Research Translation Strategy 2022–2025

That health and medical research helps to build a healthy, resilient and prosperous population in Australia.

To drive the translation of health and medical research into public policy, health-related systems and clinical practice, and support the commercialisation of research discoveries, for the improvement of individual and population health.

• Access to research outcomes drives stronger public policy, stronger health-related systems and a stronger knowledge economy.
• Research is embedded in the system when researchers and end-users work together to identify research priorities, design and conduct high-quality research and implement outcomes.
• To translate research into improved health outcomes, those responsible for research translation need the requisite knowledge and skills.

• Foster genuine collaboration between researchers and end-users.
• Build capacity and capability of researchers in research translation.
• Offer funding opportunities that foster translation.
• Promote translation of evidence into high-quality guidelines and advice.
• Build a research culture that focuses on impact.

Goal

• Research embedded in health-related systems fostered

Actions

• Promote successful examples of co-design and partnerships between researchers and end-users, for example, Research Translation Centres and Partnership Projects, which may involve partnerships between researchers and health services, policy-makers, managers, clinicians
• Continue to provide leadership on the involvement of consumers and the community in research
• Strengthen the role of consumer and community representatives in peer review of NHMRC’s targeted research calls, including representatives for research that focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
• Consider the role of consumer and community representatives in peer review of NHMRC’s translation-focused grant schemes

KPI

• Communication of examples of researcher/end-user partnerships translating evidence. Research meets the needs of consumers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Goal

• Increased knowledge and skill of researchers

Actions

• Continue to review and update advice for guideline developers on evidence synthesis
• Evaluate Research Impact Track Record assessment in Investigator Grants and extend consideration of impact to other relevant NHMRC grant schemes
• Continue hosting Research Translation Symposia
• Continue to support clinician researchers to undertake research
• Consider how to strengthen support for translational research and guidance for peer reviewers

KPI

• Opportunities for clinician researchers to undertake research embedded in the health system. Researcher participation in Research Translation Symposia.

Goal

• Increased access to high-quality research evidence for use in developing health-related policy and practice

Actions

• Continue to develop and approve high-quality evidence-based guidelines and advice for public and environmental health and clinical practice
• Continue adoption of innovative digital platforms that support the development of guidelines and collaboration with guideline developers
• Implement NHMRC’s new Open Access Policy and promote open access beyond NHMRC-funded research
• Amplify communication about the impact of evidence from NHMRC-funded research
• Grow staff capability and capacity in assessing the quality of evidence, evidence synthesis and development of evidence-based advice

KPI

• Evidence of promotion of open access to publications and data from health and medical research. Evidence that the research we fund has impact.