Dear NIF Community
As we near the end of 2024, I would like to take a moment to reflect on our achievements as Australia’s advanced imaging network and outline our strategic priorities for the new year ahead.
Major achievements of the NIF community
This has been a landmark year for NIF. Our national network proudly supports 1,775 projects, including 338 clinical trials, and resulting in 319 publications. These efforts have helped researchers translate research into outcomes that address national priorities.
We have helped industry collaborators capture the first-in-human images of a novel prostate cancer treatment, translate a world-first nanoparticle technology for gastric and oesophageal cancers to clinical trials, develop an innovative implant membrane to treat complex bone fractures, and see the world’s first reconstructed memories.
Our world-leading experts have enabled scientific breakthroughs including identifying a new functional brain imaging technique, developing a promising new AI method that could produce MRI images 10x faster and clearer, harnessing MEG 3D imaging to pinpoint seizure-trigger areas, launching an important initiative to make medical research more accessible and beneficial to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, using ultra-high field MRI to understand the effects of extreme endurance, supporting Australia’s largest imaging project for better epilepsy diagnosis and treatment, and building an easy-to-use, open-access processing software to supercharge our understanding of the brain.
We were proud to support the ACRF’s pioneering melanoma project, the Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis (ACEMID) and advanced brain imaging analysis software, MRTrix3 which were recognised in the 2024 Eureka Prizes.
This year, we also introduced our new visual identity and website, designed to represent our community at the heart of NIF and the translational impact we enable.
These major achievements are a testament to NIF’s vibrant national community and collaborative ethos, and I’d like to extend my sincere congratulations to everyone involved.
Funding announcements
Following the $46M NCRIS funding from the Australian Government last year, an additional $1.6M from NSW and $2M from Queensland State Governments were announced in 2024. This co-investment will drive significant health research and accelerate innovation.
Our strategic priorities and initiatives
This year, NIF published our 2024 – 2028 Strategy, which will drive our work towards strengthening Australia’s community of world-leading imaging experts, maintaining cutting-edge imaging technologies, producing valuable imaging data collections, and fostering impactful research.
Our strategy helps us guide our initiatives to support researchers and industry address national health challenges.
NIF was proud to partner with the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) for their 2024 Grants, which included $12M philanthropic funding towards two NIF-supported grants for advanced total-body PET/CT scanners at The Alfred (with Monash University) and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (with University of Melbourne). NIF will contribute $2.5M, integrating these scanners into NIF’s national network, enhancing Australia’s molecular imaging research capabilities.
In 2025, NIF will launch its first Translation Network in Molecular Imaging, a network of 10 Partners working together, to enhance our capacity to address Australia’s pressing health challenges, including dementia and cancer, while strengthening our leadership in radiopharmaceutical innovation.
In alignment with our strategy, NIF is keeping our equipment at cutting edge, including:
- upgrading a selection of our 3T MRI fleet, which is essential for Australia’s capacity to support translational neuroscience;
- installing new radiochemistry infrastructure in NSW, to meet the demand for research developing novel diagnostics and therapies; and
- upgrading preclinical MRI and PET-SPECT-CT capabilities to continue supporting Australia’s biomedical discovery and translation.
These initiatives are essential to supporting world class health and medical research and positioning Australia at the forefront of innovation.
Thank you for an outstanding year
I extend my gratitude to the NIF Board and its Chair, Em Prof Margaret Harding. I’d also like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of NIF’s national network of Partners, Node Directors, Fellows, and other Partner staff who drive Australia’s most advanced imaging capabilities forward. A special thank you also to our NIF Central team for their dedication and hard work throughout 2024, ensuring the seamless support of our national network.
Finally, I’d like to thank our users who lead impactful projects, and our engaged research imaging participants and patients, whose contributions are crucial to improving health outcomes for Australia.
The NIF Central Office will be closed from 24 December to 6 January. I wish you all an enjoyable and safe holiday break and look forward to working with you in 2025.
Kind regards
Prof Wojtek Goscinski, CEO and the NIF Central team