NHMRC Principal Committees and NHMRC-MRFF Committees announced

NHMRC is pleased to announce the members of six important committees today.

These newly established committees, reporting to NHMRC Council, chaired by Professor Caroline Homer AO, and to the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB), will play a critical role in helping shape and advance health and medical research and build a healthy Australia.  They will also support improved alignment and coordination of the NHMRC’s Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA) and Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to achieve the best of both and strengthen Australia’s world-leading research capability.

The new committees include two NHMRC Principal Committees, appointed by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, and four shared NHMRC-MRFF Committees, which have been jointly established by NHMRC and the Department of Health and Aged Care.

The six committees established for the 2024–2027 triennium are:

• NHMRC Research Committee
• NHMRC Australian Health Ethics Committee
• NHMRC-MRFF Consumer Advisory Group
• NHMRC-MRFF Indigenous Advisory Group
• NHMRC-MRFF Public Health and Health Systems Committee
• NHMRC-MRFF Industry, Commercialisation and Philanthropy Committee

Our highly valuable committees allow us to draw on the expertise and experience of people from across the health system, research sector and the community. We extend our gratitude to all individuals who took the time and effort to nominate across each of the committees– all 700 of you!

NHMRC congratulates the appointees announced today and looks forward to working with NHMRC Council and these important committees over the next 3 years.

NHMRC Research Committee

Professor Anushka Patel will continue as Chair of Research Committee for a further 3-year term, having first been appointed to the role in August 2023.

Professor Patel is a cardiologist, with research interests in prevention and management of common chronic conditions through large-scale clinical trials and implementation science. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the George Institute for Global Health and member of NHMRC Council.

NHMRC’s Research Committee advises on the quality and scope of health and medical research in Australia, including on the use of research funding through NHMRC’s grant program – funded by the MREA.

As part of a new collaborative arrangements between NHMRC Council and AMRAB, which governs the strategy and priorities for the MRFF, Research Committee will also advise on MRFF matters as required and at the request of the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Health and Medical Research Office.

The membership comprises:

• Professor Anushka Patel (Chair)
  Chief Executive Officer, the George Institute for Global Health and Scientia Professor at UNSW Sydney
• A/Professor Odette Pearson
  Co-Theme Leader, Aboriginal Health Equity Research and Strategy, SAHMRI
• Ms Debra Langridge
  Head of the CCI Program, Western Australian Health Translation Network
• A/Professor Viet Tran
  Deputy Director, Emergency Department, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmanian Health Service, and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Tasmania
• Professor Andrew Wilks
  Managing Director, SYNthesis BioVentures
• Professor Paul Scuffham
  Chair of Health Economics, Griffith University
• Professor Sarah Larkins
  Dean, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University
• Dr Yee Lian Chew
  Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow in the College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University
• Professor James McCluskey
  Assistant Vice Chancellor, The University of Melbourne
• Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin
  Institute Director and CEO, HMRI
• Professor Adrian Barnett
  Professor of Statistics, Queensland University of Technology
• Professor Alistair Forrest
  Associate Director, Scientific Strategy, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research
• Professor Julian Grant
  Professor of Nursing and Associate Dean (Research) and Graduate Studies, Charles Sturt University
• Professor Carol Hodgson
  Head of the Division of Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
• Professor Alex Brown
  Director, National Centre for Indigenous Genomics, Australian National University
• Professor Anne Chang
  Senior Paediatric Respiratory Physician, Queensland Children’s Hospital and Division Leader, Child and Maternal Health, Menzies School of Health Research
• Professor Doug Hilton
  Chief Executive Officer, CSIRO

More information is available at Research Committee 2024-2027.

NHMRC Australian Health Ethics Committee

Associate Professor Stephen Adelstein will chair NHMRC’s Australian Health Ethics Committee.

Associate Professor Adelstein, who also sits on NHMRC Council is a practitioner member of the National Medical Board of Australia (MBA), inaugural Chair of the Medical Training Survey Consultative Committee and Steering Committee of the MBA and has been instrumental in leading the development of medical training survey in Australia.

The Australian Health Ethics Committee advises on ethical issues related to human health and develops guidelines for human research.

The membership comprises:

• A/Professor Stephen Adelstein (Chair)
  Member with expertise in professional medical standards
• Sr/Professor Annette Braunack-Mayer
  Member with knowledge of the ethics of medical research
• A/Professor Michelle Taylor-Sands
  Member with expertise in law
• Professor Ainsley Newson
  Member with expertise in philosophy
• Dr David Kirchhoffer
  Member with expertise in religion
• Professor Steve Webb
  Member with expertise in medical research
• A/Professor Michelle Kennedy
  Member with expertise in public health research
• Professor Emma Kowal
  Member with expertise in social science research
• Dr Laine Chilman
  Member with expertise in nursing and allied health practices
• Professor Erwin Loh
  Member with expertise in clinical medical practice
• A/Professor Viet Tran
  Member with knowledge of the regulation of the medical profession
• Dr Yvonne Ho
  Member with understanding of health consumer issues
• Professor Jackie Leach Scully
  Member with understanding of the concerns of people with a disability
• A/Professor Mark Slee
  Member with other expertise relevant to the functions of the committee
• Professor Michael Martin
  Member with other expertise relevant to the functions of the committee

More information is available at Australian Health Ethics Committee 2024–2027.

