Study governance

Scientific Advisory Committee

The 45 and Up Study Scientific Advisory Committee is charged with overseeing the overall scientific rigour of the Study. Specifically, this committee advises regarding scientific questions for the study, ensures the quality of processes for data collection and analysis, develops and implements policies and processes relating to access to data from the Study for collaborating researchers, oversees the publication policy and resolves any issues in relation to intellectual property. This committee meets six times each year.

Current membership

Professor Bruce Armstrong (Chair)
Head, School of Public Health
University of Sydney

A/Professor Emily Banks
Scientific Director, The 45 and Up Study
The Sax Institute

Professor Adrian Bauman
Director, NSW Centre for Physical Activity and Health
School of Public Health
University of New South Wales

Professor John Beard
Clinical Professor and Head of Department
Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health

Professor Valerie Beral
Director, Cancer Epidemiology Unit
Radcliffe Infirmary Oxford, UK

Professor Julie Byles
Director, Centre for Research and Education in Ageing
University of Newcastle

Professor Terry Campbell
Head, Department of Medicine
The University of New South Wales

Dr Stephen Corbett
Associate Director, Environmental Health Branch
NSW Health

Professor Robert Cumming
Professor of Epidemiology and Geriatric Medicine
Centre for Education and Research on Ageing
Concord Hospital

Professor Catherine D’Este
School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Newcastle

Professor Mark Harris
Professor of General Practice
School of Public Health & Community Medicine
University of New South Wales

Professor Phillip Harris
Clinical Professor and Head of Cardiology
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

Professor Louisa Jorm
Research Director
The Sax Institute

A/Professor Freddy Sitas
Director, Cancer Research and Registers Division
The Cancer Council NSW

Dr Lee Taylor
Manager, Surveillance Methods
NSW Health 

Terms of reference

The terms of reference for the Scientific Advisory Committee are to provide advice on:

  • scientific directions for the Study and the use of the Study data, including policies and processes for agreeing on scientific questions and priorities for the Study
  • scientific and methodological considerations in relation to the principles to be used by the study to underpin its governance, ethics and intellectual property policies
  • scientific and methodological considerations in relation to the policies of the Study regarding recruitment, public information, confidentiality, data security, access to data, release of data and study results and other relevant matters
  • processes for review of proposals from researchers applying to use the Study resource and the suitability of research proposed for access to the Study
  • processes to ensure the quality of data collection, handling and analysis
  • specific scientific and methodological issues that arise in the course of the Study
  • emerging issues that may have a bearing on the Study

Meeting dates for 2008

Tuesday 11th March

Tuesday 15th July

Tuesday 11th November