New ideas focus of projects awarded by NHMRC

Defining traits of the human immune system, personalised medicine for treating blood clots, and the role genes play in regulating metabolism are part of projects that will be funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The Ideas Grants were funded as part of the NHMRC’s newly structured Grant Program.

Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute CEO, Professor Tom Marwick, welcomed the announcement.

“What is most pleasing is the ability of young scientists to get funding for great ideas — and we have certainly seen that with these results,” said Professor Marwick.

“We look forward to seeing more innovation and creativity rewarded, especially with regard to early and mid-career researchers.”

“Research to explore new ideas brings new hope for prevention and treatment and this is really exciting. We also need to ensure that these ideas are supported along the discovery process to ensure we can deliver impact in the real world.

“Ultimately, our work is aimed at improving the lives of people living with chronic disease, whether that is by informing health policy and guidelines, developing new drugs and devices for prevention and treatment, and providing credible health information to the community.”

The successful Baker Institute researchers are:

Associate Professor Julie McMullen

Nano-ghosts loaded with PI3K-based biologicals for the infarcted heart

Dr Xiaowei Wang

Personalised medicine for inflammatory and thrombotic diseases: Generating novel and transformative diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic approaches

Dr Chengxue Qin

Exploiting biased agonists of formyl peptide receptors as pharmacotherapy for pulmonary hypertension: simultaneous targeting of vascular function and remodelling

Dr Yi Wang

The role of neuronal Trim28 in regulating metabolism

Dr Graeme Lancaster

The cellular lipid landscape is a defining trait of human and murine immune systems: determining the role of ether lipids in myeloid cells

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