The Morrison Government is investing in the future competitiveness of Australian health and medical research with more than $44 million for postgraduate scholarships, international collaboration and research infrastructure and equipment through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Investment in health and medical research capability through postgraduate scholarships and international partnerships is critical to both create and maintain Australia’s competitive sector.
This funding is part of the $1 billion available for NHMRC’s 2021 grant round, the highest yet through the Medical Research Endowment Account.
The postgraduate scholarships will create opportunities for many graduates in medicine and health sciences to pursue their ideas and tackle the health challenges facing our community.
Today’s investment also includes funding to support international collaboration by established researchers.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said sharing scientific knowledge enables Australian researchers to develop best practices and build international research networks that will accelerate discoveries and their translation into better health outcomes.
“NHMRC’s international partnerships bring researchers together to promote global health objectives and strengthen Australian participation in international research efforts,” Minister Hunt said.
“This announcement is also an investment in the next generation of Australian medical research leaders, with the careers of many of Australia’s foremost health and medical researchers kick-started by an NHMRC postgraduate scholarship.”
Funding announced today comprises:
- $25.7 million to contribute to infrastructure costs of research for 21 independent medical research institutes through the Independent Research Institutes Infrastructure Support Scheme (IRIISS).
- More than $7.24 million to support the early research careers of 65 outstanding health and medical graduates through NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarships.
- More than $2.8 million to support collaboration with our regional neighbours, sharing vital resources and ideas to combat complex regional health challenges through NHMRC’s participation in the e-ASIA Joint Research Program.
- More than $2.5 million to support collaborative research with partners through the 2021 NHMRC – European Union Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) Grants and NHMRC – National Institute for Research Health (UK) Collaborative Research Grants.
- $5.7 million for 45 grants for the procurement of equipment to support the highest quality health and medical research.
“A strong health and medical research system relies on scientists, clinicians and others working together to share knowledge and accelerate discoveries and their translation into better health outcomes,” NHMRC CEO Professor Anne Kelso AO said.
“This collaboration begins with postgraduate research students learning from their mentors, sharing skills and ideas, and continues with international partnerships when researchers around the world come together to solve shared health challenges.”
NHMRC Postgraduate scholarships
| Name | Grant Title | Admin Institution | Total |
| Dr Luke McLean | Understanding response and resistance to immunotherapy in immunocompromised patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas | University of Melbourne | $135,002 |
| Dr Yew Li Dang | Using twin studies to investigate epilepsy aetiology and antiepileptic drug-induced birth defects | University of Melbourne | $135,002 |
| Dr Lucy McGrath-Cadell | Understanding the genetics and mechanisms of spontaneous coronary artery dissection | University of New South Wales | $97,640 |
| Dr Ralley Prentice | The Pregnancy in Crohn’s and Colitis – Observations, Levels and Outcomes Extension (PICCOLO – X) study | Monash University | $101,377 |
| Dr Julia Lai-Kwon | Harnessing the power of Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs): demonstrating novel applications of PROs in the care of oncology patients | University of Melbourne | $135,002 |
| Dr Michael Zhu | Long-term Outcomes of Surgery for Diseases of the Aortic Valve in Children | Murdoch Childrens Research Institute | $116,321 |
| Dr Jayson Jeganathan | Negative Symptoms of Psychosis | University of Newcastle | $93,904 |
| Dr Ouli Xie | Evolution of Streptococcal pathovars | University of Melbourne | $123,794 |
| Dr Adrian Lee | Towards the understanding of the immunopathogenesis of autoantibody-mediated systemic diseases: new approaches to old problems | Garvan Institute of Medical Research | $135,002 |
| Dr Jessica Fairley | Meeting an unmet need in systemic sclerosis: defining the burden of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death | University of Melbourne | $135,002 |
| Dr Michael Lim | Randomised Evaluation of the Impact of Catheter Ablation versus Medical Therapy on Psychological Distress and Neurocognitive Function in Atrial Fibrillation | Melbourne Health | $135,002 |
| Ms Tara Guckel | Advancing the prevention and early intervention for co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use disorders | University of Sydney | $93,056 |
| Dr Adithya Balasubramanian | Targeting immune resistance mechanisms to enhance anti-tumour immunity in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer | Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research | $97,640 |
