26 August 2025
In July 2025, HTQ launched its Action Plan 2025-2027, signalling a reset in how this National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) accredited Research Translation Centre (RTC) works with its partners to accelerate research translation. Interim Executive Director Dr Celia Webby explores what this means in practice for HTQ’s collaborative partnership.
Co-designing for impact
“HTQ exists to connect, facilitate and drive action that accelerates research and its translation across our partnership, to improve patient care and health outcomes,” Dr Webby explained. “This Action Plan details the tangible value-add we aim to deliver in the next 2 years, which will be achieved through building greater connection between our health service and research partners and leveraging the significant capability across our partnership.”
“HTQ represents a commitment by 13 of Queensland's major medical research institutes, health care providers and universities to work together to co-develop and deliver solutions that benefit partners and the broader ecosystem.
“Our small operational team will work closely with research leaders from across the 13 partners to co-design programs and initiatives that address challenges and capability gaps they have identified,” Dr Webby said.
Creating scalable solutions
“HTQ’s remit is its partners; when we achieve system-wide improvements across our ecosystem, these can be scaled across the state,” Dr Webby said.
“HTQ is already exploring collaboration with the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (TAAHC), as the RTC that’s focused on the health challenges of northern Queensland, to create solutions that benefit all Queenslanders.
“HTQ will connect health service innovators, evidence-based practitioners, and academic researchers and provide reciprocal opportunities that drive the implementation and translation of research and new knowledge into practice.”
Removing barriers to collaboration
Dr Webby is most excited about priority area 5, which is to harmonise and streamline approval requirements across HTQ partners.
“This is the priority that is most talked about by researchers and research leaders across the partnership, with inconsistent approval processes and lengthy delays in contracting currently stifling research and collaboration,” Dr Webby said. “This is an area where HTQ can build on the past wins of the HTQ Research Passport.
“We will start by facilitating discussions with our hospital and health services to see how we can harmonise site-specific approval requirements across the partnership. The HTQ team will then educate and train the research community on these requirements to streamline processes.”
Growing research talent
“Priority area 2 is to deliver a structured mentorship and training program for early-career research-active clinicians,” Dr Webby said.
“Delivery of this priority will involve co-designing a mentorship and training program with research leaders across our partnership. This approach will ensure we are providing complementary and value-added opportunities, rather than duplicating existing programs.”
Measuring what matters
“For each of these priorities, we have specified success measures in the Action Plan,” Dr Webby said.
“Underpinning our overall success is relationships, which is why our first goal is always to identify and connect the right people from across our partnership and support the delivery of tangible outcomes.
“For each initiative and program within the priority areas, we aim to understand what success looks like for our partners by engaging with those people who understand the research ecosystem and are motivated to improve it.”
Learn more about HTQ’s Action Plan.
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