Reseach and Development Advisory Committee

To ensure its goals align with global health priorities, The George Institute is advised by the Research and Development Advisory Committee (RADAC). Members include representatives of international authorities on non-communicable diseases and injury, authorities on health research and development in low- and middle-income countries, representatives of international health and development agencies, and representatives of the Australasian and Asian Pacific research community.

The Committee meets every two years to review and advise on the research and development programs of The George Institute. The first RADAC meeting, held in September 2001, was very positive and influential in shaping the Institute's priorities and accelerating the establishment of a Policy and Practice Division (now Health Policy Division).

The second RADAC meeting was held in October 2003 at The University of Sydney. In essence, members were unanimous in recognising the value and quality of Institute programs and were impressed by its growing reputation and achievements. The value of the Institute's many partnerships and collaborations was recognised, and members recommended closer integration and alignment between various institute Divisions and Programs.

RADAC endorsed the value of the Institute's Research and Development including its major observational studies and its intervention trials. It advocated a focus on core strengths and cautioned against over commitment. RADAC particularly advocated The George Institute seek WHO Collaborating Centre status, which it is currently doing.

The third RADAC meeting was held in Sydney on the 26th and 27th October 2005. Once again, the Committee commended The George Institute on the strength of its Research and Development, on the quality of its staff and its programs. Members of the committee commented on the excellence achieved in the Institute’s core strengths in large scale epidemiological programs and clinical trials, areas in which it was now a recognised world leader. The Committee commented that the Institute’s objectives and mission in relation to Policy and Practice would benefit by clearer focus and definition. However, The Committee noted with pleasure the Institute’s increasing attention to the systematic translation of R&D. The committee also endorsed the new focus on indigenous health in Australia, which had great synergy with issues of equity, both in Australia and within lower and middle income countries.

Below is a full listing of the members of RADAC members at the time of the third meeting in October 2005:

Professor Judith Whitworth AC
(Chair), Director, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra

Professor Bruce Armstrong AM
Head, School of Public Health, University of Sydney

Professor Robert Black
Chairman, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

Professor Andrew Coats
Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney

Professor Adele Green AC
Deputy Director, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane

Professor Adnan Hyder
Director, Leon Robertson Chair, Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

Professor Ke Yang
Executive Vice-President, Peking University Health Science Centre, Beijing

Professor Stephen Leeder AO
Director, Australian Health Policy Institute, University of Sydney

Professor Terry Nolan
Head, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne

Professor Srinath Reddy
Professor of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Professor Andrew Wilson
Head of the Division of Health Systems Policy and Practice, School of Population Health, University of Queensland

Dr Derek Yach
Professor and Head, Division and Global Health, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven

Professor Robyn Norton
Co-Principal Director, The George Institute for International Health, Sydney

Professor Stephen MacMahon
Co-Principal Director, The George Institute for International Health, Sydney

Professor John Chalmers AC
Research Advisory Unit, The George Institute for International Health

Read about the Institute's Research Advisory Unit.