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Latest news and stories
Teasing out fact from fiction in global guidelines for iron supplements in children
Discover how Professors Sant-Rayn Pasricha and Beverley-Ann Biggs's extensive research on iron supplementation is reshaping global health recommendations. Their work offers new insights into child development and anaemia treatment.
Recognising outstanding scientific imagery beneath the skin’s surface
Associate Professor Arutha Kulasinghe, recipient of the 2025 NHMRC Science to Art Award, is bringing together the rigour of heath and medical research with aesthetically powerful art. With a focus on cutting edge spatial biology and genomic techniques, Associate Professor Kulasinghe is dedicated to unlocking the secrets of individual cell interactions, leading to personalised treatments for several diseases, including cancer.
Surviving melanoma has a new genetic story
Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world with one Aussie diagnosed every 30 minutes.1 Delve into the research led by Dr Sarah Ward aiming to unpack the genetic epidemiology of melanoma.
A night of celebrating health and medical research excellence
A gathering of our nation’s foremost health and medical researchers has taken place this evening, celebrating their excellence, leadership and extraordinary contributions to the sector in our annual Research Excellence Awards dinner. This year, the ceremony included the celebration of our Biennial Awards and the talent making impact in an area of importance to NHMRC.
A celebration of the best health and medical research discoveries
When it comes to health and medical research in Australia, our scientists are pioneering key advances to better understand health conditions and answer fundamental questions. This evening, we had the pleasure of launching the highly anticipated 16th edition of our flagship publication, 10 of the Best.
Speaking of Science: Evaluating 23 years of Dementia and Diabetes research
As of 2025, it is estimated that approximately 433,300 Australians are living with dementia, and approximately 1.3 million Australians were living with diabetes in 2022, which equates to roughly 5.3% of the population.
$15 million investment to support collaborations in health services research
The Australian Government is investing $15 million to improve health outcomes by supporting health service focussed research projects that foster collaboration between health services and research organisations across both metropolitan and regional, rural and remote areas.
$422 million into research for the future of Australia’s healthcare system
Announced today by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP, are 229 high-performing researchers who will share in an investment of over $422 million under the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Investigator Grants scheme.
$8.9 million investment into research partnerships to shape our future
NHMRC is committed to supporting new partnership opportunities for researchers and policy makers to work together to shape our future through an $8.9 million funding investment.
Speaking of Science: Discovering a breakthrough in the fight against cancer with Professor Andrew Wilks
World Cancer Day, observed annually on 4 February, raises awareness about cancer, encourages its prevention, and mobilises action to address the global cancer epidemic.
NHMRC Principal Committees and NHMRC-MRFF Committees announced
NHMRC Principal Committees and NHMRC-MRFF Committees announced
$11 million to build and grow on Australian research in climate change and health
The Australian Government is investing almost $11 million to build Australian research capacity in climate change and related health impacts under the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) 2024 Targeted Call for Research (TCR) into climate-related health impacts and effective interventions to improve health outcomes.
$1.5 million investment to fuel Australian researchers form collaborations with EU partners
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is investing $1.5 million to support Australian researchers to form international collaborations and strengthen the impact of research innovation while tackling global health challenges.
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.
At the intersection of science and art
There’s an area of health and medical research, where scientific discoveries are made and are accompanied by artistic imagery that holds both aesthetic power and major promise for further breakthroughs. This area lies at the intersection of science and art.
Unified responses to youth substance use and mental disorders
Australia, like many other countries, is facing increasing rates of mental disorders and substance use. Globally, substance use, depression and anxiety disorders are among the leading causes of disease burden in young people. Yet they are treated in isolation, stalling discovery, prevention and treatment.
Upskilling gynaecology surgeons for better, less invasive surgical procedures and happier patients
Hysterectomy is the most common major gynaecological procedure Australian women will require in their lifetimes. Yet, up to 2 in 10 patients have developed severe complications following outdated open surgery.
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.
$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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Growing up and getting stronger: improving the long-term health of premature babies
In the early 1970s, Professor Lex Doyle watched as ventilators were introduced in Australian hospitals to help premature babies breathe.
Accelerating change in driver safety screening
While many older Australians value the independence of driving and continue to do so safely throughout their lives, for others, the changes that occur with aging may take them off the road.
Harnessing the power of natural immunity to extend vaccine protection
Associate Professor Linda Wakim is focused on using our body’s own immune defence system to improve vaccines by providing longer lasting protection against viruses.
