Research Translation Centres foster collaboration, build research capability and support health service led innovation. This has helped improve health outcomes and strengthen Australia's health and medical research translation ecosystem.
The NHMRC Research Translation Centre (RTC) Initiative has recognised and supported leading collaborations between health services, research organisations and other partners since 2014. These collaborations work to embed research in healthcare and translate evidence into practice.
RTCs foster collaboration, build research capability and support health service led innovation. This has helped improve health outcomes and strengthen Australia's health and medical research translation ecosystem.
NHMRC has recently completed a review of the RTC Initiative. The review identified opportunities to build on the achievements of RTCs to ensure the Initiative continues to support excellence in research translation. These opportunities highlight the importance of enduring collaborations between health services and researchers and reflect the actions of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026-2036.
To strengthen the Initiative's long term sustainability and impact, NHMRC will move from accreditation to designation. Through a competitive assessment process, centres will need to demonstrate high quality research translation capability and health service led programs that address health service and community needs.
Successful centres will be designated as nationally recognised centres and receive financial support for research and sustainability. Designated centres will be health service led, with genuine collaborative partnerships, including with consumers and community.
The Initiative will designate collaborations in metropolitan and regional, rural, and remote settings, recognising the unique needs of the populations they serve. The Initiative is expected to open in early 2027.
NHMRC remains committed to fostering genuine collaboration and delivering impact for health services and communities. It will continue to ensure health and medical research improves the health and wellbeing of all Australians. Through this new direction, designated RTCs will play a critical role in translating research findings into healthcare policy and practice.
Please direct any questions to AdvancedCentres@nhmrc.gov.au
Prue Torrance
Acting Chief Executive Officer
National Health and Medical Research Council