Lab+Life Scientist Jan 2016

Page 43

grantwatch

899 new research projects funded Senator Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, has confirmed funding for 889 new research projects as part of the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Major Grants announcement. The ARC Major Grants for 2016 include funding under four ARC schemes. The amounts awarded under each scheme are: • Discovery Projects — $244.9 million for 635 projects • Discovery Early Career Researcher Award — $70.7 million for 200 projects • Discovery Indigenous — $4.1 million for 10 projects • Linkage, Infrastructure, Equipment and

$9 million to treat heart failure and peanut allergies

Facilities — $37.9 million for 54 projects

Victorian medical technology companies Cardiora and Aravax have been awarded $9 million in

Senator Birmingham said the $357.7

venture capital funding from the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) to develop

million in funding represents a strong

novel treatments for heart failure and peanut allergies respectively. Cardiora will receive up to $4.15 million to pursue development of CRD-102, an oral medicine

investment in research excellence and the future health of Australian research.

for the treatment of end-stage heart failure. Early studies indicate the drug is a potential new

“A strong investment in high-quality

therapy to ease debilitating symptoms, including shortness of breath, fluid build-up and exercise

research will drive innovation, secure the

intolerance. The Australian-developed drug will now be the focus of international clinical trials. “Early trials of Cardiora’s CRD-102 have produced highly encouraging results, with the drug

jobs of the future, improve the health of our community, protect our environment and

showing great potential as a new agent to improve the quality of life for millions of heart failure

ensure our researchers can compete on the

patients around the world,” said MCRF Investment Manager and Cardiora Director Dr Ingmar

international stage,” he said.

Wahlqvist.

$630 million for health and medical research projects Minister for Health Sussan Ley has announced $630 million to support Australia’s researchers in their search to find the next prevention of disease or cure. The grants were selected by independent panels that drew on the expertise of thousands of researchers to assess applications across 12 different National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) schemes. The funding will be shared amongst 2200 researchers working on 836 projects. These projects cover areas such as obesity prevention; a new medication to help treat severe ice addiction; new treatment for drug-resistant depression; different treatments for PTSD; and the impact shift working has on pregnancy outcomes. “The projects span the full spectrum of health and medical research — from commercialising new ideas to improving healthcare delivery, to a basic understanding of diseases at genetic or molecular levels,” Ley said. Ley said the announcement includes $122 million for cancer research, $50 million for mental health research and $25 million for dementia research, amongst other diseases and conditions.

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