$15.6m health funding boost tops State

Research

The University of Adelaide continues to lead the way for medical research in South Australia after winning more than $15.6 million in funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The University was awarded more than double the amount of the other two South Australian universities combined, with Flinders University receiving $6.4 million and the University of South Australia $0.86 million.

This year's funding for the University of Adelaide also represents more than 64% of the total funding of $24.2 million awarded by the NHMRC to South Australian institutions, and is an increase of 6% on last year's NHRMC funding for the University of Adelaide of approximately $14.7 million.

"It is an encouraging result and further highlights the quality and diversity of research conducted at the University of Adelaide," University Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha said.

"What it also shows is how our researchers are engaging with the community - they are working hard to better understand and find solutions to medical problems which impact on all of us."
Funding highlights include:

• Professor Caroline Crowther from the University's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology receiving the largest grant of more than $1.2 million for a randomised controlled trial of vaginal progesterone for the prevention of neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome;
  
• Professor Michael Sawyer from the Department of Paediatrics leading two research teams, and being involved in a third team led by Associate Professor Peter Baghurst from the Women's and Children's Hospital, working on children's and mother's mental health issues;
  
• Professor Shaun McColl from the University's School of Molecular and Biomedical Science being awarded funding of more than $960,000 for two projects on tumour cells and immune system functions.

"I am very pleased that the NHMRC has recognised our research strength in areas such as reproductive medicine, children's mental health, and molecular and biomedical sciences," Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Neville Marsh said.

In all, the University received 28 new project grants and two five-year research fellowships. Researchers come from the University's Faculty of Health SciencesM and Faculty of Science, and University research partners at the Women's and Children's Hospital, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Child Health Research Institute, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science and the Hanson Institute.

Story by Ben Osborne