Primary care is where most patients receive most of their health care. It makes a greater contribution to the community’s health than specialty practice.1,2 Yet research in primary care lags far behind that in the specialties; it is a “Cinderella”, criticised for its comparatively small output and its lack of relevance and methodological rigour.3-6 This discordance has focused attention on the need to strengthen primary care research infrastructure and capacity.7,8 In Australia, the federal government responded with the Primary Health Care Research, Evaluation and Development program.9