Universities have much to contribute to the improvement of health delivery, research, and teaching/learning. In progressing health reform, the Government should be mindful of the need to: (1) strengthen high quality medical research; (2) promote translation of research to teaching, population health and health services; and (3) address Health Workforce issues effectively. Go8 universities support and seek to play a lead role in integration of health research, education, and services. They are seeking a closer involvement with the Commonwealth Government in development and implementation of the policy detail. Hospital and Health Services reforms, including specific allocation of adequate funding arrangements, provide a potential avenue for improvement of integration of research, teaching, and services. However these important issues could be overlooked in the overall size and complexity of health care policy, major reform, and the multiple stakeholders involved. Appended are: (1) Graphs of NHMRC funding support of the Australian research workforce 2003-2010; and (2 Expenditure of NHMRC annual funding commitments.