Medical research boost

The recent boost in funding to help Australian researchers find new health treatments and cures is said to support 153 grants across five National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) schemes.

The grants will address broad areas of research, from infections in cancer patients to building immunity to childhood eczema and allergies.

The funding announcement follows the $559.1 million for new medical research discoveries announced in October last year.

“Health and medical research is a major priority of the government and these new grants will support innovative projects aimed at finding better treatments for common diseases such as cancer, diabetes, asthma, arthritis and cardiovascular disease,” Federal Minister for Health, Peter Dutton,  said.

He added the funding boost would also help find new ways of “tackling mental illness, dementia and gaps in indigenous health”.

In this round of funding:

• Multi-disciplinary teambased research that contributes to new knowledge in biomedical, clinical, public health and health services will be supported with 11 program grants worth $101.6 million.
• Researchers and policy makers will be able to identify changes in the delivery, organisation, funding and access to health services through seven Partnership Projects totalling $4.4 million.
• Research at the early proof of concept for commercialisation will be supported with 24 Development Grants worth $14.7 million for new medical products, processes, procedures and services.

Announcing the new grants at the University of Adelaide, Mr Dutton took the opportunity to visit the laboratory of one of the successful program grant recipients, Professor James Paton.

“Professor Paton and his team are conducting innovative work in the area of infectious disease,” Mr Dutton said.

“Their research into how microorganisms cause disease could pave the way to improved vaccines and drugs. This would have a significant global impact, given that infectious disease claims more than 10 million lives around the world each year.

“Australian researchers are among the best in the world and the government is pleased to provide funding to support the work of so many dedicated professionals.”

Grant highlights

Professor Richard Harvey, from Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute ($10,621,535), will exploit the latest advances in genome technology and stem cell biology to identify evidence based therapies for treating heart disease and stimulating regeneration of heart cells.

Professor Barry Marshall, from the University of Western Australia ($919,596), will trial the use of Helicobacter pylori bacteria to build immunity to childhood eczema and allergies.

Professor Elizabeth Eakin, from University of Queensland ($1,267,111), will investigate the implementation of evidence based cancer care via the Cancer Council Helpline service. The aim of this research is to inform the widespread uptake of lifestyle interventions and to improve the quality and quantity of survival for Australian cancer survivors.

Dr Benjamin Teh, from the University of Melbourne ($84,905), will look for new risks for infection in patients with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow.