$31 million to strengthen Australian health and medical research partnerships

NHMRC’s Partnership Project scheme is contributing $13.7 million, with an additional $17.4 million committed by funding partners. Partners include hospitals, federal, state, territory or local government, health service providers, non-government organisations and charities and community organisations.

A team of investigators led by Professor Jed Duff of the Queensland University of Technology will use an evidence-based approach, combined with specialised training for healthcare teams, to improve hospital patient flow. This research partnership aims to reduce delays, enhance the quality of care, and build health professionals' skills in applying evidence to practice.

Professor Carol Maher and her team from Adelaide University will lead a large-scale trial of wearable activity trackers in routine patient care. This research partnership aims to improve recovery, reduce complications and deliver more cost-effective care.

Professor James Sharman of the University of Tasmania will lead a team of researchers to implement and test the effectiveness of a system to improve blood pressure measurements in general practice. This research partnership aims to provide a high-quality system of care, resulting in health cost savings and improved cardiovascular outcomes for patients.

The Partnership Project scheme provides funding and support to create new opportunities for researchers and policy makers to work together to define research questions, undertake research, interpret the findings and implement those findings into policy and practice.

Full details of the researchers and projects funded are available to download on NHMRC’s outcomes of funding rounds page.

Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO, Professor Steve Wesselingh:

• “NHMRC funded researchers are strongly encouraged to collaborate with partners whose decisions and actions shape health services, health policy and the delivery of care.
• “The Partnership Projects receiving funding today have the potential to do that, and to ultimately improve the health of all Australians through the research translation – congratulations to all chief investigators and their teams.”