Media Release

Among the University of Adelaide projects to win funding today is new research in the School of Dentistry to address socioeconomic inequality in oral health. Photo by Brenton Edwards. Full Image (162.37K)

Friday, 19 October 2012

University of Adelaide researchers will make a major impact on the health of Australians and people right around the world thanks to $31.1 million in new research funding awarded to the University today.

The funding - which will enable 50 new health and medical research projects to start at the University next year - has been awarded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The University of Adelaide's funding represents 67% of all NHMRC funding awarded in the State and is one of the University of Adelaide's best results, following on from last year's record NHMRC funding for the University.

"Today's impressive funding announcement is a testament to the outstanding quality of our researchers," says Professor Mike Brooks, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Adelaide.

"These new projects build on years of experience and expertise in a broad range of health fields. They will result in new medical discoveries, improved health outcomes for the community, and an even stronger sense of the enormous contribution that the University of Adelaide makes in health and medical research.

"Today's announcement also highlights the importance of collaboration between the University and our many research partners among the South Australian hospitals and research institutes," Professor Brooks says.

Among the projects receiving funding in today's announcement are:

• $2,705,590 to Dr Jo (Shao) Zhou (FOODplus Research Centre, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine)
  Omega 3 fats to reduce the incidence of prematurity;

• $1,710,437 to Professor Jodie Dodd (Robinson Institute, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health)
  Metformin and dietary advice to improve insulin sensitivity and promote gestational restriction of weight in pregnant women who are obese;

• $802,470 to Professor Mark Bartold (Colgate Dental Research Centre, School of Dentistry)
  Stem cells for periodontal regeneration;

• $773,033 to Dr Loc Do (Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, School of Dentistry)
  Approach to address socioeconomic inequality in oral health;

• $651,627 to Professor Sarah Robertson (Robinson Institute, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health)
  Male-female sperm signalling - a novel pathway for peri-conceptual health;

• $514,975 to Professor Peter-John Wormald (Surgery, School of Medicine)
  The safety and effectiveness of a new topical treatment to reduce adhesions after abdominal surgery;

• $477,271 to Professor Bernhard Baune (Psychiatry, School of Medicine)
  Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of exercise in psychiatric disorders.

The NHMRC funding includes project grants, research fellowships, fellowships for career development, early career development and clinical practitioners, and funding for new equipment.

Of the project grant recipients, five researchers - Jodie Dodd, David Findlay, Sharad Kumar, Sarah Robertson and Peter-John Wormald - have won two grants each.