| Dr Larissa Trease | Risk factors for and burden of low back pain in elite athletes. | La Trobe University | $135,002 |
| Dr Lachlan Batty | Young people with old knees: The role of matrix metalloproteinase 3 and type 2 collagen C-telopeptide fragments in predicting post traumatic osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction | La Trobe University | $101,377 |
| Dr Yi Chao Foong | Validation and implementation of smartphone-based digital biomarkers in multiple sclerosis to define subclinical progression and treatment failure: the ACTIVE MS study | Monash University | $135,002 |
| Miss Sophia Garlick Bock | Comorbid Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Use Among Sexuality and Gender Diverse Young People in Australia | University of Sydney | $93,056 |
| Dr Sonali Shah | Hypertension with low renin – new insights into prevalence, pathophysiology and management | Monash University | $135,002 |
| Ms Desiree LaGrappe | Maternal and Child Health Nursing: A golden opportunity to integrate screening for reproductive coercion and increase effective contraception use? | La Trobe University | $101,542 |
| Ms Olivia Price | Preventing infectious disease and reducing associated harms among people who inject drugs | University of New South Wales | $93,056 |
| Ms Isabelle Meulenbroeks | The impact of COVID-19 and associated health policies on access to allied healthcare, care quality, and health outcomes in Australian residential aged care facilities | Macquarie University | $101,542 |
| Ms Katie Lee | Genomic architecture of skin in the vicinity of previous melanoma in photodamaged and non-photodamaged areas | University of Queensland | $77,630 |
| Dr Gemma Reynolds | High-risk lymphoproliferative malignancies in the era of novel therapies: Infection risk, surveillance and prophylaxis | University of Melbourne | $135,002 |
| Dr Elizabeth Armari | Developing and evaluating an evidence-based training program for improving labour and childbirth care in India. | Burnet Institute | $101,377 |
| Shania Liu | Responsible pre-operative Opioid use for Hip and knee ArthropLasTy (OpioidHALT) study | University of Sydney | $81,985 |
| Dr Anthony Hew | Revolutionising System Reform in Mental Health: Addressing Gaps in the System through Big Data and Data Linkage | Monash University | $116,321 |
| Dr Noa Amir | Identifying and addressing the needs and priorities of patients with genetic kidney disease and their families | University of Sydney | $97,640 |
| Dr Aaron Kee Yee Wong | Personalising Pain Relief for People With Cancer: The Right Opioid For the Right Person at the Right Time | University of Melbourne | $93,904 |
| Dr Laura Eades | Biomarker profiles in Indigenous Australians with systemic lupus erythematosus | Monash University | $135,002 |
| Dr Edmund Chung | Treatments to expand regulatory T cells and/or deplete autoantibody production in primary membranous nephropathy | University of Sydney | $97,640 |
| Dr Hiu Tat Chan | Towards vaginal microbiota stability: new treatment paradigm for bacterial vaginosis | La Trobe University | $97,640 |
| Mr Dominic Delport | Using mathematical models to generate evidence to support Australia’s COVID-19 responses and prepare for future pandemics | Burnet Institute | $93,056 |
| Mr Karan Shah | Economic evaluation of strategies to increase kidney donation and transplantation | University of Sydney | $80,201 |
| Dr Yasmin Hughes | Improving Syphilis diagnosis and management in the community | Monash University | $135,002 |
| Dr Madeleine Gill | Understanding Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy | Centenary Institute | $123,794 |
| Dr Garry Hamilton | Radial artery conduits in coronary artery bypass surgery: the impact of prior instrumentation with a focus on the vascular biology and clinical outcomes. | University of Melbourne | $135,002 |
| Dr Prianka Puri | An integration of multi-omics and machine learning to stratify patients with lupus nephritis for precision medicine | University of Queensland | $131,266 |
| Dr Sean Tan | Cardiovascular Screening in Cancer Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors | Monash University | $135,002 |
| Dr Alexandra Stewart | The role of cytochrome polymorphisms in primaquine metabolism and effects on its activity in radical cure of Plasmodium vivax infection | University of Melbourne | $135,002 |
| Dr Tanya Ross | Informing future recommendations for prevention and treatment of ovarian cancer using population data | University of Queensland | $90,168 |
| Mr Samuel Tu | Cardiometabolic, Genetic and Lifestyle Risk Factors for Arrhythmias | University of Adelaide | $77,630 |
| Ms Isobel Todd | Perinatal and early childhood risk and protective factors for paediatric infection | Murdoch Childrens Research Institute | $93,056 |
| Ms Melissa Savaglio | Developing a community-based psychosocial intervention for young people with mental illness | Monash University | $67,346 |
| Mrs Lorelle Holland | Decolonising approaches for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with complex health needs exposed to the youth justice system in Australia: Reducing incarceration and recidivism rates | University of Queensland | $115,801 |
| Ms Amelia Hyatt | Determining health system and public policy elements for successful implementation and sustainability of cervical cancer elimination strategies at a country and regional level | University of Melbourne | $93,056 |
