The HRC has four statutory committees, established under the Health Research Council Act 1990, with specific functions.
The Pacific Health Research Committee, although not a statutory committee of the HRC, was established by the Council to provide more detailed focus on Pacific health research issues.
The HRC has established and administers three further committees that carry out regulatory functions: Data Monitoring Core Committee, Gene Technology Advisory Committee and the Standing Committee on Therapeutic Trials.
-
The Biomedical Research Committee advises on biomedical research funding, career development for biomedical researchers, and biomedical research priorities. The Committee assesses and ranks research grant applications and recommends to the Council which applications should be supported, and monitors and reports on grantees' performance.
Peer review is undertaken each year by appointing discipline-based Science Assessing Committees (SAC) with specific expertise for the applications submitted for a funding round opportunity (refer to our Peer Review Manual). Each SAC is chaired by a Biomedical Research Committee member with other members recruited from qualified New Zealand and Australian researchers - a list of this year's SAC members (as at July 2011) is available here.
The functions of the Biomedical Research Committee is governed by Sections 13, 14, 17, 18 and 19 of the Health Research Council Act 1990, and the criteria for membership is set out in Section 20.
Professor Anthony Reeve - Chair
Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin
Professor Philip Crosier
Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, The University of Auckland
Professor Wayne Cutfield
Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland
Professor Allan Herbison
Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin
Professor Graham Le Gros (co-opted)
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington
Associate Professor Mark McKeage
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmcology, The University of Auckland
Professor Andrew Mercer
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin
Associate Professor Bruce Smaill
Department of Physiology, The University of AucklandCommittee Secretary: Dr Katie Evans
-
Responsibilities of the Ethics Committee:
The HRC’s Ethics Committee provides advice on health research ethical issues and the ethical review process. The Committee accredits Health and Disability Ethics Committees and Institutional Ethics Committees.Section 25 of the Health Research Council Act 1990 outlines the functions of the Ethics Committee, and the criteria for membership is set out in Section 26.
Dr Tim Dare - Chair
Ethicist/Philosopher/Lawyer
Dr Lynley Anderson
Ethicist
Professor Richard Beasley
Physician/Member of the HRC Council
Associate Professor Huia Tomlins-Jahnke (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngai Tahu, Ngati Toa Rangatira, Ngati Hine ki te Tai Tokerau)
Associate Professor Māori Education, Massey University
Professor Graham Mellsop
Science
Dr Barry Smith (Te Rarawa, Ngati Kahu)
Community Member (Rotorua)
Associate Professor Susan Stott
Science/Member of the HRC CouncilCommittee Secretary: Lana Lon
The Ethics Committee holds four meetings annually, usually in February, May, August and October.
-
The Māori Health Committee is a statutory committee of the HRC responsible for distributing funds allocated by the Council for Māori health research and career development. The Māori Health Committee held its first meeting on 14 February 1991, which was chaired by the late Professor Eru Pomare (Te Atiawa, Ngati Toa, Ngati Kahungunu, Rongomai-wahine, Rongo Whakaata), the founding Chair of the MHC.
Peer review is undertaken each year by appointing a Māori health assessing committee with specific expertise for the applications submitted for a funding round opportunity (refer to our Peer Review Manual). The Māori health assessing committee is chaired by a Māori Health Committee member with other members recruited from qualified Māori researchers - a list of this year's Science Assessing Committee members (as at July 2011) is available here.
The Terms of Reference for the Māori Health Committee are set out in Sections 17 to 22 of the Health Research Council Act 1990, and the criteria for membership is set out in Section 23.
Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith - Chair (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou)
Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, the University of Waikato
Dr Amohia Boulton (Ngai te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pukenga)
Senior Researcher, Whakauae Research for Māori Health and Development
Dr Matire Harwood (Ngā Puhi)
Clinical Director, Tamaki Healthcare (PHO)
Dr Kahu McClintock (Tainui, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Porou)
Research Manager, Te Rau Matatini
Associate Professor Helen Moewaka-Barnes (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Hine)
Associate Director, SHORE; and Director, Whariki Research Group, Massey University, Albany
Ms Suzanne Pitama (Ngāti Kahungunu)
Senior Lecturer, Māori Indigenous Health Institute, University of Otago, Christchurch
Dr Paul Reynolds (Whanganui, Ngā Puhi and Ngāti Tuwharetoa)
Co-Director, Te Atawhai o te Ao: Independent Māori Institute for Environment and Health, WhanganuiCommittee Secretary: Rachel Brown
-
The Public Health Research Committee advises on public health research funding, career development for public health researchers and public health related priorities. The Committee assesses and ranks grant applications and recommends to the Council on which applications should be supported, and monitors and reports on grantees' performance.
