UNSW gets $82 million for medical research

The University of NSW has been given $82.8 million in medical research funding, making it the third most awarded institution in the country.

University of NSW’s Professor Guy Marks has received $6.5 million to test the interventions designed to help eliminate tuberculosis by 2030.

• New display reveals history of Kingsford
• Five new laws that could change your year

The University of NSW has been given $82.8 million in medical research funding, making it the third most awarded institution in the country.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has announced $526 million in bursaries across 62 institutions nationwide.

A project to eliminate tuberculosis — the leading infectious disease killer in the world — is one of the 90 competitive grants scooped up by UNSW.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis. The disease affects millions of people around the world and Professor Guy Marks has received a $6.5 million grant to tackle the killer infection.

Overall, $53.5 million was awarded to UNSW researchers across the medicine and science faculties — an increase of $22.8 million on last year.

UNSW deputy vice-chancellor (research) Nicholas Fisk said the awards emphasised the enormous scope of research UNSW committed to tackling society’s major health challenges — including cancer, infectious disease and brain disorders.

“Year-on-year our project grant funding is up $23 million, or around 75 per cent,” Professor Fisk said.

A kidney dialysis machine. Dr Sunil Badve was awarded $5.5 million to research kidney disease. Picture: Stuart Milligan

“This is testimony to the dedication of our outstanding researchers in optimising health outcomes for people around the world.”

UNSW grant recipients include:

› Professor Guy Marks, who has received $6.5 million to test the interventions designed to eliminate tuberculosis by 2030. “TB is the leading infectious disease killer in the world. This ‘universal test and treat’ approach to screening for TB will go a long way towards eliminating TB as a public health problem globally,” Professor Marks said.

Professor Henry Brodaty.

› Professor Henry Brodaty, of UNSW Medicine’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, received $1.5 million for two projects in the Boosting Dementia Research Grants program.

› Associate Professor Claire Vajdic was awarded $1.025 million to analyse cancer risk in women and children after medically assisted reproduction.

› Dr Sunil Badve was awarded $5.5 million for one of the largest project grants for research into kidney disease.