HIV, cancer projects get NHMRC funding boost

UNSW research into childhood cancers, HIV prevention, and sexually transmissible diseases in remote Aboriginal communities has received major backing in the latest round of federal government health funding.
UNSW received a total of $65.8 million in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding to commence in 2015, including $29 million for 40 new project grants.
Among the cancer research to receive funding were UNSW-led screening strategies and a project looking at a novel therapeutic approach to tackle aggressive childhood cancers, led by Dr David Ziegler from the School of Women’s and Children’s Health ($990,000).
Professor Murray Norris, from the School of Women’s and Children’s Health and the Children's Cancer Institute, received $778,000 for a project looking at a novel molecular target capable of abrogating development of the aggressive cancer neuroblastoma.
Other successful projects included an investigation into the psychosocial risks of critical illness in children with heart disease; new treatments for chronic lower back pain; cognitive and motor training to help prevent falls in the elderly, and the effect of the hormone oxytocin on fear memories.
UNSW was awarded $3.9 million for three Partnership Projects – the biomedical equivalents of ARC Linkage grants that foster strong end-user or industry support.

• Associate Professor Rebecca Guy from the Kirby Institute ($1.4 million) for research looking at the “Uptake, sustainability and impact of scaling up point-of-care testing for sexually transmissible infections in remote and regional Aboriginal communities”
• Professor Andrew Grulich from the Kirby Institute ($1.5 million) for a project investigating  “The HIV prevention revolution: measuring outcomes and maximising effectiveness”
• Professor Andrew Lloyd, from School of Medical Sciences ($1 million) for his work on the “Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with hepatitis C (SToP-C)”

UNSW was also awarded $7.6 million for 10 new Established Career Fellowships targeting senior staff.
Click here for a full list of UNSW's successful Project Grants, Partnership Projects, Early Career Fellowships and Career Development Fellowships.
Media contact: Linda McSweeny, UNSW Media, 02 9385 8920