National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

During National Science Week, an annual celebration that promotes and encourages interest in STEMM, we were delighted to host cell biologist and Laboratory Head of WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research), Professor Shalin Naik, for our Speaking of Science webinar series. Professor Naik spoke to the emerging topic of synthetic biology, and how it is transforming the ways in which we’re approaching health and medical research, and science more broadly. “Because when it comes to synthetic biology, “it's most important to have imagination more than anything else.” Missed out on attending? You can watch the recording right now on NHMRC’s website here: https://ow.ly/8VZj50T69Xu

Aphasia is a disorder that can impact an individual’s speech and ability to understand language properly. It is a devastating disability, often caused by stroke, that affects more than 140,000 Australians. Dr Kirstine Shrubsole, from The University of Queensland is a recipient of a 2023 Investigator Grant for her research titled ‘the Aphasia Implementation Toolkit Project.’ Dr Shrubsole will lead the development of an Aphasia Implementation Toolkit to achieve service improvements and better health outcomes for post-stroke aphasia patients, assisting speech pathology to provide vital treatment. #SPWeek24 #SpeechPathologyWeek2024 #CommunicateYourWay2024

NHMRC is piloting asking all applicants how their proposed research could benefit Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health and contribute to Closing the Gap targets in the Centres of Research Excellence 2025 grant opportunity. This stems from national consultation on the Indigenous Research Excellence Criteria and has been endorsed by the Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus. It aims to support the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and NHMRC’s health priority to promote wellness and health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Read more on the pilot in the factsheet on NHMRC’s website: https://ow.ly/YBTG50T6aix

NHMRC is providing $3 million to support Australian researchers addressing any of the recognised forms of dementia in Indigenous populations through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research | Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada's Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA). More information on our website: https://ow.ly/pLJa50T6blt

Tracker is out now! Get the latest on upcoming funding opportunities for researchers. In this edition, read about NHMRC’s Partnership Projects funding announcements, CDNM Research Week, grant opportunities and more! Head to our website: https://lnkd.in/gyqbmp4p

Australia’s capacity for health and medical research translation is set to receive a $3.7 million funding boost with the announcement of NHMRC’s 2024 Partnership Project Peer Review Cycle 1 grant outcomes. Two outstanding researchers will share in this total funding amount, of which $1.87 million has been provided by the Australian Government and an additional leveraged investment of $1.87 million has been committed by funding partners. Dr Myles Murphy from Edith Cowan University and Professor Valsamma Eapen of UNSW will be supported to answer specific research questions that hold the potential to influence health and wellbeing through changes to Australian health services. NHMRC CEO, Professor Steve Wesselingh, said that the Partnership Project scheme provides funding and support to create opportunities for researchers to collaborate with partner organisations to deliver meaningful outcomes. “Congratulations to both Dr Murphy and Professor Eapen, we can’t wait to see the impact of your research on health policy, practice and service delivery,” said Professor Wesselingh. Read more on these outcomes in our media release on NHMRC’s website: https://ow.ly/WTa450T0Mxq

Australia is home to many ‘arboviruses’ that can, or could, infect humans. Some arboviruses cause seasonal illness, others cause epidemics, and some can even cause death. During the second half of the 20th century, NHMRC-funded researchers at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (now QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute) made major contributions to our understanding of arboviruses. Research on diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites continues at QIMR Berghofer today. This #WorldMosquitoDay, read our Discovering Ross River virus impact case study on our website: https://ow.ly/MVVc50SJIYy

Congratulations to the 11 recipients of grant funding under NHMRC’s 2023 Partnership Project PRC2 round announced today by the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney MP. A $45.1 million funding investment will support Australian health and medical researchers to collaboratively define research questions, undertake research, interpret the findings and translate them into health policies and practices through working together with partner agencies. NHMRC’s CEO, Professor Steve Wesselingh said that projects that take an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach help us address the many intricacies associated with some of Australia’s greatest health challenges. “Our invested commitment to our researchers, as well as the valued backing of our partnership organisations will result in new discoveries, evidence, and ideas for future partnerships” said Professor Wesselingh. Read more on these outcomes in our media release on NHMRC’s website:https://ow.ly/P8nL50SY8AE

National Science Week is Australia’s major annual celebration of science and technology. Established in 1997, National Science Week provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge. Check out this fun fact- without the research from scientists, we wouldn’t know! NHMRC is proud of its commitment to supporting health and medical research and researchers who are tackling some of our greatest heath challenges from a broad range of research areas including basic science, clinical medicine and science, health services and public health. Now we want to hear your fun facts on health and medical science! Write them in the comments below.

Tracker is out now! In this edition, read about the launch of Staying healthy– 6th edition and the funding outcomes of our TCR: Improving infection prevention and control in residential aged care homes 2023. Plus, so much more. Head to our website: https://lnkd.in/gxT8Y_bP