The Health Research Council (HRC) has a leading role in implementing New Zealand's first unified set of health research priorities.
Together with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE), we are bringing the vision of the New Zealand Health Research Strategy (2017-2027) to life. After wide consultation with New Zealanders, we are now delighted to present the New Zealand Health Research Prioritisation Framework which will drive New Zealand's health research investment decisions from now until 2027.
This framework is key to ensuring that research efforts across the country are aligned and designed to address areas of highest need. It prioritises how and why health research needs to be done in New Zealand in order to drive high-level health and social outcomes, and ensure maximum impact from the government’s investment in health.
Under the new framework, researchers applying for government funding will need to:
- Address why their research is important to New Zealand
- Consider mana tāngata and advancing Māori health
- Meet the criteria of excellence
- Ensure their research has the best chance of delivering impact
- Include measures to improve health equity.
Implementing the NZHRS and the Prioritisation Framework is the joint responsibility of MBIE, the Ministry of Health and the HRC. Further engagement with research funders and providers will take place in the new year. In the meantime, you can find both English and Te Reo Māori versions of the framework here in the HRC's Resource Library.
For background on how we came to this model, and who and what was involved, check out our blog below which began in 2018 and has continued to be updated as the consultation process progressed.