UNSW has won the largest grant in a recent round of funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

A team lead by Professor Mark Harris from the School of Public Health and Community Medicine has been awarded almost $800,000 to help fight problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

"Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in Australia. Many people want to know their risk of a heart attack or stroke," said Professor Harris.

"In this trial, general practitioners will use a tool to measure their patients' risk of a heart attack or stroke and work with them to reduce their risk," said Professor Harris. "The study will determine just how how effective this is in modifying both their behaviour and their physiological risk."

The other team members are: Professors Nick Zwar and Terry Campbell; Associate Professor Anushka Patel; Dr Christine Walker; Dr Qing Wan and Dr Sanjyot Vagholkar.

This is one of nine projects in priority areas of primary health care which were awarded $4.3 million.

"The successful proposals are all relevant to improving clinical practice in primary health care and, in turn, health outcomes for the Australian community," said NHMRC CEO Professor Warwick Anderson.

The grants are provided through the General Practice Clinical Research Program (GPCRP), which is administered by NHMRC.