The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) is the main agency responsible for managing the Government's investment in health research and we do everything we can to remove obstacles to the public hearing about, and benefiting from, the investment we make in research.
We currently support (by way of contracted research investment) about 2500 researchers in New Zealand, including many at the University of Otago.
The HRC works hard to get out of the way of researchers disseminating the knowledge created. We encourage publication - and work hard to reduce barriers.
But what about research commissioned by an organisation because it needs specific information to address a knowledge gap in its service?
Who should own the findings?
Is it reasonable that it wants to get early benefit from the research it commissions?
My own take on this is that at times, the most valuable dissemination of research may well be in the translation of findings into policy, products and services before (or even on occasion instead of) publication in peer review publications.
The key is surely transparency, with both the funding agency and the contracted researchers being clear on the arrangement and making choices (or negotiating, as in the case Prof Langley mentions) based on that information.
Prof Langley's opinion piece raises one of the important issues concerning health research that should be discussed.
The next few months will offer just such an opportunity when the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Business, Employment and Innovation, and the HRC circulate a discussion document to underpin New Zealand's first Health Research Strategy.
There are many questions that matter for our future, including those raised by Prof Langley.
The Health Research Strategy consultation will inform future policies and processes to do with New Zealand health research investment and prioritisation.
The consultation or discussion document specifically invites views on how we can improve dissemination of, and access to, research results.
The good news is that health research in New Zealand has recently been identified as a priority for greater investment and we punch far above our weight, with the quality of our peer-reviewed publications comparing well against international standards.
Publication is important - it's how we build a body of work, with each publication building on the past, each piece of research incrementally expanding our knowledge and our ability to make a difference.
However, are there times when the great brains of our researchers are needed for other outputs, outcomes, impacts?
I suspect so but there is a debate to be had.
The taxpayer funds much of the health research New Zealand researchers undertake and the Health Research Strategy provides an opportunity to contribute to the future of that investment.
● Kathryn McPherson is chief executive of the Health Research Council of New Zealand.
