Chairman's Message

Dr. Chris Roberts      Chairman, Research Australia

Health and medical research offers a means to keep Australians healthy, while supporting a productive workforce and growing a strong national economy.

The 2006/2007 year provided an opportunity for Research Australia to celebrate the achievements of Australian health and medical research. We have celebrated Nobel Prize winning research, the unlocking of the human genome, the development of effective new treatment and vaccines. In addition, there has been an awakening by governments, industry and the community of the vast potential offered by health and medical research to generate a healthier, more productive future.  By 2009 funding for medical research in Australia will have increased five-fold since 1996. It is no accident that this time period mirrors Research Australia's growth as a driving force for medical research advocacy.

Invigorated by our past success, we have a vision based on even more growth. We will achieve this through effective policy advocacy to promote excellent research, commercialisation and industry support, and measures to raise Australia's international competitiveness. We will help generate stronger connections between governments, researchers, industry and philanthropy to maximise effectiveness of health and medical research. And we will continue to support community understanding and appreciation of the benefits of a strong and robust research sector in Australia.

Dr Chris Roberts
Chairman
Research Australia