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
Embryo Research Licensing Committee report to Parliament - 1 September 2017 to 28 February 2018
The 31st biannual report.
Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018
The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018 (the 2018 Code) establishes a framework for responsible research conduct that provides a foundation for high-quality research, credibility and community trust in the research endeavour.
Road Map 3 - Report of Community Consultations
Road Map 3: A strategic framework for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health through research. Report of Community Consultations.
Linked to:
Road Map 3 – A strategic framework
Road Map 3: A strategic framework for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health through research.
Linked to:
Embryo research licensing: key terms
A useful guide explaining key terms used in embryo research. Provides definitions of the main terms used, including biological definitions and therapy explanations.
Annual Report 2016-2017
This report contains information on our organisation, administration and performance for the reporting period 2016–17. It is a record of our activities during 2016–17 and the performance and financial information presented in the 2016–17 Portfolio (Agency) Budget Statement, 2016–17 Portfolio Additional Estimates Statement and the Corporate Plan 2016–2017.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee information kit
This Kit is divided into five chapters, covering different aspects of the NHMRC Embryo Research Licensing Committee’s activities:
Managing individual exposure to lead in Australia
Managing individual exposure to lead in Australia – A guide for health practitioners (The Guide) provides health practitioners with general information to assist in the management of individuals with elevated blood lead levels.
Best practice methodology in the use of animals for scientific purposes
This document provides advice on the conduct of animal-based studies to ensure that the studies are rigorous, transparent and reproducible and lead to useful outcomes. It is in line with the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, 8th edition (2013), which is adopted into legislation across Australia.
NHMRC Strategic Plan for 2007-2009
This strategic plan outlines the major objectives of the NHMRC over the next three years, the major health issues that may emerge in the coming years and the steps needed to address them.
2017 Public Statement – Water fluoridation and human health
Based on a comprehensive review of the evidence and the translation of this evidence into the Information Paper Water fluoridation: dental and other human health outcomes, this also takes into consideration what the situation is here in Australia compared to elsewhere.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee report to Parliament - 1 March 2017 to 31 August 2017
The 30th biannual report.
NHMRC Corporate Plan 2017–2018
The NHMRC Corporate Plan 2017–2018 covers the period 2017–18 to 2020–21. It includes NHMRC’s strategic directions, which prior to 2015–16 were set out in the strategic plan.
Water fluoridation: dental and other human health outcomes
This Information Paper explores the potential link between water fluoridation and human health based. The 2016 NHMRC Evidence Evaluation shows that water fluoridation helps to reduce tooth decay in children and adults. There is no reliable evidence that water fluoridation at current Australian levels causes health problems.
Promoting social and emotional development and wellbeing of infants in pregnancy and the first year of life
This report Promoting social and emotional development and wellbeing of infants in pregnancy and the first year of life: a NHMRC report on the evidence summarises findings of the evaluation of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions delivered in pregnancy or the first postpartum year.
Fraud control framework 2017-2019
NHMRC refuses to tolerate fraud and has a commitment to high ethical, moral and legal standards. A key focus of this framework is to raise awareness of fraud among NHMRC staff and other people who deal with NHMRC, to assist in the prevention, detection and reporting of suspected fraud.
Ethical guidelines on the use of assisted reproductive technology
The Ethical guidelines on the use of assisted reproductive technology in clinical practice and research (ART guidelines) are used by professional organisations to set standards for the practice of ART.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee report to Parliament - 1 September 2016 to 31 February 2017
The 29th biannual report.
Safety monitoring and reporting in clinical trials involving therapeutic goods
This document clarifies the responsibilities of those involved in clinical trials to monitor and report adverse events and other safety issues. Supplementary guidance on other clinical trial safety monitoring and reporting issues is also available*.
Principles and guidelines for the care and use of non-human primates for scientific purposes
This document provides principles and best practice guidance for the care and use of non-human primates for scientific purposes. The document is intended for use by those involved in the care and use of non-human primates for scientific purposes, including institutional animal ethics committees, investigators and animal carers.
Statement on consumer and community involvement in health and medical research
The Statement on consumer and community involvement in health and medical research (The Statement), co-authored by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF), aims to guide research institutions, researchers, consumers and community members in the active involvement of consumers and community members in all aspects of health and medical research.
NHMRC Corporate Plan 2016–2017
The NHMRC Corporate Plan 2016–2017 covers the period 2016–17 to 2019–20. It includes NHMRC’s strategic directions, which prior to 2015–16 were set out in the strategic plan.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee report to Parliament - 1 March 2016 to 31 August 2016
The 28th biannual report.
NHMRC Complaints policy
The NHMRC Complaints Policy sets out NHMRC’s formal procedures for responding to complaints about its activities, policies or decision-making.
10 of the Best NHMRC research projects 2015
10 of the Best NHMRC research projects 2015 describes 10 Australian health and medical research projects chosen from among the thousands of NHMRC-funded medical research projects underway in Australia today.
Ethical guidelines for organ transplantation from deceased donors
The Ethical guidelines for organ transplantation from deceased donors were developed by NHMRC following a joint request from the Organ and Tissue Authority and the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand.
