Better health and ageing for all Australians

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Tasmanian research team wins $2.5 million to find new ways to prevent cancer and diabetes

Australians suffering from common diseases including cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis will benefit from the efforts of a Tasmanian medical research team that will receive $2.5 million to find new ways to prevent these diseases.

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2 July 2003

Tasmanian research team wins $2.5 million to find new ways to prevent cancer and diabetes

Australians suffering from common diseases including cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis will benefit from the efforts of a Tasmanian medical research team that will receive $2.5 million to find new ways to prevent these diseases, the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson announced today.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant, is awarded to a team at the University of Tasmania's Menzies Centre for Population Health Research and intended to improve capacity in population health research and foster opportunities for young Australian medical scientists.

"I am pleased to announce that Professor Terence Dwyer and his team will receive $2.5 million to investigate ways to prevent some common Australian diseases," Senator Patterson said.

"Professor Dwyer's team will research the effects of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors on diseases such as skin and prostate cancer, bone and joint conditions, diabetes and multiple sclerosis," Senator Patterson said.

"These grants provide funding for leading Australian medical research teams to mentor young researchers and help foster the next generation of experts to lead our research efforts.

"I want to ensure that there are opportunities for our brightest young researchers to develop their careers for the benefit of all Australians now and into the future," she added.

The funding for health and medical research in Australia was doubled by the Commonwealth in the 1999-2000 Federal Budget, as a result of the Wills Review.

A total of five NHMRC grants, totalling $11.6 million, were awarded to teams in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and Northern Territory.

Media inquiries:

Randal Markey, Media Adviser, Senator Patterson's office, 02 6277 7220.
Jeanne Klener, NHMRC Media Unit, (02) 6289 5796

Tasmanian NHMRC capacity building grant recipient

Building Australia's capacity to study preventable causes of common diseases through epidemiological research ($2.5 million)
The Menzies Centre for Population Health Research, University of Tasmania
Professor Terence Dwyer

This program of work will build Australia's capacity to study the preventable causes of common disease. Researchers will be trained to investigate the impact of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors on disease in large samples of people.

The diseases will include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, bone and joint conditions, some common cancers such as skin and prostate cancer, and diseases affecting the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis.