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International reviews of NHMRC research strategy & funding process

NHMRC established two International Review Panels in 2007 and 2008 to scrutinise its health and medical research funding and peer review processes; to consider the broader future vision of health and medical research in Australia; and to assess and provide recommendations to improve NHMRC’s role as a national medical research funding organisation.

The first review was conducted from 23 to 25 October 2007 and was chaired by Professor Alan Bernstein, the then President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (the Bernstein Review). The scope of the Bernstein Review included international analysis and comparisons of NHMRC strategies, plans for targeted investment, funding mechanisms and schemes (for people, ideas and infrastructure) and the documents and processes associated with the various funding schemes.

The second review was conducted from 28 to 30 January 2008 and was chaired by Dr Elias Zerhouni, Director of the United States National Institutes of Health (the Zerhouni Review). The Zerhouni Review drew on the recommendations of the Bernstein Review, and provided a higher level international analysis of NHMRC strategic research funding policies to ensure that Australia has the highest quality health and medical research effort and was able to gain maximum benefit from the Australian Government’s investment in health and medical research.

In June 2009 NHMRC released its response to the findings of both reviews, initially focussing on the high level strategic recommendations outlined in the Zerhouni Review, before addressing the operational recommendations outlined in the Bernstein Review. NHMRC invites public comment on this response.

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