The RMIT Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Community of Practice (CoP) aims to strengthen the University's capacity to deliver health and medical research that translates into meaningful outcomes for patients, communities and the health system.
The cross‑disciplinary CoP will equip researchers with the skills, connections and institutional support needed to design, develop and deliver MRFF‑funded, mission‑aligned research that is driven by trusted partnerships and involves consumers with lived experience.
Open to researchers at any career stage and from all disciplines, the CoP aims to connect people working in, or aspiring to work in, MRFF priority areas and to build capability in collaborative, impactful research.
The CoP was launched at a symposium that featured a range of panel discussions, fireside chats and keynote addresses, where participants heard from leaders about the current MRFF landscape - its strategy, principles and priorities - as well as how to write a successful application and the importance of collaboration, partnership and consumer engagement in achieving MRFF success.
Speaking to participants, RMIT University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation, Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond AO, emphasised that achieving health impacts requires more than excellent ideas.
"To deliver better health outcomes, researchers need support structures that help turn strong concepts into programs that are collaborative, translational and grounded in real-world need.
"Events like this are about much more than sharing information," Professor Drummond said, "they help us bring together researchers, professional staff, consumers and partners around a shared vision for healthier communities, and they signal that RMIT is serious about doing the kind of research that changes lives."
