Urgent strategic research into influenza to inform health policy and protect the public.
The Australian management plan for pandemic influenza (2005) highlighted a number of areas where more information may yield better plans for protecting Australia. In 2005, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) developed a special "urgent research" funding program to meet those information needs as quickly as possible. The funding program resulted in grants totalling $6.5 million being awarded for 33 research projects, in five broad areas: Detection and identification of the virus; Vaccine development and evaluation; Antiviral medication use and effectiveness; Public health interventions; and Understanding behavioural responses to achieve effective communication and staged implementation of public health strategies. Outcomes of the program will be evaluated formally in 2007.
Sorrell
Tania C
TC
Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. tanias@icpmr.wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Lonsdale
Carey
C
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration; D033161:Government Regulation; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*