25 September 2007
Monash University has received nearly $50 million in competitive grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC's) 2008 funding round.
The funding was announced today by Prime Minister John Howard, through the NHMRC's Program, Project and Career Development schemes.
Monash University's Professor James Whisstock and his program team at Monash will receive more than $11 million for research to develop new treatments for a range of important diseases.
Monash Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Edwina Cornish, welcomed the allocations and said it was a testament to the quality of researchers and innovative medical research being pursued at the University. She said the University has attracted more than double the amount of NHMRC grants it received in 2005.
"Our performance in research has improved markedly over the past three years. Research income has risen from $112 million in 2003 to $186 million in 2006," Professor Cornish said.
Professor Whisstock said the NHMRC grants renewal was great news for his team.
"This important funding will allow us to continue our work into protease systems biology and help address a wide range of cardiovascular, infectious and degenerative diseases," Professor Whisstock said.
The University's share of grants included 56 Project Grants, nine Research Fellowships, two Practitioner Fellowships and one Equipment Grant.
Health issues covered by these grants include cancer, cardiovascular disease, Crohn's disease, genetic analysis of complex human diseases, the determinants of reproductive health and optimising health outcomes from clinical trials.
Professor Ed Stanley received one of only five Special Program Grants. He has been allocated $2.9 million to explore the derivation of pancreatic B-cells from embryonic stem cells. The project is part of a nationwide search for treatments for Type 1 diabetes, in conjunction with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International.
Dr Velandai Srikanth will lead a Monash project team for a $1.2 million population-based cohort study of brain ageing, exploring the rates of brain structural change, functional effects and mechanisms.
For interviews with grant recipients, please contact Steve Pogonowski, Media Communications, on + 61 3 9905 1253 or 0417 568 781.
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