A half-century of Australian health and medical research

In 1951, the Journal published an overview of medical research in Australia since Federation. This concluded that, with a few notable exceptions, discoveries were few and research funding was paltry. In contrast, in 2001, Australia has become a significant contributor to international medical research. Three Australians have been awarded Nobel Prizes for research performed in Australia, and others have received international awards. Research growth has been driven by the development of the tertiary education sector and independent medical research institutes. Nevertheless, there is no room for complacency.