This section of the site contains a range of historical information about Centres of Clinical Research Excellence, which were formerly known as the Centres of Clinical Excellence (CCE) in Hospital-Based Research Program.
Background
The Centres of Clinical Excellence in Hospital-based Research (CCE) Program began as an initiative of the Government's 'Health Throughout Life' policy. Funding of $1.5 million per annum was provided in 1997 to promote innovative hospital-based clinical research and to address a perceived gap in maintaining and developing clinical research in hospitals and other health care facilities. Nine groups were funded in the first CCE Program round. An evaluation of the CCE Program was conducted in 2001 and outcomes of the evaluation form the basis of the new CCRE program model.
The aims of the new CCRE are:
- To support clinical (human) research with potential to lead to improved health outcomes for the community.
- To foster training of clinical researchers, particularly those with a capacity for independent research and future leadership roles.
- To ensure effective translation of research outcomes into clinical practice.
Total funding of $2 million per annum is available under the new CCRE program round to support five Centres over a period of five years, with a funding-dependent review after three years. One of the five Centres will be a designated Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
The new CCRE program intends to acknowledge and reward innovative, high quality clinical research conducted by established investigators with a strong track record in clinical research and who also have a track record in fostering clinical training. The investigators' record of translation of research findings into clinical practice will also be taken into consideration.
While the first CCE program emphasised the importance of hospital-based clinical research, the current program has been revised, based on findings from the recent Program review, to include clinical research in broader clinical settings.
A call for expressions of interest in the CCRE program was made in November 2001. This call covered four of the five Centres. (The terms for the CCRE in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health will be advertised at a later date). Nevertheless, the four other centres may also address Indigenous health issues.
Centres of Clinical Excellence in Hospital Based Research as at December 2003
This program, an initiative of the Health Throughout Life policy, commenced in 1997. It aimed to foster clinical research in the hospital setting, thereby improving the capacity to translate medical research into clinical practice. Specifically, the aims of the program were to:
- foster clinical research and the training of clinical researchers;
- support innovative clinical research, including research with potential to translate into successful clinical treatments, and
- ensure effective translation of biomedical research into clinical practice
Eight Centres were funded under this program.
Evaluation
In December 2000, the Minister for Health and Aged Care approved an evaluation of the CCE program.
As a result of the Evaluation, the Minister has:
- Endorsed a new round of program be approved, to commence as soon as is practical, based on the model proposed by the Evaluation Committee
- Directed that specific funding be set aside for a designated Centre of Clinical Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in the new round
- Directed that funding of the current Darwin Clinical Unit in Aboriginal Health be maintained until the future funding of the CCE program has been determined
Centre of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
The Strategic Research Development Committee (SRDC) is inviting applications for a Centre of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. The CCRE for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health will form part of the SRDC's broader CCRE program. In accordance with the aims of the CCRE program as a whole, the focus of the CCRE in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health will be on clinical research, training of clinical researchers, and the translation of research findings into improved health care. Further information regarding the aims of the CCRE in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, and the application process can be obtained from the linked documents below.
- Supporting document (PDF, 36KB)
- Advertisement (PDF, 12KB)
- Instructions to applicant (PDF, 52KB)
- Application pro-forma (PDF, 130KB)
- Application pro-forma (RTF, 152KB)
Centre of Research Excellence in Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Energy
The NHMRC wishes to establish a Centre of Research Excellence in Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Energy (CREREE). The Centre will undertake cross-disciplinary research related to possible health effects of electromagnetic energy emissions from mobile phones and mobile phone towers. Research training and career development in EME areas will be incorporated into the Centre's program. Funding of $500,000 per annum is available for a period of up to 5 years.