Peer review is undertaken each year by appointing discipline-based science assessing committees with specific expertise for the applications submitted for a funding round opportunity (refer to our Peer Review Manual). Each Science Assessing Committee (SAC) is chaired by a Public Health Research Committee member with other members recruited from qualified New Zealand and Australian researchers - a list of this year's SAC members (as at July 2011) is available here.
The functions of the Public Health Research Committee is governed by Sections 16 to 19 of the Health Research Council Act 1990, and the criteria for membership is set out in Section 20.
Professor Ann Richardson - Chair
Department of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch
Professor Tony Blakely
Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington
Associate Professor Stephen Buetow (co-opted member)
Department of General Practice, The University of Auckland
Associate Professor Jackie Cumming
Health Services Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington
Professor Jeroen Douwes
Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington
Dr Terri Green
Department of Management, University of Canterbury, Christchurch
Professor Kathryn McPherson
Division of Rehabilitation and Occupation Studies, AUT University
Professor Grant Schofield
Faculty of Health and Environmental Studies, AUT University
Associate Professor Karen Witten
Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Massey University, AucklandCommittee Secretary: Dr Deming Gong
-
The Pacific Health Research Committee provides the HRC with advice about Pacific health research priorities and Pacific health research workforce development. There is also a Pacific Assessing Committee that assesses the Pacific Health Career Development Awards and recommends to the Council which applications should be supported.
Professor Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop - Chair
Professor, Pacific Studies Institute of Public Policy, AUT University
Mr Russell Blakelock
Consultant in Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric Urology and Clinical Senior Lecturer, Department of Surgery, University of Otago, Christchurch
Dr Ieti Lima
Senior Health Promotion Strategist, Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand
Dr Etuate Saafi
Senior Research Fellow, Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Māori and Pacific, Massey University, Albany
Dr Faafetai Sopoaga
Associate Dean (Pacific), Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin
Dr Mele Ma'ata Taumoepeau
Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Otago, DunedinCommittee Secretary: Dr Nuhisifa Seve-Williams
-
The Data Monitoring Core Committee (DMCC) was established to provide objective, independent monitoring of clinical trials in New Zealand. The primary involvement of the DMCC is in large scale clinical trials initiated by New Zealand researchers in the setting of life-threatening diseases, or diseases which cause irreversible morbidity.
The DMCC is administered by the HRC Ethics Committee. Submission of trials to be monitored by the DMCC should be made to the HRC.
Dr Katrina Sharples - Chair
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin
Dr Tim Dare
Department of Philosophy, The University of Auckland
Dr Mark Jeffery
Department of Oncology, Christchurch Hospital
Professor Ngaire Kerse
School of Population Health, The University of Auckland
Dr John McCall
Department of Surgery, The University of Auckland
Dr Andrew Moore
Department of Philosophy, University of Otago, Dunedin
Dr Ralph Stewart
Cardiology Department, Green Lane Hospital, AucklandCommittee Secretary: Lana Lon
-
Clinical trials that involve the use of a new medicine require approval under Section 30 of the Medicines Act 1981. Scientific assessment of clinical trials that involve the introduction of nucleic acids, genetically manipulated micro-organisms, or viruses or cells into human subjects is undertaken by the HRC's Gene Technology Advisory Committee (GTAC), rather than the HRC's Standing Committee on Therapeutic Trials (SCOTT).
Professor Ian Morison - Chair
University of Otago, Dunedin
Professor Stephen Chambers
Christchurch School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Otago
Professor Grant Gillett
University of Otago, Dunedin
Emeritus Professor Colin Mantell
The University of Auckland
Dr Robin Olds
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Professor Stephen Robertson
University of Otago, Dunedin
Associate Professor Richard Robson
Christchurch Clinical Studies Trust, Christchurch
Dr Bruce Scoggins
Auckland
Dr Deborah Young
The University of Auckland
Ex officio:Dr Ian Alexander
Chair of the CTAC (NHMRC), The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW, Australia
Dr David Abbott
NHRMC, AustraliaHRC Contact: Megan Willmott
-
Clinical trials that involve use of a new medicine require approval under Section 30 of the Medicines Act 1981. The HRC's Standing Committee on Therapeutic Trials (SCOTT) undertakes scientific assessment of applications to conduct trials and makes recommendations to the Director-General of Health on whether or not trials should be approved.
Associate Professor Richard Robson - Chair
Christchurch Clinical Studies Trust
Professor Carl Burgess
Wellington School of Medicine
Associate Professor Murray Barclay
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Christchurch Hospital
Associate Professor Chris Frampton
Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Associate Professor Mark McKeage
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Auckland
Dr Damien Pethica
Auckland
Professor Paul Smith
School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin
Mr Trevor Speight
Auckland
Professor Ian Tucker
School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin
Dr Sisira Jayathissa
Hutt Valley District Health Board, Wellington
Dr Stephen Duffull
School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, DunedinEx Officio Members:
Dr Stewart Jessamine
Medsafe, Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health
Dr Robin Olds
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Committee Secretary: Susan Isaacs
