News centre

$10 million boost to support the next generation of health and medical researchers

A $10 million funding boost will support the next generation of health and medical researchers to increase research capacity within Australia through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Postgraduate Scholarship scheme.

• Media release
• News
• 17 December 2024

$274 million invested to boost innovative research

Two hundred and twenty-three innovative and creative projects will share in $274 million to address specific questions in health and medical research from discovery to implementation through the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Ideas Grants scheme.

• Media release
• News
• 17 December 2024

Speaking of science: International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities promotes community awareness, understanding and acceptance of the estimated 1.3 billion people with disability worldwide and to celebrate their achievements.

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 16 December 2024

Almost $6 million to support Australian participation in international collaborative research

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is investing almost $6 million to support Australian participation in leading international collaborative research that focuses on health issues that span Australia and the East Asian region.

• Media release
• News
• 13 December 2024

New NHMRC Council to work closely with Australian Medical Research Advisory Board

The Australian Government has announced the membership of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Council for the 2024–2027 triennium.

• Media release
• News
• 3 December 2024

Speaking of science: Emerging international trends in sex and gender science with Dr Cara Tannenbaum

When it comes to individual health and wellbeing, differences between sex and gender matter and the more consideration that we give to these differences, the more we can improve health outcomes for everyone.

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 29 November 2024

Over $3 million investment to tackle global antimicrobial resistance

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is taking strides to address significant global health threats by investing over $3 million into international collaborative research aiming to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

• Media release
• News
• 19 November 2024

Centering Indigenous research excellence now and into the future

NHMRC is committed to improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through funding research of the highest quality, integrity and excellence. We also encourage applications across our grant funding program that address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

• InFocus
• News
• 6 November 2024

Speaking of Science: Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Professor Belinda Parker

Did you know that breast cancer is the second most common cancer to cause death in women? In Australia, 1 in 7 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 6 November 2024

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines: Public consultation now open

NHMRC is an independent statutory agency and Australia’s leading experts on health and medical research and providing the Australian community with health advice based on the best available scientific evidence.

• Media release
• News
• 21 October 2024

Speaking of Science: SOLVEing Coronary Heart Disease with Professor Julie Redfern

Cardiovascular disease is the world’s number one killer.

On a national scale, coronary heart disease is the leading single cause of disease burden in Australia and causes 11% of all deaths, sparking a real need to make transformative improvements in cardiovascular health management for all Australians.

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 3 October 2024

$50 million for transformative multidisciplinary health and medical research

Ten outstanding and versatile research teams have collectively been awarded $50 million to support them in working together to address major problems in human health under the NHMRC’s 2024 Synergy Grants scheme.

• Media release
• News
• 30 September 2024

Final Report for MREA grants

NHMRC has revised the questions in its Final Report for Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA) grants to obtain better visibility of the personnel supported by, and research outputs, outcomes and impacts generated from, NHMRC grants. Please see the Download section for an example of the Final Report.

• News
• 19 September 2024

Recognising translational research into improved clinical care

Expertise in translating health and medical research into improved health care in regional and rural areas has been recognised through a newly accredited Research Translation Centre in western Victoria, now one of 12 accredited centres nationally.

• Communique
• News
• 11 September 2024

Speaking of Science: Synthetic Biology (designer cells and antibodies) with Professor Shalin Naik

National Science Week is an annual celebration that promotes and encourages interest in STEMM and acknowledges the contributions of Australian scientists to our ever-growing world of knowledge.

In this Speaking of Science webinar held during National Science Week (10 August – 18 August 2024), we were joined by the inspirational cell biologist and Laboratory Head at WEHI and the University of Melbourne, Professor Shalin Naik. Professor Naik is well versed in communicating complex science concepts across to the public in more simple ways where possible, and without belittling the important work that underlies it. In this webinar, he did just that!

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 22 August 2024

$3.7 million boost to support health and medical research translation

Australia’s capacity for health and medical research translation is receiving a $3.7 million funding boost to help improve public health policy and service delivery.

• Media release
• News
• 21 August 2024

$45.1 million investment for collaborative research partnerships

Eleven Australian health and medical researchers will receive a share in over $45 million to undertake ground-breaking collaborative research through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Project scheme.

