The NHMRC wants to let 1000 flowers bloom in research selection
The med research oversight establishment has consulted on community engagement in research and while the resulting statement is but a draft it appears clear that the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia know what they want from an update on existing policy.
“Many stakeholders … expressed support for making consumer and community involvement a requirement to receive grant funding. While this Statement does not mandate consumer and community involvement, it sets high expectations.”
Just how high is set out in the document, now out for comment, ahead of “stakeholder engagement” in July.
Roles and responsibilities of researchers include;
“Treating consumers and communities as valued members of the research team. This can include acknowledging their contributions in publications, involving them in disseminating research outcomes, and offering remuneration for their contributions”
Among research institution tasks is;
“creating a safe environment by assisting researchers to accommodate the needs of individual consumers and community members
Notable tasks for research funders are;
Mechanisms so researchers, consumers and communities can advise expectations, “shaping future funding processes and policies.”
And then there is one that Principal Investigators used to getting what they want when they want it might find novel;
“funders can appoint consumers and community members to participate in peer review, priority setting and designing funding schemes. This allows consumers and communities to have a say in what research is funded.”
They may have to pretend to go along with it, for reasons other than not annoying the NHMRC.
Over the summer there were community focus groups for the team working on the national medical research strategy (FC May 23). The results were heartening for med res lobbies. On the whole participants were well-disposed to research, but want it be in the service of the community, rather than “political, career or commercial interests.”
