New Principal Committees to advise NHMRC Council

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) welcomes today’s announcement by the Minister for Health Greg Hunt of the membership of the Principal Committees of NHMRC for 2021–2024. 

Together with the new Council, chaired by Professor Caroline Homer AO, NHMRC’s Principal Committees play a critical role supporting NHMRC in its mission of building a healthy Australia. 

Membership of the NHMRC Principal Committees brings together expertise in biomedical science, clinical and public health, nursing, ethics, social sciences, health care training and the medical profession, as well as business and consumer perspectives, and expertise in the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability. 

The Principal Committees will be chaired by three outstanding leaders:

• Professor Emily Banks AM will chair the new Health Research Impact Committee which will advise NHMRC on strategies to promote, measure and communicate the impact of health research, including research in basic science, public health, clinical and health services and research to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Professor Banks was a member of NHMRC’s Research Committee and Deputy Chair of the NHMRC Alcohol Working Group which revised Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol. She leads the Epidemiology for Policy and Practice group at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University. 
• Professor Steve Wesselingh, Executive Director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), will continue as chair of Research Committee. Research Committee advises on the distribution of funding and policies for the NHMRC grant program and on the scope and quality of health and medical research in Australia.
• Professor Ingrid Winship AO, Professor of Adult Clinical Genetics at The University of Melbourne and previously Executive Director of Research for Melbourne Health, will continue as Chair of the Australian Health Ethics Committee. This Committee advises on ethical issues in health and on the development of health research ethics guidelines. 

NHMRC CEO Professor Anne Kelso AO said she looked forward to the support and advice from committee members as NHMRC seeks to deliver funding to the best research and researchers, provide evidence-based health guidelines and advise on ethical issues in health. 

“NHMRC’s Principal Committees make an invaluable contribution, not only to NHMRC but also to the success of Australian health and medical research as a whole,” Professor Kelso said. 

“I particularly appreciate the diversity of membership that will bring a wide range of perspectives and experience to our work.”

NHMRC Principal Committee Membership Lists:

Research Committee 2021–2024:

Australian Health Ethics Committee 2021–2024:

Health Research Impact Committee 2021–2024:

CONTACT
NHMRC Media Team
M: 0422 008 512
E: media@nhmrc.gov.au