NSW announces Health Research and Innovation Strategy

The NSW Government released the NSW Health Research and Innovation Strategy 2025 to 2030 last week, which it says is a five-‍year blueprint to improve health outcomes for the people of NSW and cement the state as the nation’s innovation and investment powerhouse for health and medical research and innovation.

The government says the strategy will target research and innovation efforts across NSW Health to where it is needed the most, to move innovation from benchtop to bedside for best health outcomes for NSW patients. It aims to drive collaboration across NSW Government, health, academia and industry, pulling the various research and innovation strands into one cohesive, streamlined direction for maximum gain for NSW.

The strategy will build on the major investments the NSW Government has made over the past two years to support medical research, commercialisation and infrastructure in the state, including:

• establishment of Australia’s first Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility ($58.2 million);
• investing $96 million into a RNA research manufacturing facility under construction at Macquarie University;
• a targeted call for research in Aboriginal cardiovascular health ($5 million);
• replacing Animals in Medical Research program ($4.5 million).
   

According to a report by KPMG Economic Impact of Medical Research in Australia, every $1 invested in Australian medical research returns $3.90 in economic benefit.

NSW’s globally recognised research and innovation network is home to 55% of Australia’s life science companies and 44% of start‍-‍ups. The state also leads the nation with 31% of national trial activity.

The state government will also establish a NSW Health Research and Innovation Council, which will comprise key stakeholders across the research and innovation ecosystem to work in partnership with government.

The strategy will:

• drive clinical trials across NSW to discover life-saving treatments for rare diseases and cancers;
• leverage NSW’s physical and data assets, including new infrastructure such as the RNA Pilot Facility and Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility, as well as the NSW Biobank;
• harness the potential of AI to deliver better health care, building on projects such as Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Emergency Department pioneering new AI tools to streamline analysis of X‍-‍rays and CT scans to boost clinician decision making;
• prioritise and focus on women’s health in medical research by supporting women to participate in the many areas of research they are under-represented;
• build partnerships to help close the gap in the health outcomes of Aboriginal people;
• boost health outcomes in rural and regional communities.
   

More than 400 stakeholders across the research and innovation sector were consulted to inform the development of the strategy and ensure it is best placed to shape the future of NSW’s health and medical research and innovation.

“This strategy charts a path for NSW to become Australia’s leading state for medical research and innovation,” said Minister for Health Ryan Park. “Building on our already strong health and medical research system, this strategy will foster collaboration which will better bring together our healthcare and biomedical research sector.”

The strategy is available at: NSW Health Research and Innovation Strategy 2025-2030.

Image credit: iStock.com/Jacob Wackerhausen