UNSW research into childhood cancers, HIV prevention, and sexually transmissible diseases in remote Aboriginal communities has received major backing in the latest round of federal government health funding.

UNSW received a total of $65.8 million in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding to commence in 2015, including $29 million for 40 new project grants.

Among the cancer research to receive funding were UNSW-led screening strategies and a project looking at a novel therapeutic approach to tackle aggressive childhood cancers, led by Dr David Ziegler from the School of Women’s and Children’s Health ($990,000).

Professor Murray Norris, from the School of Women’s and Children’s Health and the Children's Cancer Institute, received $778,000 for a project looking at a novel molecular target capable of abrogating development of the aggressive cancer neuroblastoma.

Other successful projects included an investigation into the psychosocial risks of critical illness in children with heart disease; new treatments for chronic lower back pain; cognitive and motor training to help prevent falls in the elderly, and the effect of the hormone oxytocin on fear memories.

UNSW was awarded $3.9 million for three Partnership Projects – the biomedical equivalents of ARC Linkage grants that foster strong end-user or industry support.

  • Associate Professor Rebecca Guy from the Kirby Institute ($1.4 million) for research looking at the “Uptake, sustainability and impact of scaling up point-of-care testing for sexually transmissible infections in remote and regional Aboriginal communities”
  • Professor Andrew Grulich from the Kirby Institute ($1.5 million) for a project investigating  “The HIV prevention revolution: measuring outcomes and maximising effectiveness”
  • Professor Andrew Lloyd, from School of Medical Sciences ($1 million) for his work on the “Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with hepatitis C (SToP-C)”

UNSW was also awarded $7.6 million for 10 new Established Career Fellowships targeting senior staff.

Click here for a full list of UNSW's successful Project Grants, Partnership Projects, Early Career Fellowships and Career Development Fellowships.

Media contact: Linda McSweeny, UNSW Media, 02 9385 8920