Queensland Women Lead the Way in $96.5 Million of Ground Breaking Medical Research
Queensland’s leading female researchers will receive funding to continue their groundbreaking work in osteoporosis, the genetics of ovarian cancer and childhood obesity prevention, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, announced on 17 October.
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17 October 2011
Queensland’s leading female researchers will receive funding to continue their groundbreaking work in osteoporosis, the genetics of ovarian cancer and childhood obesity prevention, the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, announced today.
The Gillard Labor Government is providing $673.7 million for 1,140 grants to support researchers, research projects and research institutions Australia-wide. This represents the single biggest investment of grants for health and medical research in Australian history.
Queensland researchers will receive $96.5 million for 169 grants through the National Health and Medical Research Council.
“These grants support our research community to continue to do what they do so well – making cutting edge discoveries that improve the diagnosis, treatment and cure of illnesses that touch all Australians,” Mr Butler said.
“Health and medical research is an area where Australia shines. We are renowned internationally for our outstanding contribution to health, including Dr Fiona Wood’s development of spray on skin for burn treatment, the first humid cribs for premature babies and more recently, the cervical cancer vaccine.
“It’s critical the Australian research workforce continues to represent all sectors of the Australian community. The grants announced today will ensure that young researchers, both male and female, have a solid foundation for their career, experienced researchers can run innovative research projects and clinicians can integrate their clinical skills into research practice.
“Thanks to these grants, Australia’s up and coming scientists will have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the outstanding researchers who have gone before them.
“The Gillard Labor Government is committed to supporting Australia’s role as the clever country, a prosperous country that contributes to tackling the health challenges of our time in Australia and internationally.
“That is why the Government continues to fund health and medical research at record levels.”
Queenslanders receiving funding include women working in burns prevention and treatment, osteoporosis, the genetics of ovarian cancer and childhood obesity prevention.
- Associate Professor Emma Duncan of the University of Queensland will receive $867,452 to investigate the genetic determinants of osteoporosis. Half of all women and one-third of men over 60 in Australia will have a fracture due to osteoporosis. Professor Duncan’s genetic research will build on earlier findings to improve prevention and treatment of this disabling disease.
- Associate Professor Penelope Webb of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research will receive $1.8 million to run the Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Lifestyle (OPAL) study, following 1,200 women with ovarian cancer to identify whether lifestyle is associated with survival. This will provide guidance to the 1,300 Australian women diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year.
- Professor Lynne Daniels of the Queensland University of Technology will receive $820,558 to study how parents can be supported to establish and maintain healthy eating practices with their young children. This new study will help in the Australian and international fight against childhood obesity.
- Dr Leila Cuttle of the University of Queensland will receive a $294,892 NHMRC Early Career Fellowship to continue her work in improving burn wound healing in children. Burns are a huge physical and psychological burden for children and their families. Dr Cuttle’s work will look at burns prevention, the development of more effective first aid treatment and new treatments to improve healing.
For more information, please contact the Minister's Office on (02) 6277 7280
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