Media Release

Email this article

Full Image (52.96K) ARC Discovery Grants    (67.36K) ARC Linkage Grants    (59.28K)

Wednesday, 15 October 2008

The University of Adelaide has been awarded almost $12 million in new research funding announced today by the Federal Government, for research projects that aim to make a major difference to people's lives.

In all, 37 new research projects at the University of Adelaide have been awarded a total of $11,960,025 in the latest round of funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). This represents 62% of the total funding awarded today to the State's research institutions.

The new projects - to begin at the University of Adelaide from next year - include groundbreaking research in the areas of climate change, communications, genetics, reproduction, obesity, agriculture, history and mental illness.

In addition to the public funding announced today, 12 of the University's new research projects will attract almost $10 million in additional cash and in-kind support from industry and other research partners.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor James McWha says today's announcement is further proof that the University of Adelaide is a powerhouse of research in the State.

"The University of Adelaide continues to attract the lion's share of the State's research funding, building on our long track record of excellence in research," Professor McWha says.

"With each new grant awarded, the University is able to make an even greater impact on the community through the development of new knowledge and understanding in areas that affect our daily lives.

"The new projects announced today cover the breadth and depth of research expertise at the University - such as the impacts of climate change and how to prevent it, to improving business decision-making thanks to the use of technology. These projects are geared at better understanding our world and helping to provide for a better future.

"I'm especially pleased with our results in attracting funding for new research linked to industry and other partners," Professor McWha says.

Among the winning research projects (Discovery Projects and Linkage Projects) announced today for the University of Adelaide are:

• $810,000 to a team led by Dr Hugh Harris (School of Chemistry & Physics) to better understand how selenium is stored and used in the body, so that the beneficial effects of selenium can be harnessed more effectively;
  
• $641,000 to a team led by Professor Graeme Hugo (School of Social Sciences) to study the potential impact the Baby Boomer generation's health and workforce participation will have on the nation's productivity and prosperity;
  
• $521,000 to a team led by Professor Barry Brook (School of Earth & Environmental Sciences) to develop an innovative new modelling system to determine the extent to which climate change will amplify other major man-made threats to biodiversity;
  
• $405,000 to a team led by Dr Bernd Fischer (School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering) to develop a new T-ray imaging system that will have major benefits for medical science.