Media Releases

International research collaboration allocates millions for Asia-Pacific health

Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, announced that Australia had committed more than AUD $11 million in an international collaboration with the UK and New Zealand, to try to address significant regional health problems.

20 August 2003

International research collaboration allocates millions for Asia-Pacific health

Millions of people, including children, die of what could be preventable diseases each year in the Asia-Pacific region.

Others are killed or injured on the roads or die from acute pesticide poisoning; millions are infected by parasites; disorders related to pregnancy and childbirth are a major health issue; still more are afflicted by diabetes and heart disease; obesity rates are rapidly escalating.

Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, announced that Australia had committed more than AUD $11 million through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), in a high-powered international collaboration with the UK and New Zealand, to try to address these significant regional health problems.

"In addition to our contribution the UK-based Wellcome Trust and New Zealand's Health Research Council are both providing funding, taking the total to more than AUD $29 million for eleven projects this year," Senator Patterson said.

Announcing the projects, Senator Patterson said the innovative scheme was an exciting venture which could have benefits worldwide and would harness the significant scientific talent that exists in Australia, New Zealand and a range of countries in our region.

"These are the first collaborative projects funded under this international scheme in what I hope will be an ongoing partnership between our three countries," she said.

"These projects will not only focus on some of the most pressing health concerns of the region, they will provide valuable two-way training and any research outcomes have the potential to be groundbreaking and of use to countries worldwide facing similar health problems," Senator Patterson said.

Announcements were also made in London and Wellington by the Director of the Wellcome Trust, Dr Mark Walport and the Chief Executive of the Health Research Council of New Zealand, Dr Bruce Scoggins.

Dr Walport said The Trust had a long standing commitment to tropical medicine and other health issues which affected the poorer nations of the world.

"The subject was one very close to the heart of Sir Henry Wellcome, under whose will the Trust was founded," Dr Walport said.

"It's particularly gratifying to see the diversity amongst the 11 research programs that will be supported and the range of developing countries involved. It is also important to point out that this is the first time the Trust has joined with governments outside the UK, to fund a specific program. The success of this endeavour gives us confidence that such partnerships will in the future, be one way by which to maximise the impact of funding for research to improve health."

Dr Scoggins added that one exciting aspect of the collaboration was that it made a major contribution to capacity building for research for Pacific people.

"The scheme will invest in research into a number of very serious issues, such as obesity which affects people living in the Pacific region," he said.

Media Inquiries

Randal Markey, Minister Patterson's Media Adviser, (02) 6277 7220 Jeanne Klener, NHMRC Media Unit, (02) 6289 5796;

1. Research and training to reduce morbidity and mortality from malaria in Papua (Indonesia) and Papua New Guinea

Total grant: £1,270,000 (AUD $3,127,286)
Wellcome Trust component: £600,000 (AUD $1,477,458)
NHMRC component: £670,000 (AUD $1,649,828)
HRC component: Nil

Principal Applicants: Professor Nicholas Anstey, Dr Emiliana Tjitra
Co-Applicants: Ric Norman Price, Isi Kevau, Peter Sly, Paul Harijanto
Institutions of Principal Applicants: Menzies School of Health Research; Ministry of Health (Indonesia)
Institutions of Co-Applicants (if different): University of Papua New Guinea; University of Western Australia; Bethesda Hospital (Indonesia)
Administering Institution: Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, NT

Malaria kills many thousands of people each year in Indonesia and PNG. This project will look at better ways to treat and prevent malaria. The team will examine whether using new combinations of drugs in clinics can reduce the amount of severe malaria seen in Papua. The team will examine whether giving people with severe malaria arginine, a naturally occurring amino acid, can increase molecules that may protect against severe malaria. Finally it will examine how lung damage occurs in people with severe malaria and whether this can be predicted.

