The translation of health and medical research provides the best opportunity for populations to receive excellent health care and drive advances and breakthroughs in health care in Australia.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has recognised leading centres of collaboration in Australia that excel in the provision of research-based health care and training through the Research Translation Centre Initiative (the Initiative) since 2014.
Through accreditation, we are recognising the value of leadership and excellence in research, translation, collaboration, and the training of health professionals and other end-users in an evidence-based environment. By recognising established excellent collaborations, we also seek to encourage the development of other high-quality collaborations across the country.
NHMRC reviewed its Research Translation Centre Initiative in 2019–21 and made some changes to the initiative. A report on the outcomes of the Review is available in the downloads (below).
NHMRC accreditation
NHMRC accreditation is valid for up to 5 years.
To be accredited as a Research Translation Centre, interested groups must be an established collaboration and meet our assessment criteria, including evidence of what it has achieved already, beyond the achievement of its individual partners. Groups are not accredited on the basis of future plans. Applications for accreditation are assessed by an expert panel using the assessment criteria.
NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centres
There are 12 NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centres in Australia, as listed in the following section. In 2024, NHMRC welcomed the Western Alliance Health Science Centre as an NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centre following a mid-cycle accreditation round.
- Central Australia Academic Health Science Network (re-accredited 2022)
- Health Translation Queensland (re-accredited 2022)
- Health Translation SA (re-accredited 2022)
- Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (re-accredited 2022)
- Monash Partners Academic Health Science Centre (re-accredited 2022)
- NSW Regional Health Partners (re-accredited 2022)
- Maridulu Budyari Gumal, the Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (re-accredited 2022)
- Sydney Health Partners (re-accredited 2022)
- Top End Academic Health Partners (accredited 2022)
- Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (accredited 2019)
- Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre (accredited 2024)
- Western Australian Health Translation Network (re-accredited 2022)
Research Translation Centres collaborate nationally as the Australian Health Research Alliance.
Emerging centres
NHMRC recognises the following collaborations as emerging Research Translation Centres. These centres are considered to have the potential to achieve the required characteristics for accreditation, but need more time to develop in particular areas.
- Tasmanian Collaboration for Health Improvement
- WA Rural Research and Innovation Alliance.
What do the Research Translation Centres do and why?
In 2019, representatives of accredited centres at the time told us about the work they undertake independently and together to drive improvements in health services and clinical trials in Australia, and their work with end-users of research, to ensure that their research is informed by a range of perspectives and identified needs. Centres also report their progress and impact to us as part of the accreditation.
Watch the videos about what are the Translation Centres doing and why?
Current opportunities
There are currently no opportunities to apply for Research Translation Centre accreditation.
Any future accreditation/ re-accreditation rounds will be timed to align with the 5-year accreditation period.
Questions relating to the Research Translation Centre Initiative can be emailed to: advancedcentres@nhmrc.gov.au
Subscribe to NHMRC's fortnightly newsletter Tracker for further updates.
