The National Health and Medical Research Council's Chief Executive Officer, Professor Alan Pettigrew, today welcomed the Government's announcement of National Research Priorities.
"The NHMRC already strongly contributes to the areas identified in the priorities through its existing support for high quality research and researchers," said Professor Pettigrew.
"The NHMRC has, and will be, a central contributor to the theme of 'Promoting and Maintaining Good Health', and will continue to expand our contribution in the other three National Research Priorities in the development of the NHMRC Strategic Plan for the 2003-2006 Triennium.
"New NHMRC policies and programs introduced since the Government doubled the funding to the NHMRC in the 1999/2000 budget place us in a sound position to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by this announcement," Professor Pettigrew said.
As a first step towards implementation, all Government research and research funding bodies will be required to submit plans to the Government by May 2003 outlining how they propose to support the four priorities.
"In developing the NHMRC's Implementation Plan, we will examine potential areas of support including further opportunities for collaboration with other research and research funding bodies," said Professor Pettigrew.
The NHMRC's current investment in world class health and medical research, a strong ethical framework and the production of authoritative health advice will ensure continuing advances in individual health, improved patient care, the development of new therapies and the sustainability of the Australian health care system.