Media Release

Summary Media Release information:

Description: Grants help to market medical discoveries

Date: 13 April 2008

Type:
Media Release

Further information:
Mark Davis, 0417 684 096

Phil Mayne, 0422 008 512

Grants help to market medical discoveries

Retinal imaging to identify people at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, a dressing that will reduce the severity of scars and a "smarthroscope" that distinguishes between healthy and damaged tissue are among 22 National Health and Medical Research Council development grants announced today by the Australian Government.

The grants, worth $4.4 million, will provide funding for researchers to translate the results of their research into products that benefit consumers in Australia and overseas.

They fund research commercialisation at the early proof-of-concept stage and support development work in fields related to human health including diagnostics, medical devices, pharmaceutical products and biotechnology.

Among the grant recipients are:

  • Professor Tien Wong, Centre for Eye Research Australia, $244,000 for retinal imaging to identify people at risk of cardiovascular disease
  • Professor Zee Upton, Queensland University of Technology, $157,500 for dressings for scar remeditation
  • Dr Allison Cowin, University of Adelaide, $187,000 to develop a novel treatment for wounds
  • Professor David Craik, University of Queensland, $218,000 to develop a new drug for pain treatment
  • Professor Adekunle Oloyede, Queensland University of Technology, $221,000 to develop a device that will distinguish between healthy and damaged tissue.

Since 2004 NHMRC has awarded 86 development grants totalling $16.5 million.

» Download this media release (PDF - 19kb)

» Download the list of the recipients receiving funding (PDF - 25kb)

Media contacts: Phil Mayne NHMRC 0422 008 512

top]