$54 million impact on research

Research

University of Adelaide researchers have been awarded more than $54 million for new research that aims to make an impact on many aspects of our lives.

Recent funding announcements from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) will support 92 new research projects starting next year, plus research fellowships and career development.

University of Adelaide researchers secured $12.6 million in ARC funding and $41.7 million in NHMRC funding.

The University's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor James McWha, said: "The University of Adelaide continues to demonstrate strengths in fundamental and applied research that will benefit industry, government and society for many years to come.

"This is another excellent result for our researchers across a broad range of disciplines and is indicative of the depth of world-class research being conducted at our University."

The University received 78% of the NHMRC funding awarded in the state and ranked third in the nation for 2010 Project Grants awarded.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mike Brooks said this result "has reinforced the University of Adelaide's reputation as one of the most research-intensive institutions in the country".

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

The total of $41.7 million in NHMRC funding includes $35.8 million to launch 54 new research projects that have the potential to save, prolong and significantly improve the quality of lives for all Australians.

The projects include research into early childhood development, nutrition, cancer and other diseases, men's health, obesity, indigenous health, reproduction and heart disease.

Some key projects include:

• $4.1 million to Professor Maria Makrides (Women's and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI) and University of Adelaide (Professor of Nutrition)) to investigate food allergies among infants and also test the role of iodine on children's development;
  
• $1.76 million to Professor Gary Wittert (Medicine) to investigate how changes in sex hormones, together with inflammation and environmental factors, can contribute to heart disease in men;
  
• $1 million to Professor James Paton (Molecular and Biomedical Sciences) to identify factors contributing to pneumococcal, a major cause of bacterial pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis especially in children and the elderly;
  
• $1 million to Professor Ian Chapman (Medicine) to research the impact of testosterone tablets and a nutritional supplement to help reduce hospital admissions in under-nourished, older people;

Six researchers have won Career Development Awards totalling $2.3 million, while NHMRC Research Fellowships totalling $3.6 million have been awarded to another six researchers who are carrying out significant work in their field.

Australian Research Council (ARC)

More than $12.6 million will fund 38 new projects at the University of Adelaide spanning the fields of environment and ecology, agriculture, finance and economics, health, physics, engineering, computer science, genetics, history, geography and psychology.

The funding - for fundamental research, as well as projects that include industry and government - will also attract more than $4.2 million in additional support from external partners.

Among the successful projects are:

• $844,000 to Professor Graeme Hugo (Geographical & Environmental Studies, Social Sciences) to study circular migration in Asia, the Pacific and Australia, which is fundamental to the nation's economy, society and security;
  
• $622,997 to Professor Robert Gibson (Agriculture, Food and Wine) to investigate the production of biodiesel fuel from meat industry by-products;
  
• $160,000 to Associate Professor Peng Bi (Public Health, Population Health and Clinical Practice) to study how the elderly have adapted to and coped with extreme heatwaves in South Australia;
  
• $360,000 to Dr Wolfgang Haak (Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, Environment Institute) to understand genetic changes in human populations caused by past epidemics;

For more information about research at the University of Adelaide, visit: www.adelaide.edu.au/research