The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, announced the appointments today. Last month, Professor Judith Black was appointed as the Committee's new Chair.

The NHMRC's Research Committee is responsible for allocating millions of dollars each year from the Government's Medical Research Endowment Account, to fund health and medical research and training in Australia.

Senator Patterson said well-known Indigenous researchers, Dr Sandra Eades, of the Menzies School of Health Research and Associate Professor Jacinta Elston, of James Cook University, would join the Committee.

"The appointment of both Dr Eades and Associate Professor Elston reflects the NHMRC's commitment to Indigenous health research," the Minister said.

"Their knowledge of Indigenous health issues and their experience in research will be invaluable as the NHMRC implements the outcomes of the Research Agenda Working Group's Road Map for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research."

Dr Clive Deverall has also been appointed for his expertise as a consumer representative for health and medical research reviews. His appointment will strengthen the participation of consumers in health and medical research.

Several former members of the Research Committee and the now merged Strategic Research Development Committee have been reappointed, including Professor Rick Kefford, Professor Nicos Nicola, Professor Don Cameron and Dr Sarah Robertson.

"I am sure all new Committee members will find their positions on RC both challenging and rewarding. It will continue to ensure that research funded by the NHMRC is based on excellence, and that Australia continues to be at the forefront of international health and medical research. I wish the Committee well in their endeavours," Senator Patterson said.

Media inquiries: Sarah Higginbottom, Media Adviser, Senator Patterson's office, 02 6277 7220.

Further information: Jeanne Klener, Media Unit, NHMRC, 02 6289 5796; 0401 995 534.

Research committee 2003-05 triennium

Chairperson:
Professor Judith Black

Professor Black has been a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow at the University of Sydney since 1997; Professor of Pharmacology in the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney; Associate Physician, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; and Head, Cell Biology Group at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. She was a member of the NHMRC's Strategic Research Development Committee in the 2000-2003 triennium

Dr Sandra Eades

Dr Eades has been a member of Project Grants Committee, Chair of the previous Research Committee's Indigenous Health Research Panel (Projects) and member of the OATSIH/SRDC Research Agenda Working Group. Dr Eades is a well-established Indigenous researcher with links throughout Australia. Dr Eades is currently a member of the reference group for "Mapping Australian Science and Innovation System". Based at the Menzies School in Darwin she is a member of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee of the Northern Territory.

Associate Professor Jacinta Elston

Associate Professor Elston is based at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Queensland. Her research interests include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce education and development, health priorities for Indigenous peoples and breast cancer in Indigenous women for which she currently holds grants from the Kathleen Cunningham Foundation. She has been an expert reviewer for NHMRC and a member of the joint OATSIH SRDC Research Agenda Working Group (RAWG).

Professor Richard Kefford

Based at the Westmead Institute for Cancer Research, University of Sydney, Professor Kefford was Chair of Project Grants Committee for the previous Research Committee. His research interests are in the fields of medical genetics, oncology and carcinogenesis. Professor Kefford is a well established researcher who currently holds NHMRC research grants and has been an expert reviewer for NHMRC over a number of years. Professor Kefford is chair of the Australian Cancer Networks.

Professor Nicos Nicola

Professor Nicola, Assistant Director, Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, Victoria, was Chair of Industry Committee for the previous Research Committee. His research interests are in the fields of haematology, medical biotechnology and haematological malignancies. He also has a keen interest in international research collaboration, Intellectual Property and biotechnology. Professor Nicola is a well established researcher who currently holds NHMRC research grants including a prestigious Program Grant, has been an expert reviewer for NHMRC over a number of years, and also receives research funds from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was instrumental in establishing the CRC for Cellular Growth Factors.

Professor Carol Armour

Professor Armour is based at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney. A well established researcher who currently holds NHMRC research grants and has been an expert reviewer for NHMRC over a number of years, she has research interests in asthma and respiratory diseases. Professor Armour has been invited to be plenary speaker at the ASMR (NSW) Scientific Meeting during Medical Research Week in June this year.

Professor Phillip Robinson

Professor Robinson is based at the Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, be appointed. Professor Robinson has a research interest in cell neurochemistry and the medical biochemistry of proteins and peptides. An NHMRC Fellow, Professor Robinson is a well established researcher who currently holds NHMRC research grants and has been an expert reviewer for NHMRC over a number of years.

