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Latest news and stories
Adding new cells to the mature central nervous system - Investigating their normal function and potential for repair
For people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the myelin that covers nerve fibres in the central nervous system (brain, optic nerves and spinal cord) is damaged, leading to impairment of cognitive, motor and sometimes sensory functions.
How our immune cells kill cancer
With her team, she discovered that, when target cells do not die quickly, it can cause inflammation, which hampers the body’s immune response.
COVID-3D: A small leap to scale up to COVID-19
Early in 2020, the University of Melbourne’s Bio21 team was working on protein modelling to better understand antimicrobial resistance for improved drug development. In March they turned their attention to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which had already undergone many mutations. In September, the team’s work was published in Nature Genetics.
Using digital innovations to address depression and binge drinking in young Australians
Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin is a psychologist and leads an international team at the Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health at the University of Newcastle. Her research focuses on the development and translation of evidence-based treatments for comorbid mental disorders for young Australians.
Improving the health and wellbeing of children by making it easy to be active throughout the day
Professor Jo Salmon from the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University received the Elizabeth Blackburn Investigator Grant Award at last year’s NHMRC Research Excellence Awards. Her research focuses on how to effectively implement physical activity interventions at scale across the population, particularly in children. Physical inactivity is a leading modifiable risk factor for childhood obesity and other physical and mental health conditions.
Building Indigenous research capacity in Australia
For nearly three decades, Professor Jacinta Elston has worked in higher education, furthering efforts to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia. Professor Elston is an Aboriginal woman from North Queensland and the inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) at Monash University.
'10 of the Best': Showcasing health and medical research success stories
Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council has launched the 12th edition of 10 of the Best, showcasing significant projects that support the improvement of human health.
CEO Communique – 15 December 2020
Key points
- $260 million investment in 283 Ideas Grants was announced today.
- $20 million of extra funding has been provided to assist the sector’s recovery from disruption of research by COVID-19.
- Streamlined peer review enabled the Ideas Grants round to be completed despite COVID-19.
- Outcomes were released before the end of the year thanks to exceptional support from peer reviewers across the sector.
No more than 10 a week and 4 a day…
National Health and Medical Research Council confirms new national guidelines for reducing the health risks from drinking alcohol.
Targeting dangerous heart attack and stroke-causing plaques
Heart attack and stroke are major causes of death and disability worldwide. With over 500,000 Australians suffering from some form of coronary artery disease.
A smart needle for safer brain surgery
Almost 2000 Australians are diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour each year1 and, tragically, it is the leading cause of cancer-related death among children. Professor Robert McLaughlin’s team at the University of Adelaide, with colleagues at The University of Western Australia, set out to better diagnose the specific type of tumours, which can benefit patients’ treatment options and outcomes.
Expert Committee to review Australian Dietary Guidelines
Applications are invited from experts to join the review of the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
Case study: Neurodegenerative disease and metals
The formation of abnormal proteins in the brain has long been suspected to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Yet many individuals with abnormal protein formations do not go on to develop such diseases.
Using antimicrobials to prevent infections in our hospitals
Professor Mark Willcox from the University of New South Wales received the Marshall and Warren Ideas Grant Award at this year’s NHMRC Research Excellence Awards. Professor Willcox’s research targets hospital-acquired infections. Half of all hospital-acquired infections are from microbial colonisation of medical devices such as catheters and hip replacements. Professor Willcox and his team are developing new antimicrobial coatings that can be applied to medical devices to reduce the incidence of these infections.
Australian Partnership for Preparedness Research on Infectious Disease Emergencies
APPRISE is the Australian Partnership for Preparedness Research on Infectious Disease Emergencies. It was established in 2016 with an investment of $5 million funded by NHMRC and an additional $2 million in 2020 to undertake a range of studies to inform the public health and clinical responses to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Twenty years of preparation
Over the past 20 years, NHMRC has invested more than $23 million in 37 projects on pandemic preparedness.
Linking high quality international research for improvements in Indigenous health
Professor Sandra Eades from Curtin University has dedicated her career to research in Aboriginal health improvements. Professor Eades works with NHMRC to advise and develop strategic guidelines focused on closing the gap.
Budget 2020-21
Support for the critical role of health and medical research in improving the health of the Australian community continues in the 2020-21 Budget handed down on 6 October by the Treasurer, the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP.
Repairing the nervous system with patients’ own stem cells
Associate Professor James St John from Griffith University received the Marshall and Warren Innovation Award at the 2020 NHMRC Research Excellence Awards. His research involves the development of cell transplantation therapies to repair the nervous system, particularly peripheral nerve and spinal cord injuries.
NHMRC Dementia Research News
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) remains committed to supporting dementia research in Australia following the end of the Australian Government's Boosting Dementia Research Initiative (BDRI).
Improving kidney health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Associate Professor Jaqui Hughes from the Menzies School of Health Research received the 2019 NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Award at NHMRC’s Research Excellence Awards ceremony in March 2020. Kidney disease is a significant health priority among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The cohort study being led by A/Professor Hughes will describe the long-term changes in kidney function over 10 years. This will provide critical data to inform regional and national policy on identification and care of people with kidney disease.
Unravelling the pathobiology of non-Alzheimer dementias and degenerative motor syndromes
Professor Glenda Halliday from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health and the Brain and Mind Centre received NHMRC’s Elizabeth Blackburn Investigator Grant Award at this year’s NHMRC Research Excellence Awards. Her research aims to identify and understand the pathobiology of non-Alzheimer dementias and degenerative motor syndromes. These syndromes are currently under-recognised, mainly affect people in their prime, can kill rapidly, and have no mechanistic therapies.
