$44.8 million for medical discoveries

Research

The University of Adelaide has cemented its reputation as one of the premier health and medical research institutions in Australia after being awarded a record $44.8 million in Federal Government funding.

The Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, the Hon. Mark Butler, announced the 2012 National Health and Medical Research Council grants at the University's North Terrace Campus last month.

A total of 61 health and medical grants were awarded to University of Adelaide researchers, representing the lion's share of funding awarded in the State. In total, South Australian institutions were awarded nearly $60 million.

Relative to size, the University achieved the best result in Australia and was the sixth most successful in absolute terms.

Professor Mike Brooks, the University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), said the result was "a brilliant outcome" for the University and the State.

"It justifies an ambitious investment and growth strategy we are undertaking in health and medical research at the University, including the establishment of the Robinson Institute which is an international leader in reproductive health.

"It also endorses the remarkable contribution of our collaborative partners, including SA Pathology, the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Women's and Children's Hospital, the Women's and Children's Health Research Institute and the Lyell McEwin Hospital.

"The projects earmarked for funding from 2012 will ultimately result in many new medical discoveries and improved health outcomes for the community," Professor Brooks said.

NHMRC Project Grants awarded to University of Adelaide researchers included:

• $4.8 million to Professor Gary Wittert: Testosterone for the prevention of diabetes mellitus in high risk men;
  
• $1.9 million to Professor Caroline Crowther: Does antenatal magnesium sulphate given to women at risk of preterm birth between 30 and 34 weeks' gestation reduce the risk of death or cerebral palsy in their children?;
  
• $1.8 million to Dr Carmel Collins: DHA for the reduction of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature babies;
  
• $1.5 million to Associate Professor Tamas Revesz: An international clinical trial to evaluate new therapies to improve survival of children with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia;
  
• $1 million to Professor Jennifer Couper: Early environmental determinants of type 1 diabetes;
  
• $909,580 to Professor Sharad Kumar: Control of sodium and chloride transport by an enzyme involved in protein modification;
  
• $429,231 to Professor Maria Makrides: Does n-3 LCPUFA (such as from fish oil) supplementation in pregnancy reduce asthma and allergies in school age children?

Twelve University of Adelaide researchers and affiliates received $6.3 million in total for Early Career and Research Fellowships, and two Centres of Research Excellence focusing on nutrition and dental health services were awarded $2.5 million and $2.4 million respectively.

Results from the most recent rounds of Australian Research Council funding were not available at the time Adelaidean went to print.

Story by Candy Gibson