We have published a wealth of information on Australian health and medical research, and on specific issues relating to Australian health and health care. These include statements, strategies, guidelines and other reports – all of which are publicly available.
Read our latest publications
NHMRC grants with international collaborators 2012 to 2021
The purpose of this report is to provide a descriptive analysis of the scope and reach of the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) international collaborations across all grant schemes over the past 10 years.
International Engagement Strategy 2023–2026 – strategic opportunities
Developed through consultation with other Australian Government agencies, our Strategic Opportunities report outlines more specific and targeted initiatives that National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) could undertake to achieve the actions and goals set out in the International Engagement Strategy 2023–2026.
Consumer and community representatives participation in peer review panels
This information booklet provides guidance on how the Targeted Calls for Research (TCR) peer review process works, what is involved, and the role and responsibilities of consumer and community representatives (CCRs) on peer review panels.
Policy on Consumer and Community Participation in Peer Review
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) engages with health consumer and community groups to identify community representatives, consumers and/or carers to participate in our committees, peer review processes, guideline development and public consultation.
10 of the Best NHMRC research projects – Thirteenth Edition
10 of the Best NHMRC research projects – Thirteenth Edition describes 10 Australian health and medical research projects chosen from among the thousands of NHMRC-funded medical research projects underway in Australia today.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee Report to Parliament – 1 March to 31 August 2022
The 40th biannual report
Targeted Call for Research into Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks – Scientific Progress reports
The TCR into DSCATT aimed to support research that would improve our understanding of the nature, prevalence and causes of DSCATT and its physical, social and psychological impacts. The evidence obtained from thus research will guide the development of effective tools and procedures for diagnosis, treatment and symptom management.
Annual Report 2021-22
This report contains information on NHMRC administration and performance, and a record of our activities for the reporting period 2021 - 2022.
Consultation report: Options to reach gender equity in the Investigator Grant scheme
This consultation report provides the outcomes of NHMRC’s national consultation on options to reach gender equity in the Investigator Grant scheme.
NHMRC Open Access Policy 2022
The NHMRC Open Access Policy is underpinned by the principle that publicly-funded research should be shared openly and at the earliest possible opportunity. NHMRC supports the sharing of outputs from NHMRC-funded research including publications and data. The aims of the NHMRC Open Access Policy are to mandate the open access sharing and use of publications arising from NHMRC-funded research. The Policy also encourages open access to research data and requires that patents resulting from NHMRC funding be made findable through listing in SourceIP.
A PDF version of the Policy is available under 'Downloads'
NHMRC Corporate Plan 2022–23
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Corporate Plan 2022–23 presents our national strategy for health and medical research aligned with our three strategic purposes of investment, translation and integrity. The plan also includes our strategic priorities and health priorities and outlines our key activities planned for 2022–23 and over the next four years. In addition, the plan describes the operating context in which we work and our performance criteria and targets for the next four years
Reconciliation Action Plan 2022-24
Our commitment to improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples covers all aspects of NHMRC’s responsibilities, as well as contributing to the Australian Government’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-2031.
Discussion paper: Options to reach gender equity in the Investigator Grant scheme
This Discussion Paper: Options to reach gender equity in the Investigator Grant scheme (see Download section below) presents four options to offset the systemic disadvantage faced by women in health and medical research, as reflected in the attrition of female applicants with seniority in the Investigator Grant scheme.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee Report to Parliament – 1 September 2021 to 28 February 2022
The 39th biannual report
Gain-of-Function Research Review: Report
At the request of the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, the National Health and Medical Research Council has undertaken a review of gain-of-function research in Australia.
The Executive Summary from the review report, and a copy of the full report, is available below.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee Report to Parliament - 1 March to 31 August 2021
The 38th biannual report
Investigating clinician researcher career pathways
This report was initiated by NHMRC’s Health Translation Advisory Committee. It contains the results of three connected research projects conducted between 2018 and 2019 which NHMRC commissioned to better understand the career pathways of clinician researchers.
Report on qualitative research about career pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clinician researchers
Clinician researchers are health professionals engaged in both patient care and research.
As such, they are uniquely placed to provide insights into their clinical practice and research, implementing evidence-based, best practice for their patients, and addressing clinically relevant problems through research.
The Health Translation Advisory Committee (HTAC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have previously explored concerns related to clinician researcher career pathways through a research project undertaken by ORIMA Research in 20191; however only 1% of research respondents identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. As such, the NHMRC’s Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus (PCIC) and HTAC identified the need to undertake a project specifically with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clinician researchers, to better understand their specific career experiences, enablers and barriers, as well as supports required to attract and retain this audience as clinician researchers.
Survey of clinician researchers: Survey findings Report
Clinicians who combine clinical practice with research are an increasingly important,
but poorly understood, strategic resource for the translation of research into practice. There is limited information available about the career pathways of clinician researchers, and the reasons why some clinicians leave or choose not to enter research.
Telephone Interviews Summary Report
The Investigating Clinician Researcher Career Pathways Project (the project) was initiated as a priority project by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Health Translation Advisory Committee (HTAC) during its 2015–2018 triennium. HTAC is a principal committee of NHMRC and provides advice to the CEO and Council of NHMRC on opportunities to improve health outcomes in areas including clinical care, public, population and environmental health and prevention of illness through effective translation of research into health care and clinical practice. The results of the project will assist HTAC in making recommendations to the CEO on the training and career pathways for clinician researchers.
NHMRC APS Census Results 2021
NHMRC APS Census Results 2021
Annual Report 2020-21
This report contains information on NHMRC administration and performance, and a record of our activities for the reporting period 2020 - 2021.
