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Research & general notices 2008
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DECEMBER 2008
Communiqué from December's NHMRC Council meeting 19 December 2008
The National Health and Medical Research Council met on 11 December 2008, in Canberra at the ANU. Agenda items included blood lead levels, the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission report, Indigenous health, the National Prevention Health Taskforce, Xenotransplantation, and conflict of interest issues for researchers.
NHMRC Licensing Committee publishes 12th Biannual Report to Parliament 15 December 200815 December 2008
Today the NHMRC Embryo Research Licensing Committee tabled its report to the Parliament of Australia for the period 1 April 2008 to 30 September 2008.
NMHRC Project Grants 2009 application round opens8 December 2008
Applications are now open for NHMRC Project Grants 2009 for funding commencing in 2010.
Project Grants support individual researchers and research teams to conduct the highest quality research across all fields of health and medical research on researcher initiated projects.
The 2009 round will encourage research in fields such as Indigenous health, complementary and alternative medicines, water quality, global health, obesity intervention, nanotechnology and health, and the health challenges of climate change.
Applications will close on 17 March 2009.
NICS wins AGLN-V leadership award 8 December 2008
NICS staff members Sue Huckson and Meredith Cameron jointly received the 2008 Leadership Award from the Australian Government Leadership Network- Victoria. Sue Huckson was nominated for her work on the National Organ Donation Collaborative and Meredith Cameron was nominated for the Fight Flu campaign.
Fluoride and babies 2 December 2008
A recent media article suggests that that babies from six months to a year should only have 600ml of fluoridated water. NHMRC has three publications that refer to fluoride intake, none of which make this suggestion:
» Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2004)
» Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand (2006)
» A Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Fluoridation (2007)
In November 2007 our review into the safety of fluoridation said:
"Recent Australian research does not show an association between use of infant formulae and dental fluorosis. The critical period for development of dental fluorosis is after the first twelve months of life, by which time the majority of Australian children have ceased exclusive formula consumption. Measurements were made of 49 samples of formula available at supermarkets, finding that the fluoride concentrations have fallen considerably to allow reconstitution with fluoridated water."
Fluoridation of drinking water remains the most effective and socially equitable means of achieving community-wide exposure to the dental caries prevention effects of fluoride.
NOVEMBER 2008
Top indigenous entertainer awarded for health work 28 November 2008
Aboriginal singer-songwriter Dr Jimmy Little was awarded the National Health and Medical Research Council Advocacy Award at Research Australia's 'Thank You' Day Awards in Sydney last night. Dr Little was nominated for the award by Baxter Healthcare for his long-term dedication to raising awareness of health issues affecting Indigenous Australians.
» Read more - www.thankyouday.org
Clinical practice guidelines for the management of melanoma in Australia and New Zealand25 november 2008
The Australian Cancer Network (ACN) has released NHMRC-endorsed evidence-based clinical guidelines to assist GPs, dermatologists and surgeons to manage patients with melanoma.
» Go to the guidelines
NHMRC Annual Report 2007-0820 november 2008
NHMRC's annual report for 2007-08 has been tabled in parliament.
» Go to the NHMRC Annual Report 2007-08
Air Quality in and Around Traffic Tunnels5 November 2008
NHMRC has released its final report on a review of national and international literature and practices in relation to air quality in and around traffic tunnels.
» Go to Air Quality in and Around Traffic Tunnels
OCTOBER 2008
Recycled water for drinking29 October 2008
The NHMRC endorsed Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2004) apply to all drinking water, regardless of its source, to ensure safe drinking water for all Australians. In 2008 the NHMRC approved the National Guidelines for the Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies (DEHC website), to ensure correct practice once the decision has been made to use recycled water for drinking.
Preventative Health Taskforce calls for submissions on 'Australia: the healthiest country by 2020'
28 october 2008
On 10 October 2008 the Preventative Health Taskforce released a discussion paper, Australia: the healthiest country by 2020. The Taskforce is calling for submissions on this discussion paper. The closing date for submission is Friday 2 January 2009.
Xenotransplantation review 23 October 2008
In 2004 the NHMRC recommended that there be no xenotransplantation clinical trials in Australia for five years, until December 2009, by which time the issue will have been reviewed. Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of cells, tissues or organs from animals to humans.
