HMRI draws together more than 1,000 researchers, research students and research support staff from Hunter New England Health, the University of Newcastle and Calvary Mater Newcastle, who are working to improve the health of the community across seven key research programs:

The HMRI Research Programs draw together basic biomedical, clinical and public health researchers from Hunter New England Health, the University of Newcastle and Calvary Mater Newcastle, who are conducting the best health and medical research to improve the wellbeing of the community.

There are more than 1,000 researchers, research students and research support staff aligned with HMRI’s seven research programs:

• Brain and Mental Health;
• Cancer;
• Cardiovascular Health;
• Information Based Medicine;
• Public Health;
• Pregnancy and Reproduction; and
• Viruses, Infections/Immunity, Vaccines & Asthma (VIVA).

HMRI facilitates collaborations between researchers translating groundbreaking scientific advances into better clinical care, competitive commercial products and improved health care guidelines.

HMRI Research Programs receive infrastructure funding from the NSW Office for Medical Research through the Medical Research Support Program, and the NSW Department of Health through the Capacity Building Infrastructure Grant Program. This funding supports essential research infrastructure, including research salaries, research equipment and technology services.

HMRI Research Programs also receive funding from the community to support research projects, equipment, scholarships, fellowships and travel grants.

HMRI affiliated researchers participate in formal research networks on a national and state level. Locally, HMRI has developed cross-Program research networks to forge collaborations in common areas of research.

• The ABC (Adolescents, Babies and Children) Research Network.
• The PANIC (Physical Activity and Nutrition in Inflammatory Chronic diseases) Network.

In 2011, HMRI facilitated the formation of the Nurses and Midwives Research Network to build research and interdisciplinary collaborations among nurses and midwives.

HMRI has also commenced discussions and early planning for the formation of a Rural Research Network and an Allied Health Research Network.