NHMRC-MRFF Consumer Advisory Group

Ms Ainslie Cahill AM will chair the new NHMRC-MRFF Consumer Advisory Group.

Ms Cahill is a highly respected advocate in the consumer sector, with a mission to ensure consumer and community involvement becomes firmly embedded into health and medical research. She is the current co-chair of the Health Systems Research Theme Executive Committee in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at UNSW and a member of NHMRC Council.

The NHMRC-MRFF Consumer Advisory Group has been established to advise on consumer and community involvement, including on strengthening consumer involvement in MREA and MRFF grant programs.

It will also provide advice on significant issues of relevance to the Australian community and consumers of health care, including strategies, priorities and opportunities for consumer involvement in health and medical research.

The membership comprises: 

• Ms Ainslie Cahill AM (Chair)
  Consumer Lead, Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre
• Ms Cheryl Bridge
  Head of Kulunga Aboriginal Unit, The Kids
• Mr Peter Button
  Community and consumer representative & Co-Chair, QIMR Berghofer Community Advisory Group (CAG)
• Ms Merryn Carter
  Consumer advocate, WEHI Breast Cancer Laboratory
• Ms Christine Edwards
  Director, Centre for Eye Research Australia Foundation
• Mrs Imelda Gilmore
  Consumer advisor, Australian Digital Health Agency
• Dr Yvonne Ho AM
  Health consumer representative, and Senior Medical Adviser, Therapeutic Goods Administration
• Mr Adam Johnston
  Community and consumer representative, NSW
• Mr Harry Iles-Mann
  Health Consumer Leader & Digital Health Advisor, Australian Digital Health Agency
• Ms Debra Langridge
  Head of the CCI Program, Western Australian Health Translation Network
• Mrs Lillian Leigh
  Advocacy Chair and a Board member, Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia
• Dr Jeanette Pritchard
  Chief Executive Officer, Passe & Williams Foundation
• Dr Supriya Mathew
  Senior Research Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research
• Ms Anne McKenzie AM
  Health consumer advocate & project manager of the Raine Study, University of Western Australia
• Dr Shyam Muthuramalingam
  Manager of Consumer Engagement, SA Health
• Dr Jack Nunn
  Founder and Director, 'Science for All' Charity
• Mr Jonathan Ward
  Committee member, Australian Research Management Society and Senior Advisor, Research Management at the University of Canberra

More information is available at Consumer Advisory Group 2024-2027.

NHMRC-MRFF Indigenous Advisory Group

Njikena Jawuru woman, Professor Yvette Roe will chair the new NHMRC-MRFF Indigenous Advisory Group.

Professor Roe, a distinguished leader in Indigenous health for over 25 years, is dedicated to serving as a conduit between research, policy and First Nations communities. She is the current Co-Director of the Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights at Charles Darwin University and a member of NHMRC Council.

The NHMRC-MRFF Indigenous Advisory Group (IAG) has been established to advise on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander involvement and on strengthening their involvement in MREA and MRFF grant programs.

It will also provide advice on significant issues of relevance to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, as well as opportunities for Indigenous-led research practice. IAG will advise on governance issues including valuing and promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and connections to community and Country.

The membership comprises:

• Professor Yvette Roe (Chair)
  Co-Director of the Molly Wardaguga Institute for First National Birth Rights, Charles Darwin University
• Dr Sarah Bourke
  Research Fellow with Yardhura Walani, the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, ANU
• Ms Cheryl Bridge
  Head of the Kulunga Aboriginal Unit and Aboriginal Health RFA Deputy Head, The Kids
• Miss Brooke Conley
  Peeneeyt Thanampool Indigenous Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
• Associate Professor Tuguy Esgin
  Dean of Indigenous Engagement in the Faculty of Business and Law, Curtin University
• Mr Adam Heterik
  Bioinformatics Officer, Indigenous Genomics, Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics
• Associate Professor Michelle Kennedy
  Strategic Research Advisor, Lowitja Institute
• Associate Professor Veronica Matthews
  Leadership Program Fellow, University Centre for Rural Health, University of Sydney
• Dr Julee McDonagh
  Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Chronic and Complex Care Research, University of Wollongong
• Mr Michael Newman
  Deputy CEO, Lowitja Institute
• Associate Professor Odette Pearson
  Senior Research Fellow with Wardliparingga Aboriginal Research Unit, SAHMRI
• Dr Jacob Prehn
  Associate Dean Indigenous and Indigenous Principal Research Fellow Academic Development, University of Tasmania
• Associate Professor Maree Toombs
  Associate Dean Indigenous and Professor School Population Health, UNSW
• Professor James Ward
  Director of the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland

More information is available at Indigenous Advisory Group 2024-2027.

