Researchers at La Trobe University and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute have received $3.9 million in grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for two distinct health projects.
Connect4Health Project: AI for Chronic Condition Support
Professor Brian Oldenburg, from La Trobe and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, will lead the Connect4Health project. This initiative has secured $2.2 million through the NHMRC 2025 Ideas Grants.
The project aims to implement an AI-driven support system designed to address the psychological and social challenges associated with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Co-designed with individuals living with chronic conditions, medical professionals, and other healthcare workers, the system will facilitate connections to support services including social groups, walking clubs, and counseling. The goal is to enhance physical and mental health outcomes and mitigate health inequalities by fostering community support beyond traditional medical systems.
Professor Oldenburg stated that the Connect4Health project will utilize AI expertise at La Trobe to establish a system where current workforce capacity is insufficient. He noted that while clinical and medical aspects of chronic disease are managed, social and psychological dimensions are often overlooked. The AI-enabled platform is intended to offer personalized navigation, termed a social prescription, directing individuals to relevant services and support tailored to their specific goals, cultural context, health literacy preferences, and accessibility needs.
This five-year project will involve a team of researchers from La Trobe and Baker Institute, specializing in AI, disease prevention, rural health, loneliness, and social isolation. International collaborations with health professionals and partners in Denmark and the UK are also part of the initiative. Dr. Ralph Audehm, a general practitioner with over 35 years of experience and an associate investigator, contributes expertise in chronic disease management. He emphasized the interplay between psychological health and chronic diseases. The implementation will commence in Melbourne and regional Victoria via La Trobe’s Rural Health School, with future plans for expansion into regional Tasmania.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Research
In a separate project, Professor Grant Drummond, co-Director of La Trobe’s Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, along with Associate Professor Antony Vinh and Dr. Hericka Figueiredo Galvao, has been awarded $1.7 million. This project focuses on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), a life-threatening condition characterized by inflammation, dilation, and rupture risk in the body's main artery. AAA has an associated mortality rate of 80 percent.
Professor Drummond noted the current absence of pharmaceutical treatments for AAA and the limited applicability of surgery, indicating a need for new therapeutic options. The research will investigate the role of interleukin-18, an inflammatory protein, in AAA to understand its mechanism in activating immune cells and to explore whether inhibiting its activity through new drugs could serve as a viable treatment.
Chris Pakes, La Trobe’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, acknowledged the funding achievements, stating they reflect the quality of the work and dedication of the researchers in addressing critical health challenges.