$44 million to expand Australia's future health and medical research capability

The Australian Government is investing in the future competitiveness of Australian health and medical research with more than $44 million for postgraduate scholarships, international collaboration and research infrastructure and equipment through the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The Morrison Government is investing in the future competitiveness of Australian health and medical research with more than $44 million for postgraduate scholarships, international collaboration and research infrastructure and equipment through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Investment in health and medical research capability through postgraduate scholarships and

international partnerships is critical to both create and maintain Australia’s competitive sector.

This funding is part of the $1 billion available for NHMRC’s 2021 grant round, the highest yet through the Medical Research Endowment Account.

The postgraduate scholarships will create opportunities for many graduates in medicine and health sciences to pursue their ideas and tackle the health challenges facing our community.

Today’s investment also includes funding to support international collaboration by established researchers.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said sharing scientific knowledge enables Australian researchers to develop best practices and build international research networks that will accelerate discoveries and their translation into better health outcomes.

“NHMRC’s international partnerships bring researchers together to promote global health objectives and strengthen Australian participation in international research efforts,” Minister Hunt said.

“This announcement is also an investment in the next generation of Australian medical research leaders, with the careers of many of Australia’s foremost health and medical researchers kick-started by an NHMRC postgraduate scholarship.”

Funding announced today comprises:

• $25.7 million to contribute to infrastructure costs of research for 21 independent medical research institutes through the Independent Research Institutes Infrastructure Support Scheme (IRIISS).
• More than $7.24 million to support the early research careers of 65 outstanding health and medical graduates through NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships.
• More than $2.8 million to support collaboration with our regional neighbours, sharing vital resources and ideas to combat complex regional health challenges through NHMRC’s participation in the e-ASIA Joint Research Program.
• More than $2.5 million to support collaborative research with partners through the 2021 NHMRC - European Union Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) Grants and NHMRC - National Institute for Research Health (UK) Collaborative Research Grants.
• $5.7 million for 45 grants for the procurement of equipment to support the highest quality health and medical research.

“A strong health and medical research system relies on scientists, clinicians and others working together to share knowledge and accelerate discoveries and their translation into better health outcomes,” NHMRC CEO Professor Anne Kelso AO said.

“This collaboration begins with postgraduate research students learning from their mentors, sharing skills and ideas, and continues with international partnerships when researchers around the world come together to solve shared health challenges.”

