Professor Emily Banks to chair new impact committee

Professor Emily Banks been appointed inaugural Chair of NHMRC's Health Research Impact Committee.

With 30-plus years of expertise in public health research and medical research issues, Professor Banks said she's looking forward to working with the NHMRC and the broader research community to increase, recognise and reward impact.

"I feel really honoured to have been appointed to this position. It's a huge opportunity, and I'm excited about being able to go out there and talk to community members and researchers about how to maximise and generate impact," she says.

"Because every single researcher wants to make an impact, there's no question. That's why we do it."

As a public health physician and an epidemiologist, having worked in chronic disease epidemiology, tobacco control, cardiovascular disease, cancer and the safety of medicines, Professor Banks said her patient is the population.

"A doctor has to intervene if they see a patient who has something dreadfully wrong with them, and in the same way if I see anything which is hazardous to the population, it's my job to do something about it," she said.

"What we do in public health is all about discovery and evidence, ultimately applied through community engagement. 

"It's early days with the committee, but I think what we can see from COVID-19 is the incredible importance of community accountability, and that ultimately, we as researchers are funded by the community to solve the problems that matter to them.

"I'm looking forward to being part of the NHMRC Health Research Impact Committee and thinking, how do we really make that happen? What do we need to do, as researchers, in order to do that better?

"The community deserves excellence and innovation across the board.

"They want things that are going to make a difference in the here and now as well as blue sky thinking - it's all about balance."