The Albanese Government is investing over $379 million to support 216 emerging and established leaders in health and medical research to tackle the nation’s greatest health challenges.
The Investigator Grant scheme is the National Health and Medical Research Council’s largest grant program. It provides the highest-performing researchers at all career stages with consolidated funding for their salary, if required, and a significant research support package for five years.
Among recipients of Investigator Grant funding announced today are:
- Professor Roger Smith from the University of Newcastle, who is developing a combination drug treatment to block pathways to premature contractions, with the aim of stopping the clock on premature births in Australia.
- Professor Elina Hypponen from the University of South Australia, who is strengthening the evidence about the role diet has on health and, more specifically, on early dementia-related changes in the brain.
- Dr Ram Bhusal from Monash University, who is hijacking the natural defence provided through the saliva produced by ticks to help unlock better ways to flight inflammation with the aim of developing a new generation of improved anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Professor Clare Parish from the University of Melbourne, who is advancing the use of human stem cells with the aim of developing new therapies for the treatment of neurological conditions.
These grants will provide flexibility to pursue important new research directions as they arise, adjust resources accordingly, and to form collaborations as needed, rather than being restricted to the scope of a specific research project.
Full details of the Investigator Grant recipients is listed in this document.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The Albanese Government continues to support groundbreaking, world-class research that addresses some of the nation’s greatest health challenges.
“Foundational research is important because it informs what research will be translated to the clinic.”
Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh:
“A key strength of the Investigator Grant Scheme is that it supports all researchers across all areas of health and medical research and at every career stage.
“The projects receiving funding as part of today’s announcement demonstrate the significant innovations through health and medical research in Australia and how researchers can harness their skills and knowledge to produce revolutionary science.”
