National Health and Medical Research Council

As a whole, although the Australian population enjoys some of the best health in the world, Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples do not share in this. NHMRC's commitment to improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is being implemented through a strategic approach based on priorities identified by Indigenous people themselves, and delivered within the context of a whole-of-government approach to Indigenous affairs.

NHMRC Indigenous Scientific Forum communiqué - 5 April 2011

The importance of Indigenous health research and building the current and future workforce were reinforced at the NHMRC Indigenous Scientific Forum, held from 24-25 February 2011, in Canberra.

• See the full notice for further information

NHMRC funding for Indigenous health research

In the period 2004-09, NHMRC contributed $138.2 million to Australian research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Some NHMRC-funded research projects in Indigenous health

Understanding how to develop new vaccines and drugs for tropical diseases

Chief Investigator Professor David J Kemp, Queensland Institute of Medical Research

Malaria, streptococcal diseases, helminthiases and scabies are diseases of indigenous people on a massive scale, which lack vaccines. We aim to understand the pathogenesis of these diseases and develop vaccines and other treatments to combat them. Team includes senior experts on infectious diseases with long collaborative histories and younger members with impressive credentials. The work proposed also concerns inventive new ways of making such vaccines by novel chemical methods and aspects of delivery.

New Program Grant

Antenatal screening for fetal anomalies in Indigenous women: views of Indigenous people and their health care providers

Chief Investigator Dr Alice R Rumbold, Menzies School of Health Research

This project aims to investigate the views of Indigenous women, their families and health service providers about antenatal screening tests for abnormalities like Down syndrome. This will contribute knowledge about why there is low uptake of screening amongst Indigenous women, and whether changes in the provision of antenatal care are required. This is important because all women, regardless of their culture or location, should be offered the same opportunities and care during pregnancy.

NHMRC Project Grant

Ear health, hearing, speech and language development in urban Aboriginal children

Chief Investigator Professor Sandra Eades, University of Sydney

Studies from the Northern Territory and Western Australia have established that Aboriginal children experience earlier, more frequent and more severe middle ear disease than any other children worldwide. There is little information on Aboriginal communities in urban setings or those living in NSW. This study will fill this knowledge gap by examining the burden of middle ear disease, hearing impairment and consequent speech and language delays in urban Aboriginal children in NSW.

NHMRC Project Grant

Gudaga Project: understanding the health, development, and service use of Aboriginal children in an urban environment

Chief Investigator Dr Elizabeth J Comino, University of New South Wales

The Gudaga project is a birth cohort of Aboriginal children that will be followed from 18 months to 5 years and describe their health, development and service (health and children's) use. This is the first study of its kind in Eastern Australia. The research team are working closely with stakeholders in Aboriginal health care including the Aboriginal community to implement the research. The research will contribute to services for Aboriginal children in the local and wider community.

NHMRC Project Grant

Alternative Medicines from Aboriginal Medicinal Plants

Chief Investigator Dr Subramanyam Vemulpad, Macquarie University

This research will conserve customary Australian Aboriginal knowledge of historical and cultural significance and apply this knowledge to the discovery of new evidence-based alternative medicines that may help address the growing need for new antimicrobial treatments. It will also be a model for collaboration between Australian Aboriginal communities and research scientists. The customary (traditional and contemporary) knowledge of medicinal plants possessed by Indigenous peoples is a significant medicinal resource, as seen by the reliance on customary medicines by ~80% of the population in developing countries as their primary healthcare. There has been a renewed interest in customary medicines, especially with the increase in microbial resistance and emergence of new diseases, side effects of single compound medications and high cost of drug development. Australian Aboriginal people have a vast medicinal plant knowledge based on thousands of years of using plants as medicines. This especially includes topical use for conditions indicative of microbial infections. Despite their potential, relatively few studies have been conducted on Australian Aboriginal medicines to provide evidence for their use. For Northern New South Wales (NNSW) Aboriginal communities, as is the case for many other Australian Aboriginal communities, this customary knowledge is rapidly disappearing, especially due to premature deaths of the elder custodians of this knowledge. The overall aims of this project are to work in partnership with the NNSW Yaegl Local Aboriginal Land Council and Ulgundahi Elders Aboriginal Corporation to i) document and preserve first hand customary medicinal plant knowledge; ii) identify plants of significant medicinal potential in treating antibacterial and antifungal infections; iii) evaluate their effectiveness using in vitro and in vivo biological assays; and iv) identify the major bioactive components responsible for their medicinal properties.

