New Grants to Assist Research into Indigenous Health Issues
The Australian Government is investing $644,950 in nine new postgraduate scholarships to help outstanding young health and medical researchers work towards improving the health and wellbeing for young Indigenous Australians.
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Joint Release
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Minister for Health
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Indigenous Health
15 December 2011The Gillard Labor Government is investing $644,950 in nine new postgraduate scholarships to help outstanding young health and medical researchers work towards improving the health and wellbeing for young Indigenous Australians.
Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek said the nine scholarships are being provided to researchers at the Northern Territory’s Menzies School of Health Research, as part of the Government’ $114.2 million investment in health and medical research being announced today.
“The Gillard Government is committed to closing the gap in life expectancy and infant mortality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and the broader Australian population,” Ms Plibersek said.
“Health and medical research provides the evidence-base we need to tackle the health issues facing Indigenous Australians across all stages of life.”
The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, said the work of these postgraduate researchers will provide valuable information to clinicians, policy makers and patients about how to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“It’s essential we support researchers early in their career if we want them to break new ground and make discoveries that can improve health and life expectancy,” Mr Snowdon said.
He said the postgraduates had been selected on the basis of their undergraduate background, research experience and publications as being outstanding researchers.
Research projects being funded include:
- Two scholarships will target the cause of bronchiectasis, which destroys muscle and tissue in the lungs’ bronchial tree. This condition causes a chronic cough, hospitalisation and deteriorating lung function.
- New scholarships of $44,443 have been awarded to Ms Kim Hare to investigate the cause and prevention of bronchiectasis and of $50,720 to Mrs Susan Pizzutto.
- Dr Jane Davies will receive $109,358 to map the prevalence and burden of disease from Hepatitis B in the Top End of the Northern Territory, information which is not currently available.
- Two more scholarships will look at the health impacts of food affordability, chronic kidney disease and health risks for babies born to mothers who have diabetes during pregnancy.
Since 2007, more than $132 million has been invested in NHMRC health and medical research to improve the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
For more information, contact Ms Plibersek’s office on 02 6277 7220
or Mr Snowdon’s office on 02 6277 7820
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