About the Office for Science & Medical Research

The Office for Science and Medical Research (OSMR) was established in December 2003. Its mission is to drive growth and innovation in science and medical research to achieve better health, environmental and economic outcomes for the people of NSW.

The Office's aims are:

• To position and promote NSW as a leader in science and medical research;
• To optimise the strategic direction and effectiveness of the NSW Government's investment in science and medical research;
• To facilitate and encourage public/industry collaboration in NSW in science and medical research; and,
• To continuously identify new areas of science and medical research which may have applicability to NSW.

The Office works closely with other Government agencies, business and industry, the higher education sector, research institutions and community organisations. Through grant and funding programs, such as BioFirst Awards and the Spinal Cord Injury and Conditions Fund, the Office fosters the work of leading researchers and attracts new researchers and business opportunities to NSW.

The Office manages a number of major grants programs and develops policies and programs in order to foster excellence and position NSW as a leader in science, innovation and medical research.

OSMR administers programs under the BioFirst Strategy including the BioFirst Awards, Bioethics Program and Converging Technologies Program. The Office has recently committed over $2 million to BioLink Partners Ltd, a member-owned service established to assist government and not-for-profit research institutions in NSW to protect their intellectual property and commercialise their research.

The Office also supports BioMed North, which provides intellectual property protection and commercialisation services to the Northern Sydney/Central Coast Area Health Service, the Sydney West Area Health Service, South East Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service and institutions undertaking biomedical research in the northern corridor of Sydney.

OSMR manages the Spinal Cord Injury and Conditions Fund, a $10.9 million package announced by the Premier in 2003. The Fund includes a Research Grants Program which supports innovative research into treatments for people with spinal cord injury and related neurological conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

The Fund also includes the Spinal Exchange Program, through which renowned experts are brought to Australia on Visiting Fellowships to share their expertise and international developments with NSW clinicians, researchers and consumer/carer groups.

The Office for Science and Medical Research administers the following legislation:

• Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Act 2003
• Research Involving Human Embryos (New South Wales) Act 2003
• The Cancer Institute Act 2003 (NSW) (joint responsibility with NSW Health) New South Wales
• Cancer Council Act 1995
• The Garvan Institute of Medical Research Act 1984 (NSW)
• The Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology Act 1985

For further information on the Office for Science and Medical Research, please contact us on:
Phone (02) 9338 6700
Fax (02) 9338 6760
Email info@osmr.nsw.gov.au
Visit our website www.osmr.nsw.gov.au