Victorian researchers awarded $270 million to develop next generation breakthroughs

VICTORIA’S brightest minds will be awarded $270 million in grants to find the next-generation medical breakthroughs, dwarfing research allocations to other states.

Melbourne’s world-class researchers have been handed more than 40 per cent of Australia’s latest medical research funding. Generic picture

MELBOURNE’S world-class researchers have been handed more than 40 per cent of Australia’s latest medical research funding to spearhead the next generation of advances.

Research into cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health have been given the greatest priority under $640 million worth of medical research grants to be announced by the

Turnbull Government today.

Melbourne scientists searching for new ways to fight chronic pain

Melbourne researchers exploring gene therapy ‘turbo boost’

Chest wall and arm arteries better for heart bypass, Melbourne researchers reveal

Victoria’s leading institutes and hospitals will receive the biggest slice of the research spending, provided almost $270 million to undertake 308 separate projects.

The funding includes a mammoth $16.1 million investment in HIV research led by the University of Melbourne’s Prof Stephen Kent to better understand the biology of the disease to push for a cure or effective vaccine.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt will announce $640 million worth National Health and Medical Research Council allocations today.

How to live longer and be happier

Researchers believe anti-inflammatory diet key to health

Melbourne researchers find exercise could help prevent blindness

Health Minister Greg Hunt with announce the latest National Health and Medical Research Council allocations today, which include $109 million for cancer research and more than $96 million for cardiovascular disease and $48 million for diabetes.

“Mental health is a continuing priority area for the Turnbull Government and we are leading a transformation in the way mental health care is delivered in Australia,” he said.

“Over $53 million will be targeted through research projects that aim to help the four million Australians who suffer from a form of mental illness each year.”

Under the National Health Priority Areas agreed upon by Australia’s governments, the NHMRC funding will also be greased towards breakthroughs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health ($31 million), injury ($28.5 million), dementia ($14 million), Obesity ($13 million), Asthma ($12 million) and arthritis and osteoporosis ($10 million).

Other Victorian-based proposals to successful attract funding include $10 million projects at Monash University project to better use membrane proteins into therapies, and at St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research to integrate diabetes research.

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute each received grants worth more than $5 million for individual projects.

The NHMRC is also introducing a new fund to support talented female researchers and close the gap in funding awarded to male and female lead investigators.

Under the traditional Project Grants allocations the rates of funding for females has lagged behind their male counterparts. Mr Hunt said additional funding would see 34 more female lead investigators through the new scheme.

[e-mail]