Policy influential research: setting, informing and decoding our national health and social policy agenda and activities

he MJA aims to prioritise studies that will “advance knowledge or practice with respect to medical problems of significance for Australia”. This is particularly inclusive of studies that not only have the potential to affect clinical practice, but also to help set, inform and improve our national health and social policies. In this issue of the MJA, we showcase several studies that have and will continue to inform national policy, help us understand how evidence can be used to best effect in the health policy process, and remind us of how and what is being done about other important national policy priorities.