Health research needs to be purposeful, it needs to engage the end-user and it needs to be able to be scaled up if it is to have a real impact on policy and practice. These are among the tips health leaders Ms Erica Kneipp, Dr Teresa Anderson and Dr Kerry Chant  (pictured right) offered researchers at the Research Action Awards.

As our journal Public Health Research & Practice celebrates three years of supporting public health policy and practice, the latest issue explores a range of contemporary health challenges, from implementing effective food policy to the need to embrace social media platforms in health campaigns.

Policy agencies’ take-up of strategies to increase their use of research are influenced by nine different mechanisms − including whether they can see the potential gain in being involved − a novel study suggests.

This year, our most popular news and opinion articles included 45 and Up Study research into the health effects of vegetarianism, social media tips for researchers, new preventive health funding, and an expert seminar on how to reduce patient harm.

A new Evidence Check rapid review commissioned by the Heart Foundation examines the evidence for the association between dietary fat consumption and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Heart Foundation plans to present a webinar in early 2018 to explain the key findings of the review, and what it means for health professionals and their practice.

A new research project by The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, based at the Sax Institue, will identify what preventive health strategies work in primary care, with a view to enhancing the role that Australia’s Primary Health Networks play in the prevention of chronic disease.

Linking welfare datasets to health data can give researchers greater breadth and depth of analysis of health and wellbeing issues, a recent meeting of the Health Data Linkage Interest Group heard. The Group is run jointly by the Sax Institute and the Centre for Health Record Linkage (CHeReL), and brings together researchers, data custodians and policy agencies.

The 45 and Up Study is set to provide data for a new study into the experiences of 70,000 cancer survivors.The project has been hailed by Cancer Council Australia as a landmark event in understanding cancer outcomes and guiding improvements in care and support.

We would like to thank you for your support throughout 2017, and to wish you all the best for the festive season. We'd love to hear your feedback about Evidence Matters or any of the content on our website. The Sax Institute will be taking a break from 23 December to 2 January. We look forward to collaborating with you again in 2018. Have a safe and happy holiday.