» See more information on xenotransplantation
NHMRC guidelines on organ and tissue donation20 October 2008
NHMRC issued guidelines in 2007 on the ethical donation of organs and tissues.
» See the guidelines
» Download a FAQ on organ and tissue donation (pdf, 22KB) 
NHMRC congratulates winners in Prime Minister's Science Prizes 2008 17 october 2008
NHMRC CEO Professor Warwick Anderson congratulates Professor Ian Frazer on winning the PM’s Prize for Science and Dr Carola Vinuesa on winning the Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year.
Revised NHMRC Research Ethics Committee and Regulatory Approval Clearance Notification
16 october 2008
The NHMRC has revised the Research Ethics Committee and Regulatory Approvals Clearance Notification form.
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SEPTEMBER 2008
NHMRC and Cancer Australia – partners in cancer research
19 september 2008
NHMRC and Cancer Australia support cancer research in Australia through a variety of schemes. The newest of these is the collaborative venture – the Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme (PdCCRS).
First licences granted for the derivation of human embryonic stem cells from cloned embryos
16 september 2008
Australia's first licences allowing the creation of cloned embryos for the derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines were issued today by the Embryo Research Licensing Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Climate change and human health
4 september 2008
Professor Tony McMichael, a NHMRC Fellow at ANU's National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, gave a presentation to NHMRC Council on 4 September on the challenge of climate change and the likely impacts on human health.
AUGUST 2008
Diabetic Retinopathy Guidelines
28 August 2008
The Guidelines for the Management of Diabetic Retinopathy have just been released. They were developed to assist health practitioners in making decisions about the appropriate health care of patients with diabetes, and replace the revoked 1997 guidelines.
Considerable evidence now shows that diabetes is becoming a more frequent problem in our community so that detecting diabetic eye disease is critically important, since there are well developed and proven strategies to prevent visual loss.
The Guidelines were developed by the Australian Diabetes Society and approved by the NHMRC.
Call for expressions of interest — Australia's participation in the international cancer genome consortium
22 August 2008
The Hon Nicole Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing, today announced Australia’s key role in the international fight against cancer. The Government, through the NHMRC, has committed $27.5 million over five years to participate in a consortium of countries studying the disease.
The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) will coordinate international research efforts to understand DNA changes involved in the major forms of cancer, leading to better diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Research institutions interested in being involved should submit an expression of interest by 29 August 2008.
CEO thanks researchers14 August 2008
Each year NHMRC establishes Grant Review Panels (GRP), which are responsible for reviewing and ranking NHMRC grant applications.
For the past three weeks in Melbourne, NHMRC has conducted a GRP for project grants starting in 2009.
During the three weeks almost 500 assessors reviewed 2790 of applications. Assessors are senior researchers who have received funding from NHMRC.
Applying for NHMRC grants is highly competitive and the peer review is a critical part of the process. It is an enormous task to undertake, but necessary to ensure the transparency, probity and fairness of our funding.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each researcher who volunteered their valuable time to review the applications.
Without their help NHMRC wouldn’t have the reputation it does for its rigorous review process.
30 years of bionic ears1 August 2008
On this day in 1978, Professor Graeme Clark and colleagues implanted the first bionic ear in an adult patient at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. NHMRC grants from 1975 to 1982 assisted Professor Clark to develop and commercialise this groundbreaking technology that since then has improved the lives of 50,000 people in more than 120 countries.
JULY 2008
Research Partnerships for better health25 July 2008
The NHMRC Partnerships initiative was designed to meet the need for a more effective integration of evidence into health policy and service delivery. Application forms and advice to applicant documentation will be available early August 2008. The funding policy provides information to advise researches and prospective partners of the research call.
» Read more
The validity of published health findings28 July 2008
ABC Radio National's The Health Report of 28 July broadcast an interview with Professor John Ioannidis from the University of Ioannina in Greece and Tufts University in Boston about his paper "Why Most Published Research Findings Are False".
» Interview transcript and audio on ABC.net.au
Direct-to-consumer DNA tests: marketing hype or medical breakthrough? 10 July 2008
Public meeting, Thursday 7 August 2008, 6-8pm, Metcalfe Auditorium, State Library of NSW.
» Read more
How will the NHMRC be involved in the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) consultation process?
The NHMRC is working with ARC to support the consultation process, in particular around the use of research publications data.