2. Reducing deaths from pesticide poisoning: Establishing a regional toxicology research centre

Total grant: - £1,250,000 (AUD $3,078,038)
Wellcome Trust component: - £950,000 (AUD $2,339,309)
NHMRC component: £300,000 (AUD $738,729)
HRC NZ component: Nil

Principal Applicants: Professor Nicholas Buckley, Professor Nimal Senanayeka
Co-Applicants: Andrew Dawson, Rezvi Sheriff, David Henry, Ravindra Fernando
Institutions of Principal Applicants: Australian National University; Peradeniya University, Sri Lanka
Institutions of Co-Applicants (if different): University of Newcastle; University of Columbo (Sri Lanka); University of Newcastle
Administering Institution: Australian National University

The World Health Organization estimates suggest nearly half a million people die from acute pesticide poisoning in the Asia-Pacific region each year. The Sri Lankan project will be the first attempt to systematically test whether a range of strategies can reduce long-term neurological damage and deaths from pesticides. The Australian-Sri Lankan Collaboration will, over the next five years, aim to improve assessment of sub-acute and long-term morbidity; promote 'evidence-based' treatment; develop new antidotes (and assess their cost effectiveness), and see if pesticide regulation can reduce the rate of severe or fatal poisoning. If successful, this program may become a model for the region as to how to substantially reduce this largely hidden tragedy.

3. Study of HPV 6 l1 virus like particles as a therapeutic vaccine for genital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

Total grant: £560,000 (AUD $1,378,961)
Wellcome Trust component: £310,000 (AUD $763,353)
NHMRC component: £250,000 (AUD $615,608)
HRC NZ component: Nil

Principal Applicants: Professor Ian Frazer and Dr Jieqiang Lu
Co-Applicants: BoBei Chen
Institutions of Principal Applicants: University of Queensland; Wenzhou Medical College, PR China
Administering Institution: University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba

This project will examine the effectiveness of a vaccine designed to prevent tumours and cancers associated with papillomarvirus infection as treatment for existing infections, and will look for predictors of a favourable outcome from treatment.

4. Building evidence based research and practice in South East Asia: Impact on pregnancy and childbirth care and outcomes

Total grant: £1,030,000 (AUD $2,536,303)
Wellcome Trust component: £480,000 (AUD $1,181,966)
NHMRC component: £550,000 (AUD $1,354,337)
HRC NZ component: Nil

Principal Applicants: Professor David Henderson-Smart; Professor Pisake Lumbiganon
Co-Applicants: Caroline Crowther; Mario Festin; Sally Green; Jacqueline Ho
Institutions of Principal Applicants: Queen Elizabeth II Research Institute; Khon Kaen University, Thailand
Institutions of Co-Applicants (if different): University of Adelaide; University of Philippines, Philippines; Monash Medical Centre; Perak College of Medicine, Malaysia
Administering Institution: University of Sydney, NSW

Disorders related to pregnancy and childbirth are a major health issue in SE Asia. They represent one of the biggest health risk differences between the developed and developing world. By establishing a network of researchers and teachers of evidence-based health care across four SE Asian countries supported from Australia, this collaborative project aims to improve the clinical practice of treating pregnancy and childbirth related disorders and the health outcomes of mothers and infants in SE Asia.

5. Traffic related injury in the Pacific (TRIP) project

Principal Applicants: Professor Rodney Jackson; Professor Sitaleki Finau
This project will be separately announced in New Zealand

6. Neonatal immunisation with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Papua New Guinea

Total grant: £940,000 (AUD $2,314,684)
Wellcome Trust component: £460,000 (AUD $1,132,718)
NHMRC component: £480,000 (AUD $1,181,966)
HRC NZ component: Nil

Principal Applicants: Professor Deborah Lehmann; Professor John Reeder
Co-Applicants: Patrick Holt; William Pomat; Peter Richmond; Inoni Betuela
Institutions of Principal Applicants: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research; PNG Institute of Medical Research, Papua New Guinea
Institutions of Co-Applicants (if different): University of Western Australia
Administering Institution: University of Western Australia

One million children die every year of pneumococcal (Pnc) disease, the majority in the third world. Many die in early infancy and babies may benefit from immunisation with a Pnc conjugate vaccine (PrevenarTM) at birth. The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Insatiate of Medical Research; Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and the Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia, will collaborate to closely examine the safety of this approach, particularly with regard to impact on the development of immunity and response to other vaccines given to infants. This study will also provide a unique opportunity for training of PNG and Australian scientists in both countries; transfer state-of-the-art immunological technology and stimulate further collaborations on respiratory infections in the region.

