Researchers from the University of Newcastle (UoN), the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), and the University of Queensland (UQ) have been awarded a combined total of over $32.8 million in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants. These funds, distributed through the Ideas Grants and Postgraduate Scholarships programs, will support various medical research projects aimed at addressing health challenges and advancing scientific understanding across a range of fields.
University of Newcastle and HMRI Secure Over $3.8 Million for Three Projects
Three research teams from the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute received more than $3.8 million in NHMRC Ideas Grants. These grants will fund projects focused on specific scientific questions and potential real-world applications.
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Dr. Jacinta Martin ($1.8 Million): PFAS Exposure and Dietary Intervention
- This project investigates the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure on parental and child health during the perinatal period. The research aims to clarify the biological mechanisms through which PFAS impact health and to test a plant-based dietary intervention designed to reduce PFAS accumulation. PFAS exposure has been associated with pregnancy complications, developmental issues, and long-term health risks. The expected outcome is to inform the development of intervention strategies to mitigate the health consequences of PFAS exposure.
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Dr. Guy Cameron ($1.3 Million): Iron Levels and Infection Risk in Aboriginal Children
- This study will examine the relationship between low iron levels during pregnancy and early life, and the risk of otitis media (middle ear infection) in children. Otitis media is a primary cause of preventable hearing loss and developmental delay, with particularly high rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities globally. The project aims to understand how iron status affects immune responses and ear bacteria, marking the first study to examine how low iron during pregnancy and early-life iron dysregulation affect children's risk of otitis media. The findings are expected to contribute to improved prevention strategies, such as iron supplementation, to reduce ear disease and enhance health outcomes.
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Professor Juanita Todd ($644,000): Early Brain Changes in Schizophrenia
- This project investigates early brain function changes, specifically impaired sensory gating, that may precede the onset of schizophrenia. Subtle changes in brain function are thought to occur earlier than the typical onset of symptoms in early adulthood. Combining human studies, laboratory research, and computational modeling, the project seeks to identify biological processes, developmental risk factors, and neurotransmitter systems that disrupt sensory gating and increase vulnerability to the condition. The research aims to advance understanding of schizophrenia's origins and support enhanced monitoring and early intervention methods.
University of Queensland Awarded $29 Million for 22 Projects
Twenty-two researchers and teams from the University of Queensland received a total of $29 million from the NHMRC. This funding was distributed through both the Ideas Grants and Postgraduate Scholarships programs, supporting early and mid-career researchers across various health and medical fields, from foundational discovery to practical implementation.
NHMRC Ideas Grants Recipients and Projects include:
- Investigating induced brain rhythms to improve stroke recovery.
- Examining improper brain insulation's contribution to neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism.
- Developing new antibiotics for infections such as tuberculosis and candida.
- Testing a new breast cancer detection method using specific receptor targeting.
- Researching why damaged cells outcompete healthy ones, to develop therapies preventing skin cancer.
- Formulating an RNA medicine platform for disease combat and pandemic response.
- Studying how aging increases the risk and severity of fatty liver disease.
- Creating a lab model for Malan syndrome, a rare disorder, to identify causes.
- Designing new drugs to treat dangerous recluse spider bites.
- Investigating a new drug-resistant E. coli strain that causes urinary tract infections and sepsis.
- Utilizing 3D body photography, AI, and genomics for earlier melanoma detection.
- Studying how immune cells suppress harmful inflammation for new anti-inflammatory treatments.
- Developing a classification system for children's screen use data.
- Developing an adaptive deep brain stimulation system for conditions like Parkinson's disease.
- Developing an mRNA vaccine to improve outcomes for children with brain cancer.
- Investigating yellow fever vaccine mutations to inform next-generation vaccines for flaviviruses like dengue.
- Researching a 'superbug' bacteria that evades antibiotics.
- Studying how tuberculosis bacteria utilize specific survival systems.
- Growing miniature livers and brains to test treatments for Ataxia Telangiectasia.
- Examining the spread of mitochondrial DNA mutations and how environmental bacteria can reduce these mutations.
NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships Recipients and Projects include:
- Testing an optimized electronic frailty index to estimate in-hospital improvements in health outcomes.
- Co-leading a model to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of people released from prison, incorporating cultural and lived experiences.