Executive Director of The Kids Research Institute Australia, Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM, has been appointed to the Council of the National Health and Medical Research Institute (NHMRC) – Australia’s single largest funder of health and medical research.
The NHMRC supports high-quality health and medical research in Australia to help solve our most challenging health priorities.
As well as providing millions of dollars in research funding, building research capability and encouraging the translation of research into better health outcomes, it disseminates evidence-based health guidelines and advice, sets ethical standards for research, and advises the Australian Government.
The NHMRC Council is made up of up to 24 members from around Australia who bring expertise in public health and medical research. Members, who serve a three-year term, represent a broad range of perspectives, including researchers, First Nations people, healthcare providers, business and consumers.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler, who announced the make-up of the NHMRC Council for 2024-2027, said the newly appointed members joined at a time of significant change in the health and medical research sector, with the Government working on a new National Health and Medical Research Strategy which the Council would help to shape.
“The diverse and varied membership of the NHMRC Council strongly represents Australia’s health and medical research sector,” Minister Butler said.
“I look forward to seeing the results of greater integration between research bodies as we work together for better health for all Australians.”
Professor Carapetis, a paediatrician and world-leading expert in infectious diseases, said he would be a strong voice for Western Australia during his term.
“It is a great privilege to be invited to join the NHMRC Council and to help shape research priorities that address the many pressing health issues facing Australians,” Professor Carapetis said.
“It is in the interests of all of us to ensure we have a strong and healthy research sector that remains focused on outcomes that benefit all Australians, including our most vulnerable members.
“This is a particularly important time for the Australian health and medical research sector as the Federal Government reviews and plans the way forward for Australia's research and development landscape.
“I look forward to bringing a Western Australian perspective and a child health lens to the NHMRC's contribution to those important endeavours."
To find out more about the new members of the NHMRC Council and the role they will play, see the Minister’s media release here.