Media Statement - 12th December 2008
A miniature, remote-controlled microcatheter to be used in operations
on stroke victims, a mask that allows samples to be collected from
people with lung infections and a wound dressing that promotes faster
healing and reduced scarring are among 23
National Health and Medical Research Council development grants announced today by the Rudd Government.
The grants, worth $4.1 million, will provide funding for researchers to
translate the results of their research into products that benefit
consumers in Australia and overseas.
They fund research commercialisation at the early proof-of-concept
stage and support development work in fields related to human health
including diagnostics, medical devices, pharmaceutical products,
bioinformatics, biomaterials and biotechnology.
These projects highlight the benefits that can flow from investing in
health and medical research. They take the next step in taking research
out of laboratories and putting it into practical use.
Among the grant recipients are:
- Dr Euan Tovey, University of Sydney, $175,500, to develop a special mask to provide a new and more comfortable way to collect samples to diagnose lung infections.
- Assoc