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$114.2 million investment in health and medical research
19th December 2011: Some of the best and brightest minds in Australian health and medical research were recognised in Sydney today.
Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek has announced that a further $114.2 million investment in health and medical research for 159 grants.
“The Gillard Government is proud to be supporting our health and medical research innovators as they develop their products and technologies here in Australia,” Ms Plibersek said.
“Not only will patients benefit from the gains made by the research these grants will pay for, but we will be creating jobs and stimulating the economy for all Australians."
Ms Plibersek said the grants were spread across three National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding schemes. The schemes include Program Grants, Development Grants and Postgraduate Scholarships.
This latest announcement brings the total NHMRC investment in health and medical research this year to $787.9 million and 1,299 research grants.
Examples of other grants being announced today include:
o $11 million for research by Professor Glenda Halliday from the University of NSW to enable diagnosis of dementia before symptoms are evident, allowing much earlier interventions to delay disease progression.
o $5.7 million for research led by Professor Paul Keall from the University of Sydney to develop MRI technology to improve the way in which cancer can be tracked as it moves around the body, assisting in improving the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
o $499,750 for research by Associate Professor Peter Meikle from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute to develop a new blood test to identify those at greatest risk of possible heart attack.
o $422,418 for research by Professor Paul Hertzog of Monash University to increase the transportability of drugs to treat hepatitis B and C.
o $424,363 to fund work by Professor Mark Febbraio of Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute to develop a drug that might reduce insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.
The 159 grants cover a broad range of research fields and will fund:
o 130 Postgraduate Scholarships in six states and territories worth more than $10 million.
o 10 Program Grants, valued at over $94 million for teams of our best senior researchers.
o 16 Development Grants worth $7.5 million to support the commercial development of a product, process, procedure or service that can provide improved health care, disease prevention or provide health cost savings.
o 3 Project Grants worth $1.7 million to support individuals and small teams of researchers.
Ms Plibersek said applications for funding are assessed by independent peer review panels, appointed by the NHMRC, against predetermined selection criteria.
Media contacts:
Minister’s Office: NHMRC:
Simon Crittle
0466 773 531 David Cooper
0422 008 512 or 02 6217 9121
Vic Funding Highlights
VIC funding includes ten development grants, three program grants, two project grants and 54 postgraduate scholarships.
VIC funded development grants include:
o $618,515 million for inflammatory lung disease and lung cancer
Dr Christopher Burns, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
The inflammatory lung disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major disease burden in Australia with over one million sufferers. Lung cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat with 5-year survival rates being below 20%. There is a pressing need for new therapies to treat these diseases and this project will develop new drugs designed to inhibit an underlying mechanism present in both diseases with minimal side-effects.
o $839,272 million for new blood cancer treatment
Associate Professor Grant McArthur, University of Melbourne
Associate Professor McArthur has made the fundamental discovery that the ribosomal gene transcription is not simply a 'housekeeping' process in cancer cells but is required to maintain malignant cell viability. Inhibition of the ribosomal gene transcription using CX-5461, a novel small molecule inhibitor, enables selectivity for malignant cells over normal cells.
His development grant will be used to translate these observations into 'first in man' phase 1 clinical trials of CX-5461 for the treatment of blood cancers.
VIC funded program grants include:
o $12.4 million for cardiovascular disease
Professor David Kaye, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
Despite significant advances in treatment, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death and disability in Australia and worldwide. Professor Kaye’s team has an international reputation for developing innovative approaches for the treatment of patients with CVD. They will work collaboratively to improve outcomes for people suffering from hypertension, heart attack and heart failure.
o $10.3 million for type 1 diabetes
Professor Thomas Kay, St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research
At least six young Australians are diagnosed each day with type 1 diabetes. Professor Kay’s research aims to propel type 1 diabetes research forward to reach the goals of prevention and cure by proactively treating its underlying mechanisms. He will develop safer and more effective immune therapies, develop islet transplantation, look for better markers of disease and identify ways to preserve insulin-producing cells.