• Media release
• News
• 19 August 2024

Child’s play: Preventing and controlling infectious diseases to stay healthy

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has released Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services - 6th edition (Staying healthy), a best-practice resource that provides simple and effective ways for education and care services to help limit the spread of infectious diseases among children.

• Media release
• News
• 12 August 2024

$3.7 million funding boost for infection prevention and control in aged care

Four exceptional research teams will share in over a $3.7 million funding boost under the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Targeted Call for Research (TCR): Improving infection prevention and control in residential aged care homes 2023.

• Media release
• News
• 8 August 2024

Novel vaccines to prevent hearing loss lead to learning and life outcomes

Almost all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in remote areas have ear problems that start from within weeks of birth. For many, otitis media (‘glue ear’) leads to hearing loss and devastating learning and life outcomes.

• News
• Ten of the Best
• 15th Edition
• 4 August 2024

Speaking of Science: International Research Translation Practice

Knowledge gained through research underpins improvements in Australia's health and medical services. This research can be fundamental or can be applied, directly addressing clinical problems, public policy, quality of life and environmental health issues or the provision of health services.

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 26 July 2024

Clear line of sight to solving irreversible vision loss

As a practising optometrist, Associate Professor Zhichao Wu realised there was a big problem diagnosing glaucoma. Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss that is projected to cost Australia $4.3 billion per annum by 2025.

• News
• Ten of the Best
• 15th Edition
• 22 July 2024

$7 million to target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

Five expert research teams will share in an investment of $7 million in funding to support targeted health and medical research into the commercial determinants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

• Media release
• News
• 19 July 2024

Research Excellence: Structure, function, and modulation of peptide hormone G protein-coupled receptors

Professor Patrick Sexton is the Professor of Pharmacology at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and is the Director at the ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins. Professor Sexton is a leader in progressing our understanding of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), particularly allosteric modulation and biased agonism, and applying cryo-EM to study structure and dynamics of GPCRs. He is a Clarivate Analytics highly cited researcher and an elected Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society (BPS). Professor Sexton is also the co-founder of Septerna Inc and DACRA Tx and has been the recipient of many awards for his scientific contributions that have had major impacts on biological chemistry research.

• InFocus
• News
• 17 July 2024

Celebrating a 25-year legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research with NHMRC

Professor Yvonne Cadet-James, the pioneering researcher, academic, mentor, registered nurse and midwife is celebrating a 25-year legacy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research at the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

• InFocus
• News
• 12 July 2024

Research Excellence: Advancing health equity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population

Associate Professor Odette Pearson is of Eastern Yalanji and Torres Strait Islander descent and coleads the Aboriginal Health Equity Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Her research focus is improving chronic disease and ageing outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through policy and guideline development and implementing and evaluating real world health and social interventions. Aboriginal leadership, governance and community and cross sector partnerships are foundations of her research. A/Prof Pearson has received the Lowitja Institute Patricia Anderson Leader in Aboriginal Research (2023), UniSA Alumini Award for Research in Aboriginal Health (2022) and The Diane Ranck, SAHMRI award for Leadership in Research (2022).

• InFocus
• News
• 8 July 2024

Driving a new era in Australian health and medical research

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) will work more closely under a new structure announced today.

• Media release
• News
• 5 July 2024

Speaking of Science: International Men’s Health Week

For the 30th anniversary of International Men’s Health Week (10–16 June 2024), NHMRC shined an important light on key issues impacting the health and wellbeing of Australian men and boys, focusing on the 3 pillars of health: physical, mental and emotional.

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 21 June 2024

Research Excellence: Developing novel gene expression control mechanisms for ALS gene therapies

Professor Roger Chung is the Professor of Neurobiology and Neurochemistry, and Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences at Macquarie University. Professor Chung’s research employs a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the biochemical, molecular and cellular mechanisms that underpin how neurons respond to injury or neurodegenerative disease, and how non-neuronal cells (glia) are involved in modulating this process. Professor Chung is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of CelosiaTX and also leads the Neurochemistry and Molecular Therapeutics Group within the Macquarie University Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research.

• InFocus
• News
• 21 June 2024

NHMRC update on the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) plays a pivotal role in safeguarding public health by developing the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (the Guidelines). These guidelines serve as a crucial resource for water regulators and suppliers, offering comprehensive advice on monitoring and managing drinking water quality across Australia.

