NSW Regional Health Partners and the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA) have welcomed the release of the new Research Translation Strategy from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), highlighting its importance in strengthening the impact of health and medical research across Australia.
AHRA Chair, Carol Hodgson, said the strategy provides a strong national framework to accelerate the translation of research into improved health outcomes, stronger health systems and greater benefit for Australian communities.
“Australia produces world-leading health and medical research, but its true value is realised when that evidence is translated into better care, policy and health outcomes,” Professor Hodgson said.
“We welcome the NHMRC’s commitment to strengthening research translation, particularly the strategy’s recognition of the important role Research Translation Centres play in bridging the gap between discovery and implementation. We also applaud the renewed focus on place-based research and translation, including the importance of further investment to advance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research and rural, regional and remote (RRR) research.”
The NHMRC Research Translation Strategy 2026-2030 outlines key priorities to strengthen research translation across the sector, including:
- Strengthening partnerships between researchers, health services, policymakers, consumers and industry to ensure research addresses real-world health challenges and can be translated into practice.
- Increased capability for impactful research translation and commercialisation, including developing the skills, systems and collaborative teams needed to move discoveries into implementation and scale.
- Equitable, high-quality, outcomes-focused and accessible research for public benefit, ensuring the benefits of research reach all Australians and support high-quality, evidence-based care across diverse communities.
Professor Hodgson said the strategy aligns strongly with the work already being undertaken through Australia’s national network of Research Translation Centres.
“Research Translation Centres are embedded within our health systems and uniquely positioned to bring together researchers, clinicians, consumers and policymakers to ensure research is translated more rapidly into practice,” she said.
“The Centres provide the national infrastructure needed to deliver on the ambitions of this strategy by connecting research with real-world healthcare challenges and supporting the implementation of evidence across the health system.”
The Australian Health Research Alliance facilitates the integration of healthcare, health and medical research, and health professional education to deliver better health outcomes for all Australians. Its
members comprise 12 NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centres and two Emerging Research Translation Centres recognised by the NHMRC.
Professor Hodgson said AHRA looked forward to continuing to work with NHMRC and partners across the health, research and education sectors to support implementation of the strategy.
“By strengthening collaboration across research, healthcare and education we can ensure Australia’s health and medical research delivers meaningful improvements in care and health outcomes for all Australians.”
