About Us
The State Health Research Advisory Council (SHRAC)
The Western Australian Government has a vision for research and development (R&D) of fostering research, developing new knowledge-based industries and applying new knowledge to existing mainstream industries. Consistent with this vision, and as recommended by the Report of the Health Reform Committee, the State Health Research Advisory Council (SHRAC or "the Council") was established to provide advice to the Department of Health and the Minister for Health on strategic directions and policies for health and medical R&D at a statewide level.
The strategic mandate for SHRAC recognises that health and medical research in the State is multi-faceted. It covers many disciplines, is funded by a range of public and private sources, and is part of national and international research endeavours. Outputs of such research can have an impact on the health, economic, social and environmental sectors and is in turn, influenced by developments in these areas.
Through its activities, SHRAC will play a critical role in making Western Australia a world-class centre for health and medical research.The Terms of Reference and Members of the Council are listed below.
History
In 1997, the State Government established the Medical and Health Research Infrastructure Council (MHRIC) following a review by the Technology and Industry Advisory Council (TIAC) of Western Australia.
The role of the MHRIC was to promote excellence in medical and health research by providing advice to the Western Australian Government on the infrastructure needs of the State’s medical and health researchers. The MHRIC administered the Medical and Health Research Infrastructure Fund (MHRIF) and made recommendations on its distribution to the Minister for Health.
The tenure of the MHRIC expired in June 2002 and subsequently the Department of Health has administered the MHRIF.Terms of Reference
The objectives of the Council are to provide strategic policy advice to the Department of Health and Minister for Health on:
- Initiatives that promote and enhance the full spectrum of health and medical R&D in Western Australia.
- Provision of infrastructure support for high quality health and medical research undertaken in the State through the Medical and Health Research Infrastructure Fund.
- State health research directions, research priorities, and recommendations on funding mechanisms to address these priorities.
- Requirements for a skilled and productive health and medical research workforce in the State, including recruitment, training and development, and retention of staff.
- Effective human research ethics approval processes in the State.
- Promoting the translation of research results into health policy and practice.
- State-wide intellectual property and commercialisation matters.
- Promoting and facilitating collaborative alliances between the State’s health and medical researchers and national and international partners.
- Maximising opportunities for health and medical researchers in WA to attract research funding from State, Commonwealth, international and private funding sources.
- Promoting and maintaining a culture of research as integral to health care delivery.
- Increasing the public’s understanding of the contribution of research to health, economic, social and environmental advancement in the State.
Composition of the Council
Members are appointed by the Director General and include:
- Independent Chair
- Department of Health officer with responsibility for health and medical research
- A member of the Premier's Science Council
- A consumer with knowledge of health and medical research matters including ethics
- Two members from the corporate sector
- Persons with expertise relevant to the functions of the Council, and experience in one or more of the following areas:
- biomedical sciences research
- clinical practice and clinical research
- public health research, health services research, health policy and/or health economics
- university/higher education sector
- research and development/commercialisation
Appointments to the Council will be made for a period of two years. Membership beyond one term shall be at the discretion of the Director General, in consultation with members.
Secretariat
The Department of Health's Research Development Unit will provide secretariat and policy support for the Council.
Reporting
- The Council is accountable to the Director General.
- The Council will provide an annual report to the Minister for Health detailing its activities, allocation of funds, and future directions in the work of the Council.
Modus Operandi
- The Council will provide guidance to the secretariat in the development and implementation of strategies to address its objectives.
- The Council will meet quarterly in its first year, then as often as required to meet its objectives, and may convene to consider specific issues pertaining to medical and health R&D at the request of the Director General or Minister for Health.
- The Council will have the power to co-opt other persons with specific expertise and establish ad-hoc working groups as required.
Members (as at August 2008)
| Dr Lisa Adams | Director of Research & Development Australian Biosecurity CRC for Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| Professor Ian Constable | Managing Director Lions Eye Institute |
| Mr Frank Cooper | PricewaterhouseCoopers |
| Professor Donna Cross | Professor of Child & Adolescent Health Edith Cowan University |
| Mr Clive Deverall | |
| Professor Peter Klinken | Director |
| Professor Linda Kristjanson | Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research & Development) Curtin University |
| Professor Peter Leedman | Director of Research |
| Professor Simon Mallal | Executive Director Centre for Clinical Immunology & Biomedical Statistics Murdoch University |
| Professor Ian Puddey | Dean Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences University of Western Australia |
| Professor Bruce Robinson (Chair) | Professor of Medicine |
| Professor Fiona Stanley | Director Telethon Institute for Child Health Research |
| Professor Peter Thompson | Director of Research Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital |
| Dr Simon Towler | Chief Medical Officer |