Uni of Adelaide health research receives a $23.1 million boost

Monday, 9 November 2015

Research into improving the health and wellbeing of children and older Australians received a major boost today with the Federal Government announcing funding for two new University of Adelaide Centres of Research Excellence (CRE).

The EMPOWER: Health Systems, Adversity and Child Well Being and the Frailty Trans-Disciplinary Research To Achieve Healthy Ageing CREs are among 34 University of Adelaide research projects sharing in $23.1 million of National Health and Medical Research Council funding announced this morning by Minister for Health Sussan Ley.

The $23.1 million awarded to the University of Adelaide comprises more than 50% of the funding coming to South Australia, and includes:

- $12.1 million for 17 Project Grants;
- $838,360 for two Career Development Fellowships;
- $603,767 for one NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellowship;
- $4.8 million for two Centres for Research Excellence;
- $2.4 million for seven Early Career Fellowships;
- $2.2 million for four Research Fellowships; and
- $208,989 an NHMRC Infrastructure Grant.

The new projects include:

- $1.3 million awarded to a team led by Emeritus Professor Alastair MacLennan to examine the genetic origins of cerebral palsy;
- $920,972 awarded to a team led by Professor Sarah Robertson priming the maternal immune response to resist inflammatory disorders of pregnancy;
- $832,723 awarded to a team led by Professor Brian Smith looking at training health professionals in tobacco cessation and evidence translation for Aboriginal Australians;
- $603,767 awarded to a team led by Dr Mitchell Goldsworthy for research into early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease;
- $387,804 awarded to early career researcher Dr Michelle Marneweck to unravel the neural bases of the diverse capability of the grasping hand; and
- $337,180 awarded to early career researcher Dr Rajiv Mahajan studying obesity and atrial fibrillation.

The University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Mike Brooks, says: "University of Adelaide researchers are tackling some of the toughest and most pertinent health issues facing Australians.

“Today’s funding announcement is a tremendous result for the University and the state. These grants are vital for our researchers in their quest to improve the health and wellbeing of future generations,” he says.

Visit the NHMRC website for more information. 

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