7. Burden of disease and cost-effectiveness of intervention options: Informing policy choices and health system reform in Thailand

Total grant: £1,300,000 (AUD $3,201,159)
Wellcome Trust component: £980,000 (AUD $2,413,181)
NHMRC component: £320,000 (AUD $787,978)
HRC NZ component: Nil

Principal Applicants: Dr Alan Lopez; Dr Wiput Phoolcharoen
Co-Applicants: Theo Vos; Yarawat Porapakkham; Jeff Richardson; Porapan Punyaratabandhu
Institutions of Principal Applicants: School of Population Health, University of Queensland; Ministry of Public Health (Thailand)
Institutions of Co-Applicants (if different): Monash University; Mahidol University, Thailand
Administering Institution: University of Queensland

This research project aims to improve the scientific basis for health services provision in Thailand by filling important gaps in knowledge about the causes of disease and the possibility of effectively intervening to reduce them. Since the accuracy of the routine death registration system in Thailand is unknown, it cannot be confidently used to guide policy. The team will evaluate how accurately causes of death are being recorded, both in urban and rural areas. It will also calculate how much disease and injury in Thailand is being caused by major risk factors, such as tobacco and unsafe sex. Using this information the team will evaluate the effectiveness of the major interventions to reduces diseases and injuries from risk factors that are affordable and applicable in the Thai context.

8. Pathways to improved, sustainable morbidity control and prevention of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China

Total grant: £1,000,000 (AUD $2,462,430)
Wellcome Trust component: £460,000 (AUD $1,132,718)
NHMRC component: £540,000 (AUD $1,329,712)
HRC NZ component: Nil

Principal Applicants: Professor Donald McManus; Professor Zheng Feng Co-Applicants: Gail Williams; Jiagang Guo; Alex Loukas; Yuesheng Li
Institutions of Principal Applicants: Qld Institute of Medical Research; Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, PR China
Institutions of Co-Applicants (if different): University of Queensland; the Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Administering Institution: University of Queensland

600 million Chinese are infected with parasites. One of the most important of these is the Asia or Oriental human bloodfluke, Schistosoma japonicum. It causes schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), a very serious and debilitating disease and a major health problem for more than 40 million Chinese living in Southern China. Infection occurs when people make contact with water contaminated by microscopically small cerciriae larvae that are released from freshwater snails. As well as humans, Schistosoma japonicum infects a number of other mammals, such as water buffaloes, which complicates control efforts.

Current control is based on treatment with the drug parziquantel. Vaccines in combination with other control methods, including the use of new drugs, are needed to make elimination of the disease possible. This new program of research has a very strong emphasis on mutual research training and scientific interaction that will: determine whether another drug, artemether, can be used as an aid in control; increase our understanding of the immunological and genetic processes involved in the development of the disease of schistosomiasis; determine the importance of buffalo infections in maintaining human schistosomiasis transmission; undertake genomics and post-genomics research on existing and new discovered S. japonicum molecules that are candidates as new vaccines and diagnostics; and develop a mathematical model that can predict the optimum methods for the sustained control of schistosomiasis in China.

