Researchers from Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland (MRI-UQ) have been awarded $2.86 million in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding.
Chief Executive Officer MRI-UQ, Professor John Prins said the funding is an acknowledgement of the quality of the research being undertaken at MRI-UQ.
“The NHMRC funding supports Mater Researchers to discover, develop and translate our medical research into tangible and significant patient outcomes.”
Professor Sue Kildea was awarded an $1,090,701 NHMRC Partnership Grant for her work in Building on Our Strengths (BOOSt): Developing and Evaluating Birthing on Country Primary Maternity Units.
“This work aims to provide the very best maternity services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their babies by working in partnership to establish and evaluated Indigenous controlled birth centres,” said Professor Kildea.
Associate Professor Vicki Clifton was awarded a $707,370 Research Fellowship to investigate ways to improve asthma management in pregnancy.
Dr Clifton said asthma commonly causes complications in pregnancy.
“It is important to identify ways of effectively managing the disease to ensure the baby has the best possible outcome.”
Professor Jean-Pierre Levesque was awarded a $640,210 Research Fellowship supporting research into stem cell niches: biology and therapeutic applications.
“Stem cells have the potential to regenerate any organ or tissue, however like any precious seeds, stem cells need the perfect soil (the niche) to do what they are supposed to do. Studies on stem cell niches are starting to give new clues to improve treatments that use stem cells such as stem cell transplantations, or new treatments that help eliminate bad stem cells such as leukaemia stem cells which resist chemotherapy,” said Professor Levesque.
Dr Sumaira Hasnain who is researching targeting immunopathology in chronic diseases was awarded a $431,000 Career Development Fellowship.
“My long-term vision is to be able to find ways to influence our immune system to provide treatments for diseases with high long-term morbidity, such as diabetes, lung fibrosis and inflammatory bowel disease.”
Congratulations to all recognised by NHMRC for their dedication and outstanding contributions.