National Health and Medical Research Council

The Research Committee covers the spectrum of health and medical research, including public health. It awards grants on the basis of scientific quality as judged by peer-review across the entire spectrum of health, medical and public health research. It also provides research support through a variety of mechanisms, including support for individual research projects, broad programs of research, training awards and fellowships and special research units.

Functions

The functions of RC, as set out in Section 35(2) of the NHMRC Act, are:

• to advise and make recommendations to the Council on the application and monitoring of the Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA); and
• to monitor the use of assistance provided from MREA; and
• to advise the Council on matters relating to medical research and public health research, including the quality and scope of such research in Australia; and
• such other functions as the Minister from time to time determines in writing after consulting the CEO; and
• any other functions conferred on the Committee by the NHMRC Act, the regulations or any other law.

Membership

RC comprises 16 individuals (including the Chair). The members all have demonstrated leadership and extensive experience in various fields of health and medical research. A member of AHEC also sits on RC - this is a requirement of the NHMRC Act.

NHMRC Research Committee

• Research committee member details

RC membership in the previous 2006-09 triennium

• Professor James Best
• Professor Jon Currie
• Professor Timothy Davis
• Associate Professor Jacinta Elston
• Professor Matthew Gillespie
• Professor Robert Graham
• Mrs Elizabeth Grant
• D'Arcy Holman
• Associate Professor Bronwyn Kingwell
• Professor Kerin O'Dea
• Dr Nicholas Samaras
• Professor Peter Silburn
• Professor Ron Trent

Contact NHMRC Research Committee