The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) invites you to participate in a short survey about your
interaction with the ARDC and use of our national research infrastructure and services. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes and is anonymous. It’s open to anyone who uses our digital research infrastructure
services including Reasearch Link Australia.
We will use the information you provide to improve the national research infrastructure and services we
deliver and to report on user satisfaction to the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input. The survey closes COB Friday 29 May 2026.
Complete the 5 min survey now by clicking on the link below.
Legal and Ethical Regulation of the Use and Commercialisation of Human Biological Material. The Australian government has a policy of promoting expertise in genomics. An essential ingredient of research and development of the genomics industry is access to human biological material. A clear regulatory framework is required, consistent with national ethical principles. There is lack of clarity, legally and ethically, in relation to ownership (including derivative claims), consented and un-consent ....Legal and Ethical Regulation of the Use and Commercialisation of Human Biological Material. The Australian government has a policy of promoting expertise in genomics. An essential ingredient of research and development of the genomics industry is access to human biological material. A clear regulatory framework is required, consistent with national ethical principles. There is lack of clarity, legally and ethically, in relation to ownership (including derivative claims), consented and un-consented use, contracts, conflict of interest and benefit sharing in human biological material, including regenerative tissue. Clarification will facilitate ethical research and commercialisation. These issues will be analysed systematically with recommendations for Australia consistent with international standards.Read moreRead less
Parole in crisis? Public opinion on the use of parole. Serious crimes committed by parolees in Australia have brought parole into the public eye. Without concrete evidence, governments often act on the assumption that the public holds punitive attitudes. This project is expected to develop an evidence base to inform policy on parole at a crucial time when governments are under pressure to restrict its use. Three mixed-method studies aim to assess: what public views on parole are; why the public ....Parole in crisis? Public opinion on the use of parole. Serious crimes committed by parolees in Australia have brought parole into the public eye. Without concrete evidence, governments often act on the assumption that the public holds punitive attitudes. This project is expected to develop an evidence base to inform policy on parole at a crucial time when governments are under pressure to restrict its use. Three mixed-method studies aim to assess: what public views on parole are; why the public holds these views; and what influence these views have on policy and practice. The project is expected to make contributions to: creating information strategies that properly inform the public; supporting prisoner reintegration strategies; and shaping criminal justice policies based on informed community feedback.Read moreRead less
Co-operative intellectual property management and technology transfer for the Australian biotechnology industry. The Australian biotechnology industry rests on a framework of internationally competitive research and should be well placed to capture a significant share of expanding global markets. However, existing intellectual property (IP) management strategies do not make the most of this potential because they raise barriers to much-needed co-operation among industry players. By developing an ....Co-operative intellectual property management and technology transfer for the Australian biotechnology industry. The Australian biotechnology industry rests on a framework of internationally competitive research and should be well placed to capture a significant share of expanding global markets. However, existing intellectual property (IP) management strategies do not make the most of this potential because they raise barriers to much-needed co-operation among industry players. By developing and refining new co-operative IP management models in an Australian context, this project offers direct economic benefits (more efficient industry structures), improved social and economic benefits (better and cheaper biotechnology products and services), and an opportunity for Australia to take the lead in developing innovative approaches to IP management.Read moreRead less
Facilitation and Regulation of Research and Development Involving Human Genetic Databanks. Australia's medical biotechnology research feeds into our biotechnology industries, with flow-on benefits for national health and prosperity. Realisation of these benefits is contingent upon community protection and public trust. An effective and appropriate regulatory regime is a foundation requirement. This project aims to shape a national regulatory framework for human genetic databanks that both facili ....Facilitation and Regulation of Research and Development Involving Human Genetic Databanks. Australia's medical biotechnology research feeds into our biotechnology industries, with flow-on benefits for national health and prosperity. Realisation of these benefits is contingent upon community protection and public trust. An effective and appropriate regulatory regime is a foundation requirement. This project aims to shape a national regulatory framework for human genetic databanks that both facilitates research and maintains highest ethical standards. By examining the balance between facilitation and regulation, assessing existing law reform proposals, making recommendations for further reform, and placing this analysis in the international context, this project will significantly benefit the nation and the research community. Read moreRead less