9. Enterovirus 71 in the Asia-Pacific region: reverse genetic approaches to virus surveillance and vaccine development

Total grant: £430,000 (AUD $1,058,845)
Wellcome Trust component: £160,000 (AUD $393,989)
NHMRC component: £270,000 (AUD $664,856)
HRC NZ component: Nil
Principal Applicants: Professor Peter McMinn; Professor Mary Cardosa
Co-Applicants: Andrew Kiyu
Institutions of Principal Applicants: Division of Virology, Institute for Child Health Research; University Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
Institutions of Co-Applicants (if different): Ministry of Health (Malaysia)
Administering Institution: University of Western Australia

In this research the team will use advanced biotechnological techniques to study the distribution and virulence markers of an important emerging infectious disease, enterovirus 71 encephalitis, in the Asia-Pacific region. The knowledge and technical advances derived from this study will be shared with neighbouring countries in order to conduct sensitive surveillance for this infection throughout the region. The study's other major aim is to use cutting-edge biotechnological techniques to develop a genetically defined, live attenuated vaccine strain. Candidate vaccine strains will be tested for their effectiveness in both cell culture-based and animal models.

10. Thai health-risk transition: A national cohort study

Total grant: £1,110,000 (AUD $2,733,297)
Wellcome Trust component: £610,000 (AUD $1,502,082)
NHMRC component: £500,000 (AUD $1,231,215)
HRC NZ component: Nil

Principal Applicants: Dr Adrian Sleigh; Dr Sam-ang Seubsman
Co-Applicants: Anthony McMichael; Tippawan Prapamontol; Tord Kjellstrom; Boonchai Somboonsook; Bruce Caldwell; Suwanee Khamman; Jane Dixon; Duangkae Vilainerun; Lynette Lim; Nuchjaree Kamolsukudom; Christopher Bain
Institutions of Principal Applicants: Australian National University; Sukothai Thammathirat Open University, Thailand
Institutions of Co-Applicants (if different): Chiang Mai University; Ministry of Public Health (Thailand); Office of National Economic & Social Development Board; University of Queensland
Administering Institution: Australian National University

Thailand's disease patterns are changing. Some changes are good but others, like emerging diabetes, heart disease and injuries, are of concern. Development-related 'health transition' can be optimised if there is information on new causes of disease - immediate risk factors, and 'upstream' economic, cultural and environmental influences. The team will study this health-risk transition in the whole Thai population - looking back 50 years, then forwards in 100,000 Sukothai Thammathirat Open University students living all over Thailand and followed for four years. The team will map changing risks and upstream influences, produce information for Thai preventive programs, boost regional research capacity, create a regional partnership, and support PhD and post-doctoral training.

11. The Pacific OPIC study: A four country study of obesity prevention in communities

Total grant: £2,350,000 (AUD $5,786,711)
Wellcome Trust component: £670,000 (AUD $1,649,828)
NHMRC component: £650,000 (AUD $1,600,580)
HRC NZ component: £1,030,000 (AUD $2,536,303)

Principal Applicants: Professor Boyd Swinburn; Associate Professor Robert Scragg and Dr Jan Pryor
Co-Applicants: Sitaleki Finau; Robert Charles Carter; Marita McCabe; David Robert Thomas; Colin Fonotau Tukuitonga
Institutions of Principal Applicants: Deakin University; University of Auckland, New Zealand; Fiji School of Medicine, Fiji
Institutions of Co-Applicants (if different): University of Melbourne; Ministry of Health, New Zealand
Administering Institution: Deakin University, Vic

Obesity is a rapidly escalating, worldwide epidemic. Many countries recognise the need to prevent obesity but there is insufficient evidence about what interventions work. The Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities (OPIC) Project will provide data on the effectiveness of a range of interventions to prevent obesity among young people in Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia.

Prevention research is particularly required in countries such as Fiji and Tonga because their prevalence of obesity is extremely high. The interventions used in this project will be culturally appropriate and include at least 1000 young people in each intervention group. The outcomes of this project will be applicable to both low- and high-income countries. This project will lead to a greater understanding of the socio-cultural, policy, and economic contexts and provide crucial evidence for public health action to prevent obesity.

Media inquiries: Randal Markey, Media Adviser, (02) 6277 7220
Jeanne Klener, Media Unit, NHMRC, 0401 995 534