Universities are the backbone of Australia’s health and medical research system, producing the majority of health-related research, training the next generation of health professionals, and partnering extensively with hospitals, medical research institutes, industry, and government.

The Strategy’s ambition to build a coordinated, sustainable and impactful research system aligns closely with the mission of universities. Greater recognition of universities’ role, stronger workforce support, and attention to the full cost of research would help ensure this ambition is realised.

Recommendation

That the Department, in finalising the National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026–2036:

1. Ensure sustainable funding
2. Consider the role of a national research workforce strategy
3. Support strengthened infrastructure
4. Leverage discovery research as a foundation for translation, and
5. Placed equity with universities at the centre.