» Read more
JUNE 2008
Dietary guidelines for children and adolescents24 june 2008
Some recent media reports have mentioned the effects of caffeine in children’s drinks. The Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia outlines the National Health and Medical Research Council’s recommendation regarding children and consumption of caffeine. The relevant information begins on page 145.
» Read more (PDF, 1.56MB)
The Australian Alcohol Guidelines for Low Risk Drinking 200820 June 2008
The Australian Alcohol Guidelines for Low Risk Drinking 2008 are currently being finalised.
The revised guidelines are a draft and therefore not a public document as they have not yet been approved by the NHMRC. They are currently being reviewed by international experts before going to NHMRC Council. It is expected they will be finalised in mid July 2008.
Any discussion about their likely content is speculation at this time.
All NHMRC guidelines are based on the best and most recent scientific research available. It is NHMRC’s duty to put this evidence before the community, however, it is up to individuals how they want to use the information.
NHMRC’s guidelines will give Australians the evidence that they need to make informed choices about drinking alcohol and provide them with information on the risks of alcohol-related accidents, injury, illnesses and disease. That is why their actual title is Australian Alcohol Guidelines for Low Risk Drinking. Scientific evidence shows that, the more a person drinks the greater the risk for alcohol-related injury and illness.
Binge drinking and low risk drinking
The guidelines do not use the term 'binge drinking'. However, they do provide guidance on the risks both over a lifetime, and on a single drinking occasion.
Congratulations to Professor Michael Good10 June 2008
Chair of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Professor Michael Good, has been recognised in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his service to medical research.
Young, groundbreaking and inspiring6 June 2008
Outstanding young medical researcher Prof James Whisstock was awarded the 2008 Commonwealth Health Minister's Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research at the ASMR Medical Research Week dinner on Thursday 5 June.
MAY 2008
Water Recycling Guidelines28 may 2008
NHMRC and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC) have been developing guidelines for recycling water under the auspices of the Environment Protection Heritage Council (EPHC). There are 3 modules:
Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2): Augmentation of Drinking Water Supplies was endorsed by the EPHC, NRMMC and NHMRC in April 2008.
Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2): Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse and Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and Environmental Risks (Phase 2): Managed Aquifer Recharge were released for public consultation on 6 May 2008, which will close on 1 July.
EPHC have posted all three documents on their website:
» Go to EPHC Water Recycling
Update on the 2008/09 Federal Budget and its impact on the National Health and Medical Research Council14 may 2008
CEO Warwick Anderson today welcomed the support of the Rudd Government for health and medical research in Australia.
“We are delighted with the funding allocation to medical research. Funding of $617 million will be available to support high quality health and medical research throughout Australia as a result of last night’s budget,” said Professor Anderson.
A summary of the key facts on the NHMRC funding from the budget is available.
Communiqué from the NHMRC Council Meeting9 may 2008
The Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon Nicola Roxon MP addressed the 170th Council Meeting on the 24 of April 2008. The Communiqué outlines Council discussions on indigenous health, mental illness and other essential health issues.
Dates for consultation workshops for Indigenous health Road Map1 may 2008
NHMRC has announced dates for consultation workshops for its review of The NHMRC Road Map: A Strategic Framework for Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Through Research.
» See consultation workshop dates
APRIL 2008
Health at the Australia 2020 Summit22 April 2008
Health was a major topic at the Australia 2020 Summit convened by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the weekend of 19, 20 April 2008. Chair of the NHMRC Council Professor Michael Good co-chaired the discussion 'A long-term national health strategy' with The Hon. Nicola Roxon MP, and NHMRC CEO Warwick Anderson was among the participants.
» See Australia 2020 Summit
» See Health - Australia 2020 Summit
New alcohol guidelines expected soon18 April 2008
The draft of the revised Australian Alcohol Guidelines: health risks and benefits were released for comment in October 2007.
NHMRC received 162 submissions and the information from these submissions is being taken into consideration in developing the final guidelines.
The guidelines were due to be released in March, but because of the high number of submissions, publication has been delayed. It is expected the guidelines will be released in mid-June 2008. They will undergo an international peer review before being published.
For further information contact the Communications section on 0422 008 512 or email nhmrc.media@nhmrc.gov.au.
NHMRC Complaints10 April 2008
NHMRC supports a transparent approach to the handling and resolution of complaints lodged with the agency. The purpose of the NHMRC Policy on Complaints is to outline how to Lodge a complaint and how a complaint that falls within NHMRC's jurisdiction is lodged with and processed by the NHMRC.