| Dr Deonna Ackermann | Optimising trial processes and generating translational gains: Studies Within A Trial (SWATs) for the MELSELF randomised controlled trial of patient-led melanoma surveillance. | University of Sydney | $62,204 |
| Mr Alexander Terrill | Application of advanced manufacturing technologies to offload diabetes-related foot ulceration | Queensland University of Technology | $85,245 |
| Stephanie Bond | Development and evaluation of strategies to improve syphilis screening of pregnant women to prevent congenital syphilis | Monash University | $135,002 |
| Ms Erin Madden | Improving evidence-based practice for comorbid alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions: the role of implementation science and quality improvement toolkits | University of Sydney | $93,056 |
| Anna Le Fevre | Investigating epigenetic regulators of disease and novel epigenetic treatment approaches for imprinting disorders | Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research | $135,002 |
| Dr Bernadette Ricciardo | Koolungar Urban Moorditj Healthy Skin: Determining the burden of skin disease in urban Aboriginal children and adolescents. | University of Western Australia | $123,794 |
| Dr Victoria Hall | Defining host immune response and prevention strategies for viral respiratory tract infections in patients with haematological malignancy | University of Melbourne | $135,002 |
| Dr Thomas Lew | Enhancing venetoclax and other pro-apoptotic agents to improve outcomes for patients with haematological malignancies | Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research | $135,002 |
| Dr Yin Yuan | Dissecting the challenge of AML | Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research | $135,002 |
| Ashwin Bhaskaran | Ventricular arrhythmia mechanisms and therapies | University of Sydney | $135,002 |
| Dr Sarah Holper | Untangling Neuroinflammation’s Role in Alzheimer’s Disease Development (UNRAVEL) | Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research | $135,002 |
| Dr Yara-Natalie Abo | A randomised controlled human challenge trial to evaluate Strep A vaccine efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity | Murdoch Childrens Research Institute | $135,002 |
| Ms Chandana Guha | Improving care and outcomes for vulnerable patients with chronic kidney disease – the young and the elderly | University of Sydney | $67,346 |
| Dr Kasun De Silva | Novel technologies and strategies to identify arrhythmogenic substrate and triggers for sudden cardiac death | University of Sydney | $90,168 |
| Alice Powell | Exceptional cognition in old age and interactions with other aspects of successful ageing | University of New South Wales | $123,794 |
| Miss Nicola Creagh | Evaluating the use of an open access self-collection cervical screening pathway: The solution to declining participation and to long standing inequities? | University of Melbourne | $93,056 |
| Dr Huong Nguyen | A Cognitive Ageing Risk Evaluation (CARE) Tool to Support Clinical Diagnosis of Dementia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples | University of Melbourne | $105,113 |
| Dr Oliver Cronin | The Science of Cold Snare Polypectomy | University of Sydney | $101,377 |
| Ms Thi Tran | How does methamphetamine use, mental health and treatment interventions affect one another? | University of New South Wales | $117,839 |
| Dr Robert Little | Modulation of the gut microbiome and mucosal immune response in IBD | Monash University | $135,002 |
NHMRC e-ASIA 2021 Joint Research Program
| Name | Grant Title | Admin Institution | Total |
| Dr Pengfei Cai | Innovative point-of-care diagnostics and environmental surveillance tools for the elimination of Asian schistosomiasis | QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute | $749,987 |
| Assoc Prof Jason Ong | Ending HIV transmission by Optimizing Pre-exposure prophylaxis in East Asia (HOPE) | Monash University | $667,191 |
| Prof Freya Fowkes | Vector sero-surveillance tools to accelerate malaria elimination | Burnet Institute | $745,125 |
| Assoc Prof Tao Liu | Targeting MYCN/NCYM for cancer therapy | University of New South Wales | $699,317 |
2021 NHMRC-European Union Joint Programme on Neurodegenerative Disease Research – JPND
| CIA Name | Grant Title | Admin Institution | Total |
| Prof Simon Lewis | COgNiTive propagation in pRodrOmaL Parkinson’s disease: CONTROL-PD | University of Sydney | $462,501 |
| Prof Sarah Spencer | Effects of early-Stress On Lipid mediators and Inflammation for early Detection of neurodegeneration (SOLID) | RMIT University | $499,605 |
| Dr Allan McRae | Leveraging medical records to identify patients at risk of neurodegenerative disease | University of Queensland | $482,706 |
2020 NHMRC-NIHR Collaborative Research Grant Scheme Round 3
| CIA Name | Grant Title | Admin Institution | Total |
| Prof Viviana Wuthrich | A randomised CONtrolled trial of Tailored Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for older people with treatment resistant Generalised Anxiety Disorder (CONTACT-GAD) | Macquarie University | $358,767 |
| Dr Calum Roberts | The neoGASTRIC trial: Avoiding routine gastric residual volume measurement in neonatal critical care, a multi-centre, randomised controlled trial | Monash University | $739,020 |