Community-designed and delivered suicide intervention
Warning: Some people may find parts of this content confronting. If this material raises any distress, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Call 13YARN or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
A self-described grassroots Aboriginal researcher, Professor Maree Toombs is responsible for developing the first Indigenous-led and designed suicide intervention training program in Australia, creating space for connection to traditional lands and culture as part of life-saving support.
Fighting biofilms with a Trojan Horse
Dr Nicky Thomas started his career as a pharmacist. During his PhD, he was investigating how encasing medicine in lipid droplets could improve its efficacy when he was asked: can this lipid technology be used to treat biofilms?
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.
Improving fertility treatment through innovation
Professor Robert Gilchrist is a part of a bench-to-bedside research success story, innovating existing infertility treatments to offer a less invasive and cheaper alternative to in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Mentors inspire an Indigenous research career with impact
Professor Cath Chamberlain, a Palawa woman of the Trawlwoolway clan (Tasmania), received an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship in 2014 to find culturally safe ways to improve cardiometabolic health outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers.
Driving change in aged care pharmacy practices through data
Having practised as a hospital pharmacist by day and a residential aged care pharmacist by night, Dr Lisa Pont naturally began to think about how pharmacists could work differently as part of her research.
Enhancing future pain treatments using venoms
Professor Richard Lewis and his team from the Institute of Molecular Bioscience at University of Queensland made a notable discovery early in their research after a lab assistant observed one could milk cone snails for venom much more quickly if you gave them 'a poke or two'.
Delivering a legacy of culturally safe maternity care
Professor Rhonda Marriott AM, a descendant of Nyikina people of the Kimberley, has devoted five decades to nursing and midwifery in clinical, academic and research roles.
Excellence in ethics and integrity
Reverend Kevin McGovern, recipient of the 2023 NHMRC Ethics and Integrity Award, is one of Australia’s leading ethicists, active in education, research and policy for over 25 years. Throughout his professional life as a parish priest, academic and community leader, Reverend McGovern has brought to innumerable discussions and debates the highest quality and intensity of consideration. His reputation for the courage of his convictions and his openness and respect for others with a diversity of views is unparalleled.
Excellence in consumer engagement: optimising the lives of people with aphasia
The Queensland Aphasia Research Centre (QARC) brings together people with aphasia, their families and friends, clinicians and researchers in the collaborative development of innovative and novel health interventions that transform lives. At NHMRC's Research Excellence Awards in March, QARC received the 2023 NHMRC Consumer Engagement Award, which recognises an individual, a group of individuals or an organisation that has made a long-term contribution to consumer and community involvement in health and medical research.
Communities driving health care research
'It’s about coming with an open mind and heart, and willingness to deeply listen to community… to have any preconceptions challenged and re-learn ways of doing research' - Dr Veronica Matthews , co-lead investigator, STRengthening systems for InDigenous healthcare Equity (STRIDE)
Improving carer wellbeing and empowering Indigenous communities
Associate Professor Dina LoGiudice is a geriatrician and clinical researcher with a special interest in dementia and ageing well. For close to two decades, she has been studying the impacts of ageing and dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Smiles saved with a major improvement in dental health of young Aboriginal children
For much of his professional life in the United Kingdom, Professor Anthony Blinkhorn has focussed on improving the oral health of children in poorer communities through collaborative approaches with government agencies. This work saw him appointed as Chair of Population Oral Health at the University of Sydney in 2007, funded by the NSW Health Centre for Oral Health Strategy.
Mind the gap – Filling in the missing evidence for massive blood transfusion policy
Professor Jamie Cooper AO is Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University, and Senior Specialist in Intensive Care at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.
Healthier hearts in the tropical north
Professor Anna Ralph is a practicing medical specialist and leads the Global and Tropical Health division at Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin.
Unravelling genomes to find an answer
Autoimmune diseases account for one of the largest burdens of chronic disease on our health system. According to Professor Chris Goodnow FAA FRS, there are more than 100 autoimmune diseases that collectively affect 10% of people.
Lessons from the best to improve Indigenous health services: a collaborative learning approach
Professor Sarah Larkins has focused on improving equity in health care services in rural, remote and Indigenous populations since a medical education placement in the Northern Territory highlighted the tremendous inequities in health care access in the region.
Metal complexes for the treatment of age-related diseases of the brain
Dr Jeffrey Liddell from the University of Melbourne is a mid-career neurobiologist, with an interest in neurodegenerative diseases and understanding their underlying causes.
Born too soon – A better life for preterm babies
A major achievement for Associate Professor Shannon Simpson was the recent establishment of PELICAN (Prematurity’s Effects on the Lungs In Children and Adults Network), which she co-chairs with Dr Jenny Hallberg from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.