• Communique
• News
• 14 June 2024

Research Excellence: Driving the transition to high value testing to benefit the health of all

Professor Katy Bell is a clinical epidemiologist and health services researcher at the Sydney School of Public Health. Professor Bell’s research evaluates the clinical effectiveness of healthcare, with a focus on medical tests used for screening, diagnosis and monitoring chronic disease. She is an NHMRC Fellow, and a member of the Medical Services Advisory Committee Evaluation Sub-Committee which critically assesses the evidence supporting applications for new listings on the Medical Benefits Scheme. The quality and impact of Professor Bell’s work has been recognised by awards including a Robinson Fellowship through the University of Sydney (2023) and an Australasian Epidemiological Association Mid-Career Researcher Professional Development Prize (2022).

• InFocus
• News
• 13 June 2024

Australian innovators create superior surgical screws for orthopaedic surgeries

Not all orthopaedic implants are created equal. Surgeons repair bone fractures using metal plates and screws but sometimes the screws loosen and the surgery needs to be repeated. Previous expandable screws increased screw fixation strength but were more difficult (or impossible) to remove and increased surgery time.

• InFocus
• News
• Ten of the Best
• 15th Edition
• 12 June 2024

Research Excellence: Strengthening the evidence base for suicide prevention

Professor Jane Pirkis is the Director of the Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing at the University of Melbourne. With a background in public health, Professor Pirkis has worked in the area of suicide prevention for over 25 years, contributing to knowledge about which interventions are effective in preventing suicide. Professor Pirkis’s work has also emphasised media-based interventions and interventions that involve restricting access to means of suicide. Professor Pirkis is the recipient of The University of Melbourne’s Marles Medal (2021) and is also the recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award at the University of Tasmania (2017) and has received a Lifetime Research LIFE Award through Suicide Prevention Australia (2010).

• InFocus
• News
• 6 June 2024

Speaking of Science: Unlocking the power of Indigenous co-design and intervention: Transformative outcomes through authentic collaboration

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can join the national efforts towards achieving national reconciliation.

In this Speaking of Science webinar held during National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June 2024), we were joined by distinguished researcher and Indigenous leader, Professor Maree Toombs (Professor of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health in the University of New South Wales School of Population Health) who walked us through an incredibly moving presentation.

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 31 May 2024

Redefining resilience research for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents

It is well known that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ conceptions of health and wellbeing and life experiences differ vastly from mainstream populations.

• News
• Ten of the Best
• 15th Edition
• 27 May 2024

Research Excellence: Pioneering Early Cancer Detection through Nanotechnology

Dr Jiayan Liao is a dedicated researcher specialising in the field of nanotechnology, nanomedicine, biomedical engineering, and their applications in medical diagnostics. Dr Liao’s research focuses on developing innovative diagnostic tools for early cancer detection, leveraging photonics, fluorescent nanoprobes, and artificial intelligence for precise detection of single-molecule biomarkers in diseases and cancers. Dr Liao is contributing to the advancement of diagnostic methodologies and technologies, aiming for non-invasive, early detection methods to improve patient outcomes.

• InFocus
• News
• 16 May 2024

Budget 2024–25

The Budget 2024–25, delivered on 14 May 2024, confirms the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting health and medical research and its translation into new health treatments and technologies to improve the health of the Australian community.

• News
• 15 May 2024

Research Excellence: Solving Australia's Hypertension Treatment Problem

Professor Alta Schutte, SHARP Professor and Principal Theme Lead of Cardiac, Vascular and Metabolic Medicine at the University of New South Wales and The George Institute for Global Health, focuses on implementing effective scalable interventions for global blood pressure control. Appointed Co-Chair of the National Hypertension Taskforce in 2022, she was recognised in 2023 as the Leading Researcher in Vascular Medicine by The Australian. Notably, she received the 2022 Harriet Dustan Award from the American Heart Association and the 2023 Peter Sleight Excellence award from the World Hypertension League. Her impactful work extends to improving cardiovascular health in Australia and beyond.

• InFocus
• News
• 12 May 2024

Life-giving oils: low omega-3 fatty acid linked to early preterm birth and lower brain development

Preterm birth occurs in approximately 1 in 10 infants globally. It causes about three-quarters of near-birth deaths and more than half of newborn deaths.