» See complaint form
MARCH 2008
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation applications18 march 2008
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has announced a request for applications.
This request is a component of the Islet Transplantation Program, which was established by the JDRF with funding from the Department of Health and Ageing. It is designed to help take islet transplantation from being an experimental procedure to one broadly available for people with diabetes.
JDRF will direct $2.2 million over two years to this program, and only investigators and institutes based in Australia are eligible.
Further information detailing the process of application can be found at www.jdrf.org.au and click on 'Islet transplantation - new funding available'. Expressions of interest must be submitted by 18 April 2008.
The National Health and Medical Research Council has released its Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water18 march 2008
The main aim of the Guidelines is to protect humans from threats posed by the recreational use of coastal, estuarine and fresh waters.
They have been developed to help local, state and territory governments and other authorities formulate legislation and standards to ensure recreational water environments are managed as safely as possible. They also encourage a national approach to managing the quality of water used for recreation.
The Guidelines are an update on the 2006 Guidelines without substantive changes to the content, but with editorial amendments.
» View the guidelines
NHMRC Supported Group Leader at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory11 march 2008
NHMRC and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory are seeking applications from talented molecular and cell biologists for an NHMRC-supported Group Leader position. This is an opportunity for a researcher of outstanding ability to further their career at EMBL in Europe and develop into an internationally recognised research leader.
» View more information
FEBRUARY 2008
Council Chair appointed to 2020 Summit29 February 2008
Chair of the NHMRC Council, Professor Michael Good, is one of 11 hand picked Australians to lend their expertise to the 2020 Steering Committee.
» View full story
Grants take a preventative slant - Campus Review26 February 2008
The focus of research grants change over time with researchers constantly looking at the trends to help frame their applications. John Ross looks at the latest round of NHMRC grants.
» Download: Article, re-printed courtesy of Campus Review (PDF, 2.7MB)
Podcasts: Great minds in Australian research22 February 2008
NHMRC is proud to present its new series of podcast interviews, Great minds in health and medical research.
Great minds in health and medical research is a fortnightly series of ten conversations with leading figures in Australian health and medical research. It kicks off with NHMRC CEO Professor Warwick Anderson, who discusses NHMRC’s role in the future of health and medical research.
Next fortnight Great minds in health and medical research will talk with Professor Judith Whitworth, the director of the John Curtin School of Medical Research and the Howard Florey Professor of Medical Research at the Australian National University in Canberra.
» See NHMRC podcasts
Apology to the stolen generation13 February 2008
Following the Parliament of Australia’s apology to the stolen generation and bipartisan approach to improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, NHMRC recommits itself to helping in this task.
Our Strategic Plan identifies Indigenous health as one of our highest priorities, which means the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians will continue to be a major focus of research attention from NHMRC.
In particular, we are concentrating on health inequalities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with a focus on prevention, delivery of care and governance, and are considering the social, cultural and economic factors that contribute to the health of individuals and communities.
We have made significant advances in the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research and we remain committed to allocating 5 per cent of our annual research budget to research that is relevant to Indigenous people.
That funding is matched by a commitment to ensuring the research is beneficial and acceptable to Indigenous Australians. We do this through the NHMRC Road Map: A Strategic Framework for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health through research, which was developed through national consultation.
We are guided in this by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Research Advisory Committee.
Professor Warwick Anderson
CEO
JANUARY 2008
International Review - NHMRC research funding processes31 January 2008
To enable broad input from a number of international leaders, the Review has been conducted in two stages. The first meeting in October was Chaired by the President of the Canadian Institute for Health Research, Professor Alan Bernstein, and included panel members Dr Toni Scarpa (Director, Centre for Scientific Review, US National Institutes for Health), and Dr Merilyn Sleigh (Consultant and former Managing Director of Evogenix).
The second meeting, with Dr Elias Zerhouni (Director, National Institutes for Health), Professor Sally Davies, (Director of Research and Development, UK Department of Health), and Dr Edward Holmes, (Executive Deputy Chairman of Singapore’s Biomedical Research Council) was scheduled for late January 2008.
The NHMRC will be considering the report from the review and consulting with government and stakeholders during 2008.
» Download: Article, re-printed courtesy of Campus Review (PDF, 1.8MB)
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