NHMRC-MRFF Industry, Philanthropy and Commercialisation Committee

Ms Bronwyn Le Grice will chair the new NHMRC-MRFF Industry, Philanthropy and Commercialisation Committee.

Ms Le Grice has over two decades of experience in health technology commercialisation, venture capital, capital raising and industry advocacy. Bronwyn is a recognised expert in innovation and actively advocates for the digital health sector both nationally and internationally. She is the current Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of ANDHealth and a member of NHMRC Council.

The NHMRC-MRFF Industry, Philanthropy and Commercialisation Committee has been established to provide strategic advice on industry and philanthropic involvement in health and medical research, and strategies to foster greater research commercialisation.

It will also advise on opportunities to connect to, build and coordinate financial support and co-investment for health and medical research, including through the participation of Australia’s industry and philanthropic sectors.

The membership comprises:

• Ms Bronwyn Le Grice (Chair)
  Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, ANDHealth
• Dr Noel Chambers
  Chief Executive Officer, National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation
• Ms Elizabeth de Somer
  Chief Executive Officer, Medicines Australia
• Professor Matt Dun
  Professor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle
• Associate Professor Tuguy Esgin
  Dean of Indigenous Engagement in the Faculty of Business & Law, Curtin University
• Associate Professor Jiawen Li
  Associate Professor in the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide
• Professor Fabienne Mackay
  Chief Executive Officer and Director, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
• Dr Dean Moss
  Chief Executive Officer, UniQuest
• Dr Chris Nave
  Founding Partner and Managing Director, Brandon Capital/BioCatalyst
• Dr Jeanette Pritchard
  Chief Executive Officer, Passe & Williams Foundation
• Professor Karen Reynolds
  Dean of the Medical Device Research Institute, Flinders University
• Ms Kylie Sproston
  Chief Executive Officer, Bellberry Ltd
• Mr Mark Sullivan AO
  Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Medicines Development for Global Health
• Professor Andrew Wilks
  Chief Executive Officer, SYNthesis Research/ Catalyst Tx

More information is available at Industry, Philanthropy and Commercialisation Committee 2024-2027.

NHMRC-MRFF Public Health and Health Systems Committee

Adjunct Professor Darryl O’Donnell will chair the new NHMRC-MRFF Public Health and Health Systems Committee.

Adjunct Professor O’Donnell is a seasoned health leader with over 30 years’ experience in public health, research and public sector roles. He has led transformative initiatives in HIV and mental health across government and community sectors. He is the Principal and Director of Praxis Insights and a member of the NHMRC Council.

The NHMRC-MRFF Public Health and Health Systems Committee will provide advice on strategies for strengthening preventive health and public health, primary care and health services, and for embedding research translation in the health system.

It will also provide strategic advice on barriers to the uptake of research evidence within the Australian health system, as well as clinical trials and cohort studies to strengthen the linkages between both clinical and research practice.

The membership comprises:

• Adjunct Professor Darryl O’Donnell (Chair)
  Director & Principal of Praxis Insights and Adjunct Professor, UNSW
• Adjunct Professor Ginny Barbour
  Editor in Chief, Medical Journal of Australia and Adjunct Professor, QUT
• Professor Tracey Bucknall
  Director of Nursing Research, Alfred Health and Professor, Deakin University
• Adjunct Professor Paul Burgess
  Executive Director Health Statistics and Informatics, NT Health and Public Health Physician and Rural GP, Charles Darwin University
• Professor Karen Canfell
  Professor of Public Health, University of Sydney and Chair of the Cancer Screening Committee, Cancer Council
• Mr Harry Iles-Mann
  Health Consumer Leader & Digital Health Advisor, Australian Digital Health Agency
• Professor Louise Maple-Brown
  Deputy Director (Research), Menzies School of Health Research
• Associate Professor Veronica Matthews 
  Leadership Program Fellow at the University Centre for Rural Health, The University of Sydney
• Professor Danielle Mazza
  Professor and Head of Department of General Practice (GP), Monash University
• Professor Caroline Miller
  Director of Health Policy Centre, SAMHRI
• Professor Julie Redfern
  Director of the Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Bond University
• Professor Chris Reid
  John Curtin Distinguished Professor, Curtin University and Assistant Director of CCRE Therapeutics, Monash University
• Professor Paul Scuffham
  Professor of Health Economics, Griffith University
• Professor Christine Stirling
  Head of School of Nursing, University of Tasmania
• Professor Andrew Way
  Interim Chief Executive Officer, RANZCP and Chair, HealthShare Victoria Board
• Emeritus Professor Paul Worley
  Emeritus Professor in the College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University

More information is available at Public Health and Health Systems Committee 2024-2027.