Dr Bronwyn Kingwell

Based at the Baker Medical Research Institute, Victoria, Dr Kingwell's research interest is in the field of exercise physiology. She is the current Executive Director of the Australian Society of Medical Researchers and has been a member of the previous Council and an invited Council observer to the current Research Committee.

Professor Ronald Trent

Based at the Department of Molecular and Clinical Genetics, University of Sydney, Professor Trent was Chair of Gene Therapy and Related Therapies Advisory Panel (GTRAP) Expert Advisory Committee and a member of the previous Research Committee. His research interests are medical genetics and diagnostic applications. Professor Trent is a well established researcher who currently holds NHMRC research grants and has been an expert reviewer for NHMRC over a number of years.

Professor Bruce Robinson

Based at the School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, University of Western Australia, Professor Robinson chaired the Asbestos and Related Diseases Working Group for the previous Research Committee. His research interests are oncology and carcinogenesis. Professor Robinson is a member (and past president) of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. He is a well established researcher who currently holds NHMRC research grants and has been an expert reviewer for NHMRC over a number of years.

Professor Terry Nolan

Founding Director of the School Population Health, University of Melbourne, Professor Nolan chaired the Clinical Trials Large Scale Studies advisory group for the previous Research Committee. He has a research interest in preventive medicine and public health and is a member of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisaton. Professor Nolan is a well-established researcher and has been an expert reviewer for NHMRC over a number of years.

Professor Tony Jorm

Based at the Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, and Principal Director of the Australian Foundation for Mental Health Research, Professor Jorm has a research interest in psychiatry, clinical and counselling psychology and is chair of the research committee for Beyond Blue; the national depression initiative. Professor Jorm is a well-established researcher holding an NHMRC Fellowship and NHMRC research grants, including a Program grant. He has been an expert reviewer and peer review panel member for NHMRC over a number of years.

Professor David Hill

Director of the Cancer Control Research Institute, The Cancer Council, Victoria, Professor Hill is a well established researcher who currently holds NHMRC research grants and a capacity building grant in population health research. He has been an expert reviewer for NHMRC and involved on peer review panels over a number of years.

Ms Kim Boyer

Senior Research Fellow, Rural Health Policy and Services Planning, Department of Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Ms Boyer was a member of the previous Strategic Research Development Committee.

Associate Professor Gary Anderson

Based at the Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne and Associate Director of the CRC for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases, Professor Anderson has both research experience, currently holding NHMRC research grants, and significant commercialisation experience while Director of a successful multidisciplinary asthma research team in the Swiss pharmaceutical industry.

Mrs Elizabeth Grant

Mrs Grant has served as Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee during the previous triennium and has had a long involvement with service to NHMRC since being a member of Council in 1982-86. She has a significant wealth of experience gained from her business activities and her longstanding service both on Animal Welfare Committees and on Human Research Ethics Committees over a number of years.

Mr Clive Deverall

A longstanding consumer representative from Western Australia, Mr Deverall has served as a consumer representative on various committees including the Department's Cancer Strategies Working Group and on the steering committee of the Cancer Advocacy Network, with a portfolio for palliative care, as well as the consumer representative on the EME review panel for the SRDC. In 2001 Mr Deverall was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the Curtin University of Technology in recognition of his twenty-two year career with the Cancer Foundation, WA.

Dr Rosemary Aldrich

Conjoint Lecturer, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle and Executive Officer, Newcastle Institute of Public Health, Dr Aldrich holds NHMRC research funding and has research interests in the fields of policy analysis, health inequalities, policy framing, media and communications. She was previously a member of HAC and will bring that previous expertise to Research Committee as a member in common.

Professor Tania Sorrell

Director, Centre Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Professor Sorrell is a well established researcher who holds NHMRC research grants and has been an active expert reviewer over a number of years. As a member of the previous Research Committee she was Chair of the Joint RC/SRDC Partnerships Committee and a member of the Clinical Research Advisory Group.

Dr Sarah Robertson

Based at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Dr Robertson, holds an NHMRC Fellowship and NHMRC research grant and a member of the previous Strategic Research Development Committee.

Professor Don Cameron

Based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Research Division, University of Queensland, Professor Cameron was a member of the previous Strategic Research Development Committee and of the Clinical Research Advisory Group for Research Committee and has been active as an expert reviewer for NHMRC over a number of years. Professor Cameron chaired SRDC's Centres of Clinical Research Excellence Committee.