem or a problem which is expected to increase in the future. The main catalysts for urgent research will be the fact that a disease or illness or its variant(s) is previously unknown or unidentified, it has a high morbidity and/or mortality rate, and this attracts publicity and public and/or government concern about disease/illness.
Based on this definition the NHMRC developed an Urgent Research Protocol to consider requests for urgent research.
For further background information, see review the paper below:
» Download: SRDC Occasional Paper Number 1 - Testing the NHMRC's Urgent Research Process (PDF, 72kb) 
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NHMRC and SARS
Please note that this information have been provided for historical reference only, as applications closed on the 14th of May 2003.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is pleased to announce research funding to produce and evaluate tests to reliably distinguish between SARS and other viral diseases with 'flu-like symptoms' for national use in Australia. Below please find a copy of the advertisement, supporting documentation, application forms and advice and instructions to applicants.
Media Releases
25/05/2003 Australian quest for SARS test underway
04/05/2003 Australia Joins the Fight Against SARS
Advice and Instructions to Applicants
Supporting documentation
Advertisement
Urgent Research into Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
Application form
» Download: Urgent Research Grant Application (PDF, 38kb)
Background
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a global public health problem and its spread has attracted much media attention worldwide. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) was made aware of the SARS problem, it responded quickly and effectively by coordinating an international research collaboration and working closely with health authorities in affected countries to provide epidemiological, clinical and logistical support as required. The most recent international research information is available at http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/
The NHMRC are in discussion with the Commonwealth to consider how Australia could best contribute to international research into SARS.
Currently, a number of Australian researchers have been seconded by WHO to work in affected countries. For example, Professor Aileen Plant, of the Department of International Health at Curtin University is currently seconded to Hanoi where she has worked closely with local health officials in containing the SARS outbreak. Similarly, Dr John MacKenzie of Queensland University is undertaking fieldwork in China.
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