NHMRC score descriptor working group

Professor James McCluskey is the Assistant Vice-Chancellor at the University of Melbourne, supporting the development of the Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (AIID) and the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics. He was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Melbourne from March 2011 to July 2023, during which time he led the development of the Doherty Institute and Atlantic fellows for Social Equity. Prior to this, he was the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research Partnerships and Chair of Microbiology and Immunology.

Professor Emily Banks AM is a public health physician and epidemiologist with interest and expertise in chronic disease, tobacco control, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and healthy ageing. She is Head of the Centre of Epidemiology for Policy and Practice at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, an NHMRC Investigator Fellow, Chair of the NHMRC Health Research Impact Committee (2022–24), Member of NHMRC Council, and Deputy Chair of the Heart Foundation Research Committee.

Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin is the current Institute Director and CEO of the Hunter Medical Research Institute. Frances is a registered psychologist and brings with her 25 years of experience as an HMRI researcher in mental health. She leads an international team of researchers, clinicians, and industry partners in the innovative development and translation of evidence-based treatments for comorbid mental and physical disorders, which is internationally recognised for its impact, research quality, and significant translational value. Frances’ research program has been instrumental in demonstrating the transformative impact of digital technologies in bringing integrated treatments to the point of care for people with comorbidity.

Ms Christine Gunson has served as a consumer representative and advocate in a number of NHMRC committees since 2016. Ms Gunson has served as a member of both the NHMRC's Research Committee and Consumer and Community Advisory Group (CCAG) since 2018. She has also served as the consumer representative on a number of NHMRC peer review panels and 'Relative to Opportunity' working parties. She has over 30 years' professional experience as a human resource adviser at a senior level.

Dr Yee Lian Chew is an early career academic, earning her BSc (Honours) (2010) and PhD (2015) from the University of Sydney. She has authored 25 publications, trained 10 research students and secured $1.5 million in funding. Yee Lian has given public lectures at National Science Week, run a children’s outreach program at the Cambridge Science Festival, recorded a podcast, and filmed an Elevator Pitch for ABC Science. Through her work with the EMCR Forum Executive (AAS), Yee Lian aims to promote equity, diversity and inclusion in academia by removing barriers to retention for minoritised groups.

Professor Sarah Larkins is an experienced research leader, academic general practitioner, and Dean, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University.  Sarah has particular skills and experience in health services and workforce research and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research is a recognised expert in social accountability in health professional education. Sarah is also a current member of the NHMRC Research Committee (2022–24) and Co-Director of the Anton Breinl Research Centre for Health Systems Strengthening.

Professor Fabienne Mackay obtained her PhD in Molecular Biology and Immunology from Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg, France. She is Director and CEO of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Queensland. Prior to that, she started her research career in the biotech industry at Biogen Inc. in Boston. Arriving in Australia in 1999, she joined the Garvan Institute in Sydney and was appointed as a Director. She became the inaugural Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences and Head of the Department of Pathology in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Dr Simon Deeming is an economist with 30+ years’ experience conducting research across the corporate, not-for-profit and academic sectors. His current research interests are divided between research on medical and health research practice and policy; and the economic evaluation of clinical, health service and public health policy. Simon is presently employed by the Hunter Medical Research Institute and a conjoint research fellow within the College of Health, Medicine and Well-being at the University of Newcastle. Over the past five years he has been a member of numerous Assessment Committees for the Health Research Council of New Zealand, a member of Research Australia’s Health Economics roundtable, and a member of the NHMRC’s Principal Health Research Impact Committee. Within the field of research on medical and health research, his research seeks to improve the evidence base for research policy development and refinement to optimise the value generated from public, philanthropic, industry and the community’s investment into medical and health research.

Professor Anne B. Chang is a consultant paediatric respiratory physician at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. She was a continuous NHMRC Practitioner Fellow from 2004-2023 and now holds L3 fellowship. Professor Chang has altered several paradigms related to children’s lung health. She has held several prestigious fellowships, including the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. She has led numerous successful NHMRC projects and two Centre of Research Excellence grants as CIA. In 2019, Professor Chang was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (AM) for service worthy of particular recognition.

Professor Julie Leask AO is a social scientist and professor in the School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, where she co-leads the Social and Behavioural Insights in vaccination research group. Her research focuses on vaccine uptake, programs and policies. She is a member of the University of Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, an affiliate of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and visiting professorial fellow at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance. She currently holds an NHMRC Investigator Leadership Fellowship.