NHMRC Corporate Plan 2021–22
The NHMRC Corporate Plan 2021–22 presents our national strategy for health and medical research aligned with our three strategic purposes of investment, translation and integrity. The plan includes updated strategic priorities and health priorities and outlines our planned key activities in 2021–22 and over the next four years. The plan also describes the operating context in which we work and our performance criteria and targets for the next four years.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee Report to Parliament - 1 September 2020 to 28 February 2021
The 37th biannual report
Evidence-practice policy gap (EPPG) - Indigenous
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health evidence-practice policy gap reports
10 of the Best NHMRC research projects – Twelfth Edition
10 of the Best NHMRC research projects – twelfth edition describes 10 Australian health and medical research projects chosen from among the thousands of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)-funded medical research projects underway in Australia today.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee Report to Parliament - 1 March 2020 to 31 August 2020
The 36th biannual report
Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol
This page provides access to the full guidelines and the underlying evidence base.
A plain English summary and resources to help you apply the guidelines in daily life are available on alcohol health advice.
The guidelines provide health professionals, policy makers and the Australian community with evidence-based advice on the health effects of drinking alcohol. The guidelines aim to help individuals make informed decisions about drinking alcohol. The guidelines are also intended to form the evidence base for policy making and educational materials.
Annual Report 2019-20
This report contains information on NHMRC administration and performance, and a record of our activities for the reporting period 2019 - 2020.
NHMRC Corporate Plan 2020-21
The NHMRC Corporate Plan 2020-21 covers the four years to 2023-24. In line with legislated requirements, it identifies major health issues likely to arise, how NHMRC will deal with these issues (including the continuing impact of COVID-19) and our strategy for health and medical research. It also details the key activities NHMRC will undertake to achieve our purposes, and the operating context in which we work, comprising: environment, capability, risk oversight and management, and organisations NHMRC cooperates with to achieve our purposes.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee Report to Parliament - 1 September 2019 to 29 February 2020
The 35th biannual report
Measuring up 2018
Measuring up 2018 is a five-year bibliometric analysis of the scientific publication output of Australian health and medical research, focusing on research funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Report: NHMRC's Research Quality Workshop
This Report from NHMRC’s Research Quality Workshop on 30 July 2019 outlines key messages, activities and initiatives within the research sector, and potential opportunities for collaboration to ensure the conduct of high quality research. Outcomes from the workshop will inform NHMRC’s ongoing activities to ensure the highest quality in NHMRC-funded research.
Policy on Recognition of Supporting Partners 2019
NHMRC’s Policy on Recognition acknowledges the role of Partners who support NHMRC in health and medical research. It sets out a strategy to recognise current and potential NHMRC Partners and how Partners recognise NHMRC.
Annual Report 2018-19
This report contains information on NHMRC administration and performance, and a record of our activities for the reporting period 2018 - 2019.
Publication Data
Reference number: NH181
ISSN Print: 2209-7090
ISSN Online: 2209-7104
Payment of participants in research: information for researchers, HRECs and other ethics review bodies
NHMRC has developed advice that is designed to provide information for researchers and reviewers of research to assist in decision-making about when payment of participants in research is ethically acceptable.
Information paper: The implementation of the 3Rs in Australia
The fundamental framework for the ethical, humane and responsible care and use of animals for scientific purposes in Australia includes the application of the 3Rs – Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal use. This Information Paper provides information about the implementation of the 3Rs in Australia. For further information, please refer to the webpage about the 3Rs.
NHMRC Corporate Plan 2019-20
The NHMRC Corporate Plan 2019-20 covers the period 2019-20 to 2022-23. It identifies the major health issues for this period, how we will deal with these issues and a strategy for medical research and public health research, in line with the requirements of the NHMRC Act. It also describes NHMRC’s purposes, planned activities and performance measures for the period and addresses our capability, environment and risk oversight and management.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee Report to Parliament - 1 March to 31 August 2019
The 34th biannual report
ME/CFS Advisory Committee Report to NHMRC Chief Executive Officer
This report advises the NHMRC Chief Executive Officer on the current needs for research and clinical guidance for ME/CFS in Australia.
Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019)
The guidelines are produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council in collaboration with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, and are published on the MAGICapp platform.
NHMRC's Research Quality Strategy
Ensuring the highest quality and value of NHMRC-funded research is a priority for NHMRC. NHMRC’s Research Quality Strategy outlines the key areas NHMRC will focus on to provide guidance and support for good research practices throughout the research cycle.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee Report to Parliament - 1 March 2018 to 31 August 2018
The 32nd biannual report.
Competencies for Australian Academic Clinical Trialists
In conjunction with the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance, we developed the clinical trials competencies to be used in the development of detailed curricula and training courses by universities, Colleges and other registered training organisations*.
NHMRC Good Practice Process for Site Assessment and Authorisation of Clinical Trials
To improve clinical trial start-up times, we developed the Good Practice Process for Site Assessment and Authorisation Phases of Clinical Trial Research Governance (the Good Practice Process).
Annual Report 2017-2018
This annual report contains information on NHMRC administration and performance, and a record of our activities for the reporting period 2017–18.
10 of the Best NHMRC research projects 2016
10 of the Best NHMRC Research Projects 2016 describes 10 Australian health and medical research projects chosen from among the thousands of NHMRC-funded medical research projects underway in Australia today.
NHMRC Corporate Plan 2018–2019
The NHMRC Corporate Plan 2018–2019 covers the period 2018–19 to 2021–22. It identifies the major health issues for this period, how we will deal with these issues and a strategy for medical research and public health research, in line with the requirements of the NHMRC Act. It also describes NHMRC’s purposes, planned activities and performance measures for the period and addresses our capability, environment and risk oversight and management.