AAMRI submission to the NHMRC consultation on publications in track record

AAMRI has responded to the NHMRC’s consultation on proposed changes to the waypublications in researchers’ track records are assessed as part of grant applications. To develop this submission, AAMRI sought feedback from our member medical research institutes.

AAMRI supports the principle underpinning the NHMRC’s proposal which prioritises quality over quantity, but recommends further development of the proposal before implementation. There is a risk of unintended negative consequences if the policy is introduced in its current form.

In this submission, AAMRI highlighted the major concerns raised and provided a summary of key feedback on how to address these issues. AAMRI recommends that:

  1. The NHMRC should refine the approach before implementing reform to avoid significant unintended negative consequences for the broader health and medical research sector.
  2. The NHMRC should refine the approach by:
    • seeking feedback from the broader sector to better mitigate possible unintended negative consequences in the final policy
    • consider feedback provided by the MRI sector in this submission.

Read the full submission below.