NHMRC Postgraduate scholarships

Name	Grant Title	Admin Institution	Total
Dr Luke McLean	Understanding response and resistance to immunotherapy in immunocompromised patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas	University of Melbourne	$135,002
Dr Yew Li Dang	Using twin studies to investigate epilepsy aetiology and antiepileptic drug-induced birth defects	University of Melbourne	$135,002
Dr Lucy McGrath-Cadell	Understanding the genetics and mechanisms of spontaneous coronary artery dissection	University of New South Wales	$97,640
Dr Ralley Prentice	The Pregnancy in Crohn's and Colitis - Observations, Levels and Outcomes Extension (PICCOLO - X) study	Monash University	$101,377
Dr Julia Lai-Kwon	Harnessing the power of Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs): demonstrating novel applications of PROs in the care of oncology patients	University of Melbourne	$135,002
Dr Michael Zhu	Long-term Outcomes of Surgery for Diseases of the Aortic Valve in Children	Murdoch Childrens Research Institute	$116,321
Dr Jayson Jeganathan	Negative Symptoms of Psychosis	University of Newcastle	$93,904
Dr Ouli Xie	Evolution of Streptococcal pathovars	University of Melbourne	$123,794
Dr Adrian Lee	Towards the understanding of the immunopathogenesis of autoantibody-mediated systemic diseases: new approaches to old problems	Garvan Institute of Medical Research	$135,002
Dr Jessica Fairley	Meeting an unmet need in systemic sclerosis: defining the burden of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death	University of Melbourne	$135,002
Dr Michael Lim	Randomised Evaluation of the Impact of Catheter Ablation versus Medical Therapy on Psychological Distress and Neurocognitive Function in Atrial Fibrillation	Melbourne Health	$135,002
Ms Tara Guckel	Advancing the prevention and early intervention for co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use disorders	University of Sydney	$93,056
Dr Adithya Balasubramanian	Targeting immune resistance mechanisms to enhance anti-tumour immunity in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer	Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research	$97,640
Dr Larissa Trease	Risk factors for and burden of low back pain in elite athletes.	La Trobe University	$135,002
Dr Lachlan Batty	Young people with old knees: The role of matrix metalloproteinase 3 and type 2 collagen C-telopeptide fragments in predicting post traumatic osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction	La Trobe University	$101,377
Dr Yi Chao Foong	Validation and implementation of smartphone-based digital biomarkers in multiple sclerosis to define subclinical progression and treatment failure: the ACTIVE MS study	Monash University	$135,002
Miss Sophia Garlick Bock	Comorbid Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Use Among Sexuality and Gender Diverse Young People in Australia	University of Sydney	$93,056
Dr Sonali Shah	Hypertension with low renin - new insights into prevalence, pathophysiology and management	Monash University	$135,002
Ms Desiree LaGrappe	Maternal and Child Health Nursing: A golden opportunity to integrate screening for reproductive coercion and increase effective contraception use?	La Trobe University	$101,542
Ms Olivia Price	Preventing infectious disease and reducing associated harms among people who inject drugs	University of New South Wales	$93,056
Ms Isabelle Meulenbroeks	The impact of COVID-19 and associated health policies on access to allied healthcare, care quality, and health outcomes in Australian residential aged care facilities	Macquarie University	$101,542
Ms Katie Lee	Genomic architecture of skin in the vicinity of previous melanoma in photodamaged and non-photodamaged areas	University of Queensland	$77,630
Dr Gemma Reynolds	High-risk lymphoproliferative malignancies in the era of novel therapies: Infection risk, surveillance and prophylaxis	University of Melbourne	$135,002
Dr Elizabeth Armari	Developing and evaluating an evidence-based training program for improving labour and childbirth care in India.	Burnet Institute	$101,377
Shania Liu	Responsible pre-operative Opioid use for Hip and knee ArthropLasTy (OpioidHALT) study	University of Sydney	$81,985
Dr Anthony Hew	Revolutionising System Reform in Mental Health: Addressing Gaps in the System through Big Data and Data Linkage	Monash University	$116,321
Dr Noa Amir	Identifying and addressing the needs and priorities of patients with  genetic kidney disease and their families	University of Sydney	$97,640
Dr Aaron Kee Yee Wong	Personalising Pain Relief for People With Cancer: The Right Opioid For the Right Person at the Right Time	University of Melbourne	$93,904
Dr Laura Eades	Biomarker profiles in Indigenous Australians with systemic lupus erythematosus	Monash University	$135,002
Dr Edmund Chung	Treatments to expand regulatory T cells and/or deplete autoantibody production in primary membranous nephropathy	University of Sydney	$97,640
Dr Hiu Tat Chan	Towards vaginal microbiota stability: new treatment paradigm for bacterial vaginosis	La Trobe University	$97,640
Mr Dominic Delport	Using mathematical models to generate evidence to support Australia’s COVID-19 responses and prepare for future pandemics	Burnet Institute	$93,056
Mr Karan Shah	Economic evaluation of strategies to increase kidney donation and transplantation	University of Sydney	$80,201
Dr Yasmin Hughes	Improving Syphilis diagnosis and management in the community	Monash University	$135,002
Dr Madeleine  Gill	Understanding Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy	Centenary Institute	$123,794
Dr Garry Hamilton	Radial artery conduits in coronary artery bypass surgery: the impact of prior instrumentation with a focus on the vascular biology and clinical outcomes.	University of Melbourne	$135,002
Dr Prianka Puri	An integration of multi-omics and machine learning to stratify patients with lupus nephritis for precision medicine	University of Queensland	$131,266
Dr Sean Tan	Cardiovascular Screening in Cancer Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors	Monash University	$135,002
Dr Alexandra Stewart	The role of cytochrome polymorphisms in primaquine metabolism and effects on its activity in radical cure of Plasmodium vivax infection	University of Melbourne	$135,002
Dr Tanya Ross	Informing future recommendations for prevention and treatment of ovarian cancer using population data	University of Queensland	$90,168
Mr Samuel Tu	Cardiometabolic, Genetic and Lifestyle Risk Factors for Arrhythmias	University of Adelaide	$77,630
Ms Isobel Todd	Perinatal and early childhood risk and protective factors for paediatric infection	Murdoch Childrens Research Institute	$93,056
Ms Melissa  Savaglio	Developing a community-based psychosocial intervention for  young people with mental illness	Monash University	$67,346
Mrs Lorelle Holland	Decolonising approaches for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with complex health needs exposed to the youth justice system in Australia: Reducing incarceration and recidivism rates	University of Queensland	$115,801
Ms Amelia Hyatt	Determining health system and public policy elements for successful implementation and sustainability of cervical cancer elimination strategies at a country and regional level	University of Melbourne	$93,056
Dr Deonna Ackermann	Optimising trial processes and generating translational gains: Studies Within A Trial (SWATs) for the MELSELF randomised controlled trial of patient-led melanoma surveillance.	University of Sydney	$62,204
Mr Alexander Terrill	Application of advanced manufacturing technologies to offload diabetes-related foot ulceration	Queensland University of Technology	$85,245
Stephanie Bond	Development and evaluation of strategies to improve syphilis screening of pregnant women to prevent congenital syphilis	Monash University	$135,002
Ms Erin Madden	Improving evidence-based practice for comorbid alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions: the role of implementation science and quality improvement toolkits	University of Sydney	$93,056
Anna Le Fevre	Investigating epigenetic regulators of disease and novel epigenetic treatment approaches for imprinting disorders	Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research	$135,002
Dr Bernadette Ricciardo	Koolungar Urban Moorditj Healthy Skin: Determining the burden of skin disease in urban Aboriginal children and adolescents.	University of Western Australia	$123,794
Dr Victoria Hall	Defining host immune response and prevention strategies for viral respiratory tract infections in patients with haematological malignancy	University of Melbourne	$135,002
Dr Thomas Lew	Enhancing venetoclax and other pro-apoptotic agents to improve outcomes for patients with haematological malignancies	Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research	$135,002
Dr Yin Yuan	Dissecting the challenge of AML	Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research	$135,002
Ashwin Bhaskaran	Ventricular arrhythmia mechanisms and therapies	University of Sydney	$135,002
Dr Sarah Holper	Untangling Neuroinflammation's Role in Alzheimer's Disease Development (UNRAVEL)	Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research	$135,002
Dr Yara-Natalie Abo	A randomised controlled human challenge trial to evaluate Strep A vaccine efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity	Murdoch Childrens Research Institute	$135,002
Ms Chandana Guha	Improving care and outcomes for vulnerable patients with chronic kidney disease – the young and the elderly	University of Sydney	$67,346
Dr Kasun De Silva	Novel technologies and strategies to identify arrhythmogenic substrate and triggers for sudden cardiac death	University of Sydney	$90,168
Alice Powell	Exceptional cognition in old age and interactions with other aspects of successful ageing	University of New South Wales	$123,794
Miss Nicola Creagh	Evaluating the use of an open access self-collection cervical screening pathway: The solution to declining participation and to long standing inequities?	University of Melbourne	$93,056
Dr Huong Nguyen	A Cognitive Ageing Risk Evaluation (CARE) Tool to Support Clinical Diagnosis of Dementia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples	University of Melbourne	$105,113
Dr Oliver Cronin	The Science of Cold Snare Polypectomy	University of Sydney	$101,377
Ms Thi Tran	How does methamphetamine use, mental health and treatment interventions affect one another?	University of New South Wales	$117,839
Dr Robert Little	Modulation of the gut microbiome and mucosal immune response in IBD	Monash University	$135,002

