A Coalition to Buttress PNGIMR
Research, especially in health fields, requires robust global networks. Buttresses are structures that support buildings and roots that give trees strength and nourishment. Buttresses are designed to help; they do not take away from the integrity of the buildings and trees they assist.
Formed in 1999, the Buttressing Coalition is a platform for partners and friends of the PNG Institute of Medical Research to support the Institute in all areas relevant to its responsibilities to conduct public health and medical research for the benefit of people in Papua New Guinea and globally. Late Emeritus Professor Michael Alpers, former PNGIMR Director and lifetime member of the Buttressing Coalition, described the founding ambitions of the Buttressing Coalition in an article published in 2003.
Buttressing Coalition Fund
The Buttressing Coalition introduced membership fees in September 2019. These fees make up a Fund for the development of the Institute administered by the University of New South Wales. Australia’s Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security contributed to the Fund for three years, from 2020 to 2022.
The Buttressing Coalition has ten institutional members in 2026:
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne
- Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne
- James Cook University, Townsville
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney
- Menzies School of Health Research
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
- Swiss Tropical Public Health Institute, Basel
- The Kids Research Institute Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne
Buttressing Coalition Fund Projects
Thanks to the generous contributions of the Buttressing Coalition members and the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security, PNGIMR has made significant infrastructure improvements and supported our early career researchers. Highlights include renovation and extension of the administration and project building in Port Moresby; repairs and renovations to PNGIMR buildings in Maprik, East Sepik; major upgrades to IT systems; and strengthened administrative procedures. The Fund also supports PNGIMR’s virtual symposiums.
Governance
The Buttressing Coalition is chaired by Professor William Pomat (Director, PNGIMR) and co-chair by Professor John Kaldor (Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales). An Executive Committee oversees the use of the Fund. Members of the Executive Committee for 2026-2028 :
- Prof Trevor Duke, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
- Prof Christopher King, Case Western Reserve University
- Dr Rhea Longley, WEHI
- Prof Moses Laman, PNGIMR
- Assoc Prof Brioni Moore, Curtin University and Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases
- Prof Leanne Robinson, Burnet Institute and Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
- Dr Holger Unger, Menzies School of Health Research
- Mr John Wemin, PNGIMR
The Buttressing Coalition has two lifetime members, appointed at the 2021 annual meeting.
- Distinguished University Professor James Kazura
- Clinical Associate Professor Deborah Lehmann
The full membership meets annually, either virtually or on the margins of the annual Papua New Guinea Medical Symposium.
Terms of Reference for the Buttressing Coalition can be viewed here.
Become a member
The Buttressing Coalition welcomes new members. It has four membership types:
Institutional members are institutes, schools, departments or other entities involved in public health or medical research and prepared to provide collaborative support to the PNGIMR. Institutional members pay an annual membership fee.
Individual members are colleagues who are or have been research collaborators of the PNGIMR or otherwise are committed to supporting the work of the PNGIMR. Individual members pay an annual membership fee.
Friends of PNGIMR are colleagues who want to be connected with PNGIMR and receive communication about the Institute and the Buttressing Coalition. Friends are not required to pay a membership fee.
Lifetime members are invited members whose significant contributions to PNGIMR are recognised through this membership.
Membership fees are waived for Papua New Guinean institutions and individuals. Email [email protected] for more information about membership.
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