Our Scope
We propose to provide research training
in the evidence-base of public health, building on current longitudinal
studies within the investigators' research programs. Our strategy will address
current needs for critical assessment of evidence on population health issues
from the broad prospective offered by longitudinal studies and the development
of their methodology.
Our Aims
- To increase the number and experience of independent
researchers in public health, specifically those with a high degree
of expertise in longitudinal study methodology.
- To improve the standard of longitudinal research
in public health, building on disciplinary-specific expertise to develop
multi-disciplinary understanding and policy relevant approaches.
- To establish a group with critical mass and
national and international reputation which can maximally utilise
and contribute to knowledge by applying existing longitudinal methods
to the practice of public health, and develop new knowledge in longitudinal
health research methods.
- To increase effective linkages between researchers
and policy developers, specifically to increase mutual awareness of
the benefits of longitudinal research and its contribution to policy
development.
Our Strategy
We propose to use the collection of longitudinal
studies in our research programs, plus the current imperatives of evidence-based
policy development to provide the infrastructure, rationale and motivation
for building public health research capacity in methodology. These studies
would effectively be raw material for training and research in methodology.
They have already been funded and substantive results published. Collectively
they cover a rich mix of longitudinal studies in design and content.
This combination provides an intellectually-resourced environment, and
a diversity of methodological challenges. The project leaders will supervise
research Fellows in researching existing approaches to important methodological
issues in design and analysis. Fellows will use the data sets to: (a)
evaluate and compare applicability of differing approaches, (b) establish
the need to develop innovative methods, (c) develop and publish new
methods.
Our Unit
This unit is innovative, in its learning-by-doing
approach in an integrated multidisciplinary team, with a firm focus
on evaluation of methodological approaches and development of innovative
methodology. It is significant in that it will create an unprecedented
(in Australia) critical mass of expertise in longitudinal public health
research that will provide the basis for a new generation of researchers.
It is competitive, in that it builds on a solid basis of existing expertise
with unique access to a substantial collection of large longitudinal
databases, illustrative of a wide range of research problems. Team leaders
have considerable expertise, experience and networks. They will provide
strong mentoring for Fellows, as well as access to national and international
networks.
If you wish to download a copy of the NHMRC Research Proposial
Synopsis, click here.
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