NHMRC e-ASIA 2021 Joint Research Program

Name	Grant Title	Admin Institution	Total
Dr Pengfei Cai	Innovative point-of-care diagnostics and environmental surveillance tools for the elimination of Asian schistosomiasis	QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute	$749,987
Assoc Prof Jason Ong	Ending HIV transmission by Optimizing Pre-exposure prophylaxis in East Asia (HOPE)	Monash University	$667,191
Prof Freya Fowkes	Vector sero-surveillance tools to accelerate malaria elimination	Burnet Institute	$745,125
Assoc Prof Tao Liu	Targeting MYCN/NCYM for cancer therapy	University of New South Wales	$699,317

2021 NHMRC-European Union Joint Programme on Neurodegenerative Disease Research - JPND

CIA Name	Grant Title	Admin Institution	Total
Prof Simon Lewis	COgNiTive propagation in pRodrOmaL Parkinson’s disease: CONTROL-PD	University of Sydney	$462,501
Prof Sarah Spencer	Effects of early-Stress On Lipid mediators and Inflammation for early Detection of neurodegeneration (SOLID)	RMIT University	$499,605
Dr Allan McRae	Leveraging medical records to identify patients at risk of neurodegenerative disease	University of Queensland	$482,706

2020 NHMRC-NIHR Collaborative Research Grant Scheme Round 3

CIA Name	Grant Title	Admin Institution	Total
Prof Viviana Wuthrich	A randomised CONtrolled trial of Tailored Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for older people with treatment resistant Generalised Anxiety Disorder (CONTACT-GAD)	Macquarie University	$358,767
Dr Calum Roberts	The neoGASTRIC trial: Avoiding routine gastric residual volume measurement in neonatal critical care, a multi-centre, randomised controlled trial	Monash University	$739,020