The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, today announced that the 2011 Australian of the Year, Simon McKeon, will chair an independent review of health and medical research in Australia and recommend a 10-year strategic health and medical research plan for the nation.

Mr McKeon will be joined by leading Australian researchers and prominent business leaders including Professor Ian Frazer, Bill Ferris AC, Elizabeth Alexander, Professor Henry Brodaty and Professor Melissa Little to carry out this review.