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AAMRI > For members > The Research Impact Project
AAMRI Research Impact Framework report launch event – Watch now!
What is the Research Impact Project?
The purpose of the Research Impact Project
The development of the AAMRI Research Impact Framework
The AAMRI Research Impact Framework
The AAMRI Research Impact Group
What's next for the Research Impact Project?
Take our survey!
DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE
We are asking AAMRI members to complete a survey on their anticipated use of the AAMRI Research Impact Framework and what support may be required to implement the Framework at their organisation.
The AAMRI Research Impact Group will use the feedback from this survey to inform future events relating to the Framework, including webinars, and building the Community of Practice.
The AAMRI Research Impact Framework launched in a special online event held on 13 May 2021. You can watch the recording of that event here.
In the event, the Chairs of the Project Working Group shared the highlights of the event. We also presented the latest from the research impact space in Canada and the UK and brought together speakers from different institutes on how they intend to use the AAMRI Framework within their organisations.
If you would like to know more about how to implement the Framework in your organisation or have any further questions, please email AAMRI Research Impact Framework.
WATCH EVENT HERE
The Research Impact Project aims to deliver a standardised framework that will enable Australian medical research institutes to measure the impact of their research and its contribution towards knowledge, society, health and the economy.
This Project is an Australian first and is driven by AAMRI member institutes. A range of stakeholders from research institutes, funders, government, industry and the community have given their input to help develop the AAMRI Research Impact Framework.
This Framework will enhance the Australian medical research sector's ability to translate research findings into real-world outcomes and benefits.
Click here to watch the event.
Research Impact is defined by the NHMRC as the verifiable outcomes that research makes to knowledge, health, the economy and/or society. Impact is the effect of the research after it has been adopted, adapted for use, or used to inform further research. There has been an absence of common impact language within the sector – until now.
Over half of all AAMRI member medical research institutes have participated to co-develop a common language for communicating how their work is contributing to knowledge, society, health and the economy.
The Framework will enhance the ability of medical research institutes to identify and demonstrate how their research is making an impact, maximising the return on investment made by government, industry and philanthropic funders.
The Research Impact Project is the first step towards creating a common understanding of the impacts of medical research. Importantly, the Framework provides a way for research organisations to understand how their practices can improve the translation of research and knowledge.
The Project was coordinated by the AAMRI Research Impact Working Group with the generous support of The Ian Potter Foundation. The AAMRI Research Impact Framework was developed in two phases.
Phase 1: Stakeholder engagement
What is research impact?
The first phase of the Project engaged with end user stakeholders of research – including health and medical research organisations, funders of research, government, industry, and community organisations – to find out what these groups identified as research impact.
The findings of these consultations, combined with a review of existing research impact frameworks and research and knowledge translation practices, were then used to inform and refine the development of the AAMRI Research Impact Framework which is based on the Canadian Academy of Health Science Framework.
Phase 2: Developing a framework for understanding the impact of research
How can progress towards research impact be optimised and demonstrated within the Australian medical research sector?
Medical research institutes all across Australia play a leading role in translating research into health, development and wellbeing. AAMRI's 57 member institutes are internationally recognised leaders in health and medical research that work on a broad spectrum of human health issues ranging from fundamental biomedical discovery through to clinical research and the translation of research findings from bench to bedside.
The second phase of the Project involved AAMRI member medical research institutes participating in a Delphi process to co-develop the AAMRI Research Impact Framework. This involved participating in three survey rounds to gain consensus and build on the research and knowledge translation indicators and practices identified through Phase 1 of the Project.
The outcome is a Framework of good research translation and knowledge translation practices, and indicators for the effective implementation of these.
The AAMRI Research Impact Framework aims to represent a range of research priorities within the Australian medical research sector and is divided into six categories for demonstrating research impact:
Advancing knowledge
Informing decision-making
Social impacts
Each category includes a list of indicators that can be used to demonstrate progress towards or having achieved research impact. The Framework also includes a set of impact practices that promote the translation of research into impacts.
The Framework is intended to be used as a guide for medical research institutes to plan for, track, understand and communicate the impact of your research. It does not need to be applied in its entirety and can be customised as appropriate for the needs of your organisation and the types of research you conduct.
The indicators included in the Framework can be used at different stages on the impact pathway to demonstrate progress towards impact or having achieved impact, and organisations may use various methods to verify evidence of achieving these as relevant to them. Not all the indicators included in the Framework may be applicable for your organisation or type of research, and indicators that were excluded as a result of the project's Delphi process may still be of relevance to your institute.
The Framework is not intended to be used as a prescriptive set of measures and AAMRI member medical research institutes will not be asked to report on the indicators included.
AAMRI member institutes involved in the Working Group:
Mater Research
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Telethon Kids Institute
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Diamantina Institute (within Translational Research Institute)
Project Advisory Group:
Hunter Medical Research Institute
Menzies Institute for Medical Research (UTAS)
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
WEHI (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)
Additional Technical Experts:
Anne-Maree Dowd (CSIRO), Abigail Powell (Centre for Social Impact), Matt Bevan (Social Impact Measurement Network Australia), Adam Kamenetzky (National Institutes for Health Research, (UK).
For more information about the project you can email researchimpact@aamri.org.au.
Phase 1 – What is research impact?
Stakeholder survey: Closed 8 November 2019
Phase 2 – How can research impact be measured and improved?
Delphi survey round 1: Closed December 2019
Framework delivery – May 2021
The AAMRI Research Impact Framework launched during a special online event held on 13 May 2021. You can watch the recording of that event here.
We are also in the process of creating supporting materials in video and webinar formats to help Australian medical research institutes to use the Framework. If you have any questions or would like further information, please email AAMRI Research Impact Framework.