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Monash leads in NHMRC program grants

Monash University researchers have snared the largest slice of funding of any Australian research institution in this year's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Program Grants.

From left: NHMRC CEO Professor Alan Pettigrew; Associate Professor Mark Hedger, Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development; Associate Professor Andrew Sinclair, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Federal Health Minister Mr Tony Abbott; Associate Professor Peter Tipping, Monash Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre.

University scientists were awarded almost $27 million for five research programs exploring allergic disorders such as asthma; chronic heart failure; male fertility, prostate cancer and pregnancy; malaria; and inflammatory diseases.

The grants were announced by the federal Minister for Health Mr Tony Abbott in Perth last week.

Deputy vice-chancellor (research) Professor Edwina Cornish said the grants reflected the university's diverse strengths in medical research.

"I'm delighted that the significant groundwork our scientists have already put into their research programs will receive substantial support from the NHMRC over the next five years," Professor Cornish said.

"Their research has the potential to considerably improve the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of a range of medical conditions."

The grants, for research that will start in 2005, were:

$7.73 million to investigate the processes that affect the fertility of men, prostate cancer, and the way mothers nurture and protect their babies during pregnancy, led by Professor David de Kretser, director of the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, and also involving Professor Gail Risbridger, Professor Milton Hearn, Associate Professor Graham Jenkin, Associate Professor Mark Hedger, Associate Professor Euan Wallace, Dr Kate Loveland, Dr David Phillips and Dr Moira O'Bryan

$5.2 million to investigate the molecular and cellular events responsible for inflammation in the kidneys, joints and blood vessels that lead to diseases such as arthritis and atherosclerosis, led by Professor Stephen Holdsworth, head of the Department of Medicine at Monash Medical Centre, and also involving Associate Professor Peter Tipping, Associate Professor Eric Morand, Dr Richard Kitching and Dr Michael Hickey

$4.96 million to develop new approaches to controlling malaria, led by Professor Ross Coppel from the Department of Microbiology, and also involving Dr Brian Cooke, Associate Professor Magdalena Plebanski and Professor Mark von Itzstein

$4.63 million to develop new strategies for preventing and treating chronic heart failure, led by Professor Henry Krum from the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, and also involving Professor Richard Gilbert and Associate Professor Sylviu Itescu

$4.31 million to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling airway inflammation in allergic disorders such as asthma, led by Professor Robyn O'Hehir from the Department of Immunology, and also involving Associate Professor Gary Anderson, Professor John Hamilton and Associate Professor Jennifer Rolland.

In 2003, Monash University teams led by Professor Julian Rood from the Department of Microbiology and Dr James Whisstock from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology received NHMRC program grants valued at $21.8 million to investigate the role of bacteria in human disease and the molecular basis of several important degenerative diseases including dementia and arthritis.