Research Australia

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱–𝟮𝟲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 & 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱!

We're thrilled to reveal the outstanding individuals and teams named as finalists in this year's Research Australia Health & Medical Research Awards — now in their 22nd year.

🏆 This year's award categories and finalists will be celebrated at a prestigious evening hosted by Professor Tracey O'Brien, AM, NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW.

📅 Thursday 20 August 2026
📍 Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park, from 6pm

Meet our finalists and secure your seat at Australia's premier health and medical research awards evening.

🎟️ Buy tickets → https://researchaustralia.org/awards/

Congratulations to Arthritis Australia and everyone who advocated so hard for this, it's a historic outcome.

We're proud to have played a small part in this journey. Our joint report with Arthritis Australia made the case for a dedicated MRFF Mission as the highest-impact investment model for AMSK research, and it's incredibly rewarding to see that recommendation become reality.

Nearly 7 million Australians living with these conditions deserve world-class research. This funding will help deliver it.

👉 Read our report: https://researchaustralia.org/reports/other-publications/

HISTORIC NEWS for the arthritis community.

The Australian Government has just announced a $100m million research Mission for arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions - the biggest standalone Federal investment in arthritis research in Australia's history.

If you live with arthritis, if you care for someone who does, if you've ever sat in a waiting room wondering when things would get better - this announcement is for you 💙

Nearly 7 million Australians live with these conditions every single day. This Mission will fund the research breakthroughs that can change that - earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and the real hope of cures.

This didn't happen overnight. It took years of advocacy from people just like you - patients, carers, clinicians, and researchers who refused to let arthritis be overlooked.

👉https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/research-mission-announcement/

Tell us in the comments - what does this announcement mean to you?

PM Anthony Albanese, Mark Butler MP, Rebecca White MP, Research Australia, Australian Rheumatology Association, Australia and New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network, Musculoskeletal Health Monash Universityersity, Senator Helen Polley, Senator Jordon Steele-John, Anne Webster MP, Louise Pratt, Sharyce Helyar, Prof David Champion OAM, Prof Peter Youssef

Vale Professor Richard Scolyer AO.

The health and medical research community lost one of its finest minds over the weekend. A world-renowned melanoma pathologist, 2024 Australian of the Year, and someone who, even at the end, was thinking about others.

In his final open letter, Professor Scolyer wrote: "To my research and clinical colleagues, I implore you to stay inquisitive and brave and keep striving to break new ground."

That wasn't a farewell. That was a charge.

We were proud to celebrate Professor Scolyer's work along with Professor Georgina Long at our Awards in 2018 as recipients of the GSK Award for Research Excellence, and to feature his reflections on research excellence in INSPIRE — long before the rest of the country caught up and named them Australians of the Year.

He dedicated his career to zero deaths from melanoma. He then turned his own diagnosis into a clinical trial that could change outcomes for brain cancer patients for decades to come.

That's what health and medical research looks like at its best.

Our thoughts are with his family, his colleagues at Melanoma Institute Australia, and everyone whose life he touched — as a clinician, a researcher, and a human being.

His words are worth reading in full, open letter via ABC News: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-08/professor-richard-scolyer-open-letter-death-cancer/106741140

Read his contribution in INSPIRE from 2022: https://issuu.com/researchaustralia/docs/ra0056_inspire_sept22_r2_final/31

This week's Federal Budget delivered some important wins for Australia's health and medical research sector — but there's more work to do.

Swipe through for our take on what was announced, what it means, and what still needs to happen. 👉

🔗 Read our full response: https://researchaustralia.org/category/news/

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 🏆

Take a moment this weekend — is there someone in your network whose work deserves recognition?

A colleague driving change, an emerging researcher, a leader making an impact?

Nominations for the Research Australia Awards close tomorrow!

👉 If someone comes to mind, there’s still time to nominate them.
🔗 https://researchaustralia.org/awards/nominations-2/

👩‍🔬 INSPIRE | Issue 38 is out now!

This edition of INSPIRE spotlights the future of Australia’s health and medical research and innovation workforce, examining the people, skills and systems driving discovery, innovation and better health outcomes. As workforce pressures intensify across the sector, we explore both the achievements of this highly skilled community, and the challenges it faces.

We extend our sincere thanks to our valued member contributors for sharing their insights and expertise: Australian Health Research Alliance, ARCS Australia, The Australian National University, Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC), Calvary Health Care, CQUniversity Australia, Deakin University, Digital Health CRC, Emergency Medicine Foundation, GSK, Her Heart, Luminesce Alliance, Monash University, Murdoch Children's Research Institute - MCRI, Shake It Up Australia Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Southern Cross University, The Kids Research Institute Australia, The University of Western Australia, Translational Research Institute, University of Technology Sydney and VCCC Alliance.

We hope this edition of INSPIRE encourages you to consider what is possible when we invest in and support the people who drive research and innovation. Enjoy reading.

📖 Read INSPIRE Issue 38: https://researchaustralia.org/inspire-magazine/

Deadline extended — final chance to nominate for the Health and Medical Research Awards.

We know it’s a busy time of year, and we’ve heard from many of you who were keen to submit but needed a little more time.

Nominations for the 2025-26 Health and Medical Research Awards have now been extended to Monday 4 May 2026.

If you’ve been thinking about nominating a colleague, team or organisation making an outstanding impact, now is the time.

📢 Applications for Research Australia and AbbVie’s 2026 Future Health Leaders Program are now open!

The Future Health Leaders Program brings together a group of female Year 11 students for a full-day session in Canberra this October to:
🔬 Inspire students to continue their STEM education and become leaders in the field
🏥 Demonstrate the pathways and real-world impacts of a career in health and medical research
💭 Connect with exceptional female leaders in research, education, clinical roles, policy and industry, including a formal reception at Parliament House
🌐 Get hands-on experience at CSIRO

We encourage you to share this post with your networks and colleagues. If you have any Future Health Leaders in your own life, tell them to apply to the program today!

📝 Start your application today: https://futurehealthleaders.scholarshipsplatform.com/

Applications are open until 31 May 2026

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵🏆

Clyde Campbell AM received the 2024 Peter Wills Medal, Research Australia’s highest honour, for his leadership in driving Parkinson’s research and global collaboration.

His story is a powerful reminder of how one person’s determination can create lasting impact.

Every Peter Wills Medal recipient started with a nomination.
👉 Who comes to mind?
🏆 Nominations close 24 April
🔗 https://researchaustralia.org/mr-clyde-campbell-am-2024-peter-wills-medal/