The Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (TAAHC) welcomes the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Research Translation Strategy 2026–2030 and supports its commitment to strengthening Australia's capacity to translate research into improved health outcomes, policy and practice.

For Northern Queensland, research translation is critical to addressing the unique challenges associated with geography, workforce shortages, health inequities and access to care. Delivering meaningful improvements requires research that is driven by local priorities and translated into practical solutions for regional, rural, remote and First Nations communities.

As Northern Queensland's NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centre, TAAHC brings together Hospital and Health Services, James Cook University, Northern Queensland Primary Health Network, the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council and other partners to accelerate the adoption of evidence into healthcare and improve health system performance.

TAAHC strongly supports the Strategy's emphasis on collaboration, workforce capability and research impact. Building implementation capability across clinicians, researchers and health services, while strengthening partnerships with communities, government and industry, is essential to achieving sustainable change. Equally important is demonstrating the measurable impact of research through improvements in patient outcomes, service delivery, workforce capability and health equity.

The successful implementation of the Strategy will require continued investment in Research Translation Centres as national infrastructure. Flexible funding and place-based approaches are needed to ensure regional and remote Australia can fully participate in and benefit from the national research translation agenda.

TAAHC looks forward to working with NHMRC and partners across Northern Queensland and Australia to strengthen research translation and ensure research delivers tangible benefits for the communities that need it most.

Read the NHMRC Research Translation Strategy 2026-2030 here NHMRC website