Vital Monash research funded by NHMRC
Novel research into some of the most pressing medical challenges facing humanity, from cancer to the health of newborn babies, will continue following Monash University's success in the latest round of research funding.
Minister for Health and Ageing, Mr Mark Butler, announced today that more than $41 million in grants, funding 72 research projects, has been awarded to Monash academics by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), ranking the University third among the research-intensive Group of Eight institutions.
In addition to the funding for projects, Monash received more than $15 million to support a variety of research fellowships and a Centre of Research Excellence, led by Professor Peter Cameron, the Australian Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium which will work to improve out-of-hospital treatment of cardiac arrest, potentially saving hundreds of lives each year.
A significant project grant was awarded to Professor David Cooper from the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. He received more than $2.7 million to examine whether intensive care patients requiring transfusions recover better if the blood they are given is stored for shorter periods of time.
A team of Monash researchers from the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute has been awarded more than $1.1 million to lead two projects stemming from an examination of zebrafish genetics, which will investigate potential treatments for muscular dystrophy and cancer.
A project led by Professor Brian Oldenburg, of the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, will investigate the biological and psychological links between heart disease and depression and anxiety disorders, which are often observed following a heart attack.
Other funded projects will tackle a variety of health problems including HIV, antibiotic-resistant superbugs, the mental health of women following childbirth, asthma, obesity, intellectual disability and sleep apnoea.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Edwina Cornish, congratulated the successful applicants.
"Monash University's continued success in attracting grant funding is a testament to the talent and dedication of our researchers.
"The funded projects reflect Monash University's commitment to undertaking research that matters, that will deliver real-world benefits," said Professor Cornish.
"On behalf of the University, I thank the NHMRC for their continued support of the important work being undertaken here."
The NHMRC today announced a total of $673.7 million dollars in funding to institutions across Australia.