NHMRC Research funding facts book 2014
This book contains key statistics on the outcomes of the 2014 application rounds for NHMRC’s research funding, as well as historical information relating to research funding and activity over the last ten years.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee report to Parliament - 1 September 2015 to 29 February 2016
The 27th biannual report.
Principles for accessing and using publicly funded data for health research
A guide to the legislative and governance structure to refer to when accessing datasets from publicly funded research. This page also contains a single page summary to the guide and a consumer guide.
Embryo Research Licensing Committee report to Parliament - 1 March 2015 to 31 August 2015
The 26th biannual report.
Guidelines approved under Section 95A of the Privacy Act 1988
The Guidelines approved under Section 95A of the Privacy Act 1988 are issued for the purposes of Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and sections 16B(2) and 16B(3) of the Privacy Act.
Guidelines under Section 95 of the Privacy Act 1988
These guidelines provide a framework in which medical research involving personal information obtained by Commonwealth agencies should be conducted, to ensure the information is protected.
Clinical ethics capacity building resource manual
This manual demonstrates the need for clinical ethics capacity in Australian health care organisations and provides guidance for institutions wishing to establish or strengthen an existing clinical ethics service.
10 of the Best NHMRC research projects 2014
10 of the Best research projects 2014 describes 10 Australian health and medical research projects chosen from among the thousands of NHMRC-funded medical research projects underway in Australia today.
Naltrexone implant treatment for opioid dependence
In 2011 NHMRC reviewed studies relating to the effectiveness of naltrexone implants for the treatment of opioid dependence, determining the implants remain an experimental product, only to be used in a research setting. NHMRC believes further research is required before a statement on safety can be confidently made.
Evidence on the effects of lead on human health
This Statement and Information Paper were designed to inform the community and policy makers of the effects of lead on the human body. Evidence has shown an association with reduced academic achievement, behavioural problems, increased blood pressure and delayed sexual maturation.
Expert review: Effects of lead on human health: expert review
This expert review is the summary of key issues from the report Evidence on the Effects of Lead on Human Health.
Cases for Action
NHMRC’s Research Translation Faculty was established to suggest action that could be taken in the 2012-15 triennium to address significant evidence practice and policy gaps for Major Health Issues identified in its 2013-15 Strategic Plan. Twelve Cases for Action were submitted to NHMRC in 2015.
Administrative report: Evidence on the effects of lead on human health
This Administrative report: Information Paper: Evidence on the effects of lead on human health refers to the development of the Information paper and Statement as well as background documents relating to the assessment of the evidence on the health effects of lead.
Public consultation summary of key issues: effects of lead on human health
This document: Public consultation — summary of key issues: Draft information paper: Evidence on the effects of lead on human health outlines the key issues raised via public consultation and summaries of the Lead Working Committee’s responses.
NHMRC Strategic direction 2015-16 to 2018-19
This document provides a brief snapshot of the key messages from the NHMRC Corporate Plan 2015-2016.
Principles for the translation of omics-based tests
The Principles for the translation of ‘omics’- based tests from discovery to health care are designed to assist researchers and clinicians in translating omics-based discoveries into properly validated tests that are clinically useful*.
Statement on Open Researcher and Contributor ID
The NHMRC and ARC Statement on Open Researcher and Contributor ID explains NHMRC's position on the ORCID researcher identifier.
Administrative report: Advice on wind farms and human health
NHMRC has been investigating concerns about the impact of wind farms on human health since 2009, following concerns raised by the public.
This administrative report refers to the development of a related information paper, NHMRC Statement and evidence-based background documents.
Expert review of the evidence on wind farms and human health
Following an earlier review of evidence linking wind farms to human health, NHMRC sought to update and review available information. The documents here focus on the methods used to conduct a systematic literature review focusing on noise, shadow flicker and electromagnetic radiation.
NHMRC Information paper: Evidence on wind farms and human health
Some members of the community have raised concerns about the impact on their health while living near a wind farm.
This information paper summarises the available evidence on the subject along with key issues raised by the public and the expert community.
NHMRC Statement: Evidence on wind farms and human health
Examining whether wind farm emissions may affect human health is complex, due to the nature of the emissions and individual perceptions are highly variable. After careful consideration and deliberation of the body of evidence, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) concludes there is currently no consistent evidence that wind farms cause adverse health effects in humans.
Talking with your patients about complementary medicine – a resource for clinicians
Many Australians report they use complementary medicine, but don't tell their clinicians which may impede treatment.
This resource aims to promote discussions between clinicians and patients about complementary medicine and better equip patients to make informed decisions about their health care.
Measuring up 2013
This document is a five-year analysis of the scientific publication output and citation impact of research funded by NHMRC and of Australian health and medical research generally.
The aim of the report is to measure the impact of NHMRC funding schemes in terms of published journal output.
NHMRC Strategic Plan for 2010-2012
This Strategic Plan outlines five objectives of NHMRC over a three year period. These include raising the standard of public health in Australia and developing consistent standards, fostering relevant research and training and more.
The Plan also outlines 10 major health issues NHMRC focused on over the same three year period.