Research Management Unit

In 2010 we spent $20.1 million on cancer research. This included clinical and biomedical work conducted in Victorian Hospitals, Universities and Medical Research Institutes, as well as behavioural, epidemiological and clinical research programs conducted internally.

Our Research Management Unit manages our research policies and processes. It also manages Research Consortia and Grants Processes on behalf of the State and Federal Governments and the Australian Cancer Society.  Management fees are charged.

The unit has 4 key roles:

1. Management of approximately $5 million per annum of externally funded biomedical research. This involves making sure the donor dollar is allocated wisely and efficiently and that research progress is monitored and is satisfactory. Our Medical and Scientific Committee, sub-committees and assessor panels help us with this role by providing their expert advice. Includes overall policy development and implementation, administration of all Fellowships, Grants, Post-Doctoral Fellowships, Scholarships and Studentships.

2. Internal research risk management via the internal research quality assurance and human research ethics committee processes and the research code of practice. Also includes the administration of NHMRC policies and incoming grants for the internal research units of the Cancer Council.

3. Management of the Victorian Breast Cancer Research Consortium Inc (VBCRC). The Consortium conducts fundamental research into the causes and biology of breast cancer through its own research groups, located in appropriate medical research institutes in Melbourne. The Research Management Unit provides central administration and management functions including the governance of this incorporated association (Annual General Meeting of Members, Board and Scientific Committee meetings plus a Scientific Conference every 2 years), financial and other services, monitoring research output of the 5 research groups and reporting progress to Government.

4. Managing the National Grants/NHMRC liaison office on behalf of Cancer Council Australia. Commencing in 2005, the NHMRC is conducting the assessment and ranking of all the grants received by the state cancer councils and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. We're the primary contact and liaison point between NHMRC and the cancer councils. The NHMRC information, rankings and reports are provided to the respective funding bodies who make the final decisions on which grants receive funding.