• News
• Ten of the Best
• 15th Edition
• 6 May 2024

Uncovering the deep, dark secrets of pathogen genomes to save lives

Professor Ben Howden, from the University of Melbourne at the Doherty Institute, is a renowned clinician researcher whose dedicated focus on public health microbiology, genomics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has impacted thousands of lives.

• News
• 15th Edition
• 30 April 2024

Speaking of Science: Towards a National Indigenous Genomics Agenda

Harnessing the power of research by combining genomics, precision medicine and public heath can help to address the long-term health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 18 April 2024

Research Excellence: Designing adaptive strategies to drive tuberculosis towards elimination

Dr Romain Ragonnet is a Senior Research Fellow in the Epidemiological Modelling Unit at Monash University. Dr Ragonnet specialises in the mathematical modelling of tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19, and his notable contributions include the first-ever quantification of TB mortality and self-recovery rates. Dr Ragonnet has advised various governments of lower-middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region to assist the local control of TB and COVID-19. He also initiated and led multiple cross-disciplinary collaborations, creating a strong network of world-leading experts that spans mathematics, medical ethics, biostatistics, economics, and clinical trials.

• InFocus
• News
• 16 April 2024

Getting adolescents active for health benefits

Less than 10% of adolescents globally, including in Australia, do enough physical activity to align with the amount required for young people to be healthy.

• News
• 15th Edition
• 9 April 2024

Research Excellence: Unlocking molecular vulnerabilities in childhood brain cancers

Dr Sean Humphrey leads the Functional Phosphoproteomics Laboratory at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Dr Humphrey’s research uses cutting-edge mass spectrometers to create detailed molecular maps that capture how cells communicate and process information by regulating proteins. Dr Humphrey completed his PhD at the University of New South Wales before moving to Germany to undertake post-doctoral training at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Munich. Dr Humphrey’s research pinpoints key molecular signals that are dysregulated in human disease, uncovering a myriad of new targets for future therapies.

• InFocus
• News
• 8 April 2024

Addictive brain changes linked to obesity and simple supplement shows promise

When exposed to highly palatable (yummy) foods, some people overeat and have trouble regulating their intake long-term.

• News
• 15th Edition
• 5 April 2024

Research Excellence: Epidemiology and equity of kidney failure in Australasia

Dr Johanna Birrell is a general physician and advanced trainee in public health medicine. Dr Birrell has trained in both Australia and New Zealand and has a particular interest in rural health, Indigenous health, and health services research. Dr Birrell is completing her postdoctoral studies at the University of Sydney with concurrent clinical work. Her research explores geographic variation in kidney failure epidemiology and access to care across Australia and New Zealand. Dr Birrell has received awards including the Royal Australasian College of Physicians 2023 Aotearoa Trainee Research Award for Excellence in the Field of Adult Medicine and the Gerry Murphy Prize in 2022.

• InFocus
• News
• 3 April 2024

Speaking of Science: International Women’s Day 2024 - Inspire Inclusion

International Women’s Day represents a day of collective global activism and celebration that belongs to all of those committed to forging women’s equality.

In this Speaking of Science webinar held for International Women’s Day, we were joined by members of NHMRC’s Research Committee to discuss this year’s theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion’.

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 21 March 2024

Speaking of Science: Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month- Early detection, risk prediction and improving prognosis

Around 1,786 new cases of ovarian cancer in Australia were estimated to have been diagnosed in 2023, which is the equivalent of a 1 in 87 lifetime risk.

In our first Speaking of Science webinar, held for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we were joined by international expert in ovarian cancer research, Professor Susan Ramus (Professor of Molecular Oncology in the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of New South Wales).

• News
• Speaking of Science
• Video
• 1 March 2024

NHMRC Update on the Australian Dietary Guidelines

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is currently undertaking a review of the Australian Dietary Guidelines. The updated guidelines are scheduled for delivery in 2026.

• Communique
• News
• 26 February 2024

NHMRC Investigator Grants sets the standard for gender equity

It is an inspiring time for health and medical research in Australia as the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) sets the standard for achieving gender equity through its largest grant scheme, Investigator Grants.

• Communique
• News
• 16 January 2024