Changes to NHMRC’s Grant Schedule and Policies in Response to COVID-19
NHMRC has changed the timing of the 2021 Investigator Grant and Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies schemes. NHMRC has also changed its Relative to Opportunity policy to accommodate the impacts of COVID-19 on research.
Using big data to improve people's health
Professor Louisa Jorm is the Foundation Director of the Centre for Big Data Research in Health at UNSW Sydney.
Blue sky impacts for human health
Professor Carola Vinuesa is a Professor of Immunology at the Australian National University and Head of the Pathogens and Immunity Department. She discusses Cellular Immunology and how blue sky research impacts human health.
Vaccine development and prevention strategies for Hepatitis C
NHMRC caught up with Professor Andrew Lloyd from The University of New South Wales who develops vaccines for Hepatitis C, which effects 750,000 Australians.
Aboriginal mental health research and the importance of resilience
Developing better understanding of effective therapeutic practices with Aboriginal clients, in Aboriginal community settings, and with Aboriginal practitioners, across the spectrum of mental health and social and emotional wellbeing outcomes is the goal of Dr Graham Gee.
Peoples lives transformed through bionics
Professor David Grayden is in the department of biomedical engineering at the University of Melbourne.
Fellowship contributing to Australian health
Prof Si Ming Man from The Australian National University and his team investigates the role of innate immunity in infectious diseases and cancer. Professor Ming Man received the NHMRC Research Excellence Award for the highest-ranked Early Career Fellowship (2015) and an NHMRC Research Excellence Award for the highest-ranked Career Development Fellowship Biomedical Level 1 (2019). He also received the 2019 Commonwealth Health Minister's Medal for Excellence in Health and Medical Research and the 2021 CSL Centenary Fellowship.
Boosting study in auto immune disease
Professor Joanne Reed from the Garvan Institute's research focuses on autoimmune diseases, particularly the origin and role of autoantibodies.
Could an antiseptic mouthwash reduce sexually transmitted infections and improve the sex life of Australians?
The 2020 Commonwealth Health Minister's Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research has been awarded to Associate Professor Eric Chow of Monash University. The award has been presented each year since 2000 and recognises the top-ranked recipient of a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant in the Emerging Leadership Level 2 category from the previous year’s application round.
Public consultation on updated guidance on the radiological quality of drinking water
NHMRC is seeking public feedback on updated guidance that provides advice on the radiological quality of drinking water.
Focus on cardiovascular disease prevention
Dr. Clara Chow is Professor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Academic Director of the Westmead Applied Research Centre and Academic Co-Director of CPC Westmead. She is a NHMRC Investigator Grant Leadership awardee and with this leads a research program focused on innovation for health service provision and clinical management of cardiovascular disease prevention.
Motivated to repair insulating system of the brain
Dr David Gonsalvez heads up a laboratory focused on how glia, the non-neuronal cells in the brain and spinal cord, develop, contribute to neuronal plasticity and respond following injury.
Latest Sapphire Update
Sapphire Hints and Tips
Talented women can keep pursuing their research
“What I really like about the NHMRC system is that it is a fantastic scheme for women in science.”
Using a fly to understand cancer genetics and biology
In 2016 Associate Professor Leonie Quinn relocated to The John Curtin School of Medical Research (ANU, Canberra) to establish the Quinn Group - Cancer Models in the ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics.
Sapphire Hints and Tips
Sapphire Update
Game changer through a new vaccine for Rotavirus
Professor Julie Bines from Murdoch Children's Research Institute is doing some inspiring work, developing the RV3-BB rotavirus vaccine.
Almost $400 million in world-leading health and medical research projects to improve the lives of all Australians.
The Investigator Grant scheme is NHMRC’s flagship scheme, developed as part of a major reform of NHMRC’s grant program. This is the second round of Investigator Grants to be awarded. A total of 237 leading researchers across all career stages will receive five-year Investigator Grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Which treatments will save lives in ICU?
Over 275 intensive care units in 15 countries are trialling more than 33 pneumonia treatments to save the lives of critically ill COVID-19 patients. The trial, REMAP-CAP, is an adaptive clinical trial built to deliver fast results in a pandemic and is now one of three key national trials identified by the UK government.
Changes to Peer Review Processes for the Ideas Grant scheme in 2020
On 19 March and 27 March 2020, the CEO provided updates on NHMRC’s plans for the 2020 grant round in light of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian health and medical research community.
Professor Ross Hannan: Detective in cancer research
Professor Hannan from the John Curtin School of Medical Research is an internationally recognised laboratory scientist, whose work on ribosome biogenesis has led to new treatment paradigms in cancer, centred on drugs that activate nucleolar stress.
Difference in research through prevention with Professor Emily Banks
Professor Emily Banks is focused on those unanswered questions around prevention to really make a difference.
RAO Alert - 21 April 2020
RAO Guidance for Accepting NHMRC & MRFF Grants Offers in RGMS
Additional NHMRC support for COVID-19 research
The Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, has announced additional funding for research to support the response to COVID-19.
Update – Changes to NHMRC 2020 Funding Schemes
Further to my message to the health and medical research sector on 19 March, NHMRC has been working hard and consulting with Research Committee and a number of peak stakeholder groups to develop a way forward in these very uncertain and challenging times.
Message from the CEO to the health and medical research sector
This is an uncertain time and we know many researchers are worried about the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on their research, grant applications and other professional activities over the coming months – on top of the concern we all share for family, friends and the wider community.
NHMRC Research Excellence Awards 2019
The annual National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Research Excellence Awards.
Sapphire Launch
NHMRC is excited to announce the launch of the new NHMRC grant management solution, Sapphire. From today, researchers and RAOs will have access to view and update their profile information in Sapphire. Information on how to access Sapphire is available on the NHMRC Sapphire Website.