ERA 5: NICM confirms its place as a world-leader in research

27 March 2019

NICM research continues to be ‘well above world standard’ according to the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) latest Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) report, the State of Australian University Research 2018–19: ERA National Report.(opens in a new window) The result(opens in a new window) confirms, for the third consecutive triennium of rating, NICM as a world-leading research institution, rated the highest possible - ERA 5.

ERA is a nationwide assessment of Australia's research performance which highlights national research strengths in disciplines of critical economic and social importance. Measuring the quality of research against national and international benchmarks, it aims to identify and promote excellence across the full spectrum of research activity, including both discovery and applied research, within Australian higher education institutions. Through ERA, students, industry and other stakeholders have access to rigorous and fine grained disciplined based information about research performance that is not readily available through other means.

Professor Alan Bensoussan, NICM Director, welcomed the report’s confirmation of NICM’s world-leading research and reputation for excellence.

“NICM’s team of interdisciplinary world-class researchers, are included in the world’s best and brightest in the field of complementary medicine. We are thrilled to be recognised for our research in this field, and for our very significant contribution to an additional ERA 5 ranking in Pharmacology at Western Sydney University.

“We are the only research institute in complementary medicine that has achieved consistent ERA 5 rating since evaluation commenced in 2012 for our field of research.

“Congratulations to all our outstanding researchers who dedicate their time and effort to tackling important questions in healthcare and chronic disease management.

“We are very proud of their achievements and contribution to Australia’s reputation for high-quality research; our tangible results, outcomes and data drive our continued ERA 5 rating and Western Sydney University’s reputation as a research-led university with regional, national and global impact.”

Producing globally-competitive research outcomes with high impact and relevance, NICM researchers publish in prestigious, high impact journals such as JAMA, The Lancet, World Psychiatry, and BMJ, and feature in leading international media such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek, The Independent and BBC.

Overall, 85 per cent of Western Sydney University’s research was ‘world standard or above’ in the latest ERA evaluation.

Western Sydney University Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Innovation), Professor Deborah Sweeney, commended Western’s researchers: “as a young university, our strength lies not only in our innovative approach to addressing society’s most pressing issues, but in our ability to connect high-quality research with the communities that need it most – and in unlocking the potential of the next generation of researchers, leaders and change-makers.”

More information about the University’s ERA results is available at: 
https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/research/research/era/