NHMRC recognises top research translation centres

In order to encourage leadership at an internationally competitive level, the National Health and Medical Research Council has recognised four Australian health centres as NHMRC Advanced Health Research and Translation Centres. The centres include hospitals, universities and medical research institutes collaborating together to foster research translation.

Research translation, explained NHMRC CEO Professor Warwick Anderson, is “taking the findings of the thousands of experiments, reviews and articles published every day and applying that knowledge to improve patient treatment as quickly as possible”. The NHMRC last year received 12 submissions from institutes that believe their research translation efforts are particularly excellent.

The top four institutes, as assessed by an international panel of experts and announced by Minister for Health Sussan Ley, are as follows:

• Alfred Health and Monash Health and Partners Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre
• Melbourne Health Care Partners Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre
• South Australian Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre
• Sydney Health Partners Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre

“These centres are producing first-class research, and they are succeeding in turning those research outcomes into improved patient care,” Professor Anderson said.

“Being recognised as an NHMRC Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre acknowledges that their work is up there with the very best in the world.”

Three others are acknowledged as moving quickly towards becoming an NHMRC Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre, with Professor Anderson noting that they have “the potential to join the other in the future”:

• Brisbane Diamantina Health Partners Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre
• Sydney Alliance for Health Research and Training Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre
• Western Australian Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre

An additional centre, the Hunter Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre, was recognised for being a particularly strong regional model which demonstrated research-based models of care that reflected the needs of the communities it serves.

For more information on the research translation centre initiative, visit the NHMRC website.