NHMRC Strategic Award - Complimentary and Alternative Medicines

Maternal health services for remote dwelling Aboriginal women and infants

Chief Investigator Mrs Sarah J Bar-Zeev, Charles Darwin University

Indigenous women demand changes in healthcare services. This project occurs at the instigation of women from two Top End remote communities. It will analyse the organization and delivery of maternal health care services for women and infants from Maningrida and Wadeye and identify how services could be improved. This project will help develop strategies for maternal health service redesign and assist in improving health outcomes for Indigenous mothers and infants from these remote communities.

Training Scholarship for Aboriginal Health Researchers

Molecular mechanisms of ivermectin resistance in scabies

Chief Investigator Miss Kate E Mounsey, Menzies School of Health Research

A largely neglected parasitic disease, scabies is a significant disease of children, particularly in remote Aboriginal communities in northern Australia. The recent emergence of ivermectin resistance threatens future control of scabies. This research explores the genetic basis of ivermectin resistance in the scabies mite, developing molecular markers to identify the emergence of resistance in the community, leading to improved tools for resistance management and sustainable treatment.

Australian Training Fellowship for ATSI Health Research

Understanding recovery from chronic & recurring mental disorders in FNQ Indigenous communities

Chief Investigator Ms Vicki-Lea  Saunders, University of Queensland

Little is known about the rates of chronic and recurring mental illness in the Indigenous population, particularly in remote Indigenous communities. This research aims to document the extent of the problem & explore the factors that place individuals at risk of poorer mental health outcomes as well as those factors that promote resiliency and recovery in the face of such risk. In addition, the concept of recovery in mental illness will be expanded to include Indigenous views.

Training Scholarship for Aboriginal Health Researchers

eGFR in Indigenous Australians

Chief Investigator Dr Louise Maple-Brown, Menzies School of Health Research

There is an overwhelming burden of chronic disease in Indigenous Australians. In order to attempt to improve kidney disease in this high-risk population, it is vital that we are able to accurately measure kidney function. This study will provide evidence to accurately assess kidney function in Indigenous Australians. This will then enable development of appropriate clinical guidelines and more effective monitoring of future interventions to slow progression of kidney disease.

NHMRC Project Grant

The Torres Women's Fitness Trial

Chief Investigator Professor Robyn McDermott, University of South Australia

Torres Strait Islanders have the highest prevalence of diabetes in Australia and weight gain in young women can increase further the risk of diabetes for themselves and their babies. Waist loss can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. A pilot study in the Torres Strait in 2007, has demonstrated that this is achievable and acceptable in young Indigenous women. This proposal aims to conduct a larger trial, to look at effectiveness and sustainability of "waist loss" in young women.

NHMRC Project Grant

Proatheroclerotic Effects of Toxins secreted by Golden Staphylococcus?

Chief Investigator Professor Karlheinz Peter, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute

Skin or other Staphylococcus aureus (SA, golden Staph.) infections  are common in Aboriginal Australians. We address the question whether atherosclerotic disease is accelerated by this bacterial infection. We will investigate whether a class of newly described toxins secreted by SA activates blood cells and leads to clot formation and potentially heart attack. We will evaluate plasma samples from cardiac patients and Aboriginal Austr. and will develop and test therapeutics in vitro and in mice.

NHMRC Project Grant

Can better clinical practice lower the rates of sexually transmitted infections in remote Aboriginal communities?

Chief Investigator Professor John M Kaldor, University of New South Wales

This project will trial strategies for attaining clinical best practice in sexual health with an overall objective of reducing the high rates of sexually transmitted infection in remote Aboriginal communities in central and northern Australia. The trial will take place in 21 communities of which seven will be randomly assigned in each of the three years of the trial. This trial will determine whether strengthening primary health services can reduce the level of these infections.

NHMRC Project Grant

Indigenous people and cancer survivorship

Chief Investigator Dr Patricia Valery, Queensland Institute of Medical Research

This project will significantly contribute to Indigenous health research through addressing the current knowledge gap about the unmet support needs of Indigenous cancer patients in Queensland. This study will also investigate if the existing cancer supportive care is adequate for Indigenous patients and how an indigenious patient navigator will adress the barriers to accessing existing care. Indigenous research capacity building is a strong element of this project.

NHMRC Project Grant

The relationship of body shape, kidney disease & inflammation in Indigenous persons with diabetes

Chief Investigator Dr Jaquelyne T Hughes, Menzies School of Health Research

Indigenous Australians bare a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney failure.  The metabolic syndrome (the combination of obesity, insulin-resistance, abnormal lipids, and hypertension) is a common occurrence and important risk factor for the above chronic conditions in this population.  Further study of the relationship of fat distribution, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, diabetes and CKD is of benefit to understand and prevent mortality in this population.

Training Scholarship for Aboriginal Health Researchers