Material Transfer Agreements and Open Science in the Genome Era. Research paradigms are changing rapidly in the Genome Era. Open access databases are increasingly popular and are required by public funding agencies. The role of material transfer agreements (MTAs) in this open access era is not clear. This project aims to assess the extent to which MTAs facilitate exchanges of biological materials between organisation in Australia and internationally. The project will assess whether MTAs are refl ....Material Transfer Agreements and Open Science in the Genome Era. Research paradigms are changing rapidly in the Genome Era. Open access databases are increasingly popular and are required by public funding agencies. The role of material transfer agreements (MTAs) in this open access era is not clear. This project aims to assess the extent to which MTAs facilitate exchanges of biological materials between organisation in Australia and internationally. The project will assess whether MTAs are reflecting the open data access movement or maintaining traditional closed proprietary practices. The project will make policy, ethical and legal recommendations for the development of MTAs to promote exchange of materials nationally and internationally and to facilitate the developing collaborative research culture. Read moreRead less
Rebuilding fiscal federalism in Australia: reforming the financial relationship between the Commonwealth and the States. The finances of the Australian States in the modern day face serious structural challenges. The aim of this project is to analyse and develop appropriate alternatives for reform of fiscal federalism in Australia, which would allow the States to gain access to income tax revenue as a secure source of funding in the future.
The innovation pool in Australian biotechnology: assessing strategies for fostering innovation through patenting and patent pooling. The current patent system was designed for a very different research environment than that in which the global biotechnology industry operates. Rather than facilitating innovation there is evidence that the system can unduly restrict R&D. Patent pooling is being promoted internationally as a way to facilitate innovation. However, potential pitfalls are also recogni ....The innovation pool in Australian biotechnology: assessing strategies for fostering innovation through patenting and patent pooling. The current patent system was designed for a very different research environment than that in which the global biotechnology industry operates. Rather than facilitating innovation there is evidence that the system can unduly restrict R&D. Patent pooling is being promoted internationally as a way to facilitate innovation. However, potential pitfalls are also recognised, and work is underway to develop appropriate regulation. Australia cannot afford to be left behind: urgent consideration must be given to the desirability of patent pooling and the regulatory changes that are required to allow it to function in the national interest. The proposed research will provide the data necessary to make informed decisions on this critical issue. Read moreRead less
Genetic discrimination in Australia: an exploration of the nature and extent of the phenomenon within the legal and social context. This project involves national, groundbreaking research into the newly-emerging phenomenon of genetic discrimination in Australia. Undertaken by a multi-disciplinary, cross-institutional team with a wide range of expertise, this innovative and topical research will investigate genetic discrimination across three key perspectives: consumers, third parties and the le ....Genetic discrimination in Australia: an exploration of the nature and extent of the phenomenon within the legal and social context. This project involves national, groundbreaking research into the newly-emerging phenomenon of genetic discrimination in Australia. Undertaken by a multi-disciplinary, cross-institutional team with a wide range of expertise, this innovative and topical research will investigate genetic discrimination across three key perspectives: consumers, third parties and the legal system. It will advance the existing knowledge base, both nationally and internationally, and establish comprehensive baseline data for further evaluative research. Important outcomes for each of the three sectors will be generated, as well as a comprehensive overview of this important new Australian social issue. Recommendations will inform the development of appropriate law and policy.
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Using jurors to gauge informed public opinion on sentencing. Policy makers and judicial officers are under increasing pressure to respond to public opinion on sentencing issues and yet gauging public opinion on these issues is problematic. This project will use a new means of ascertaining informed public opinion on sentencing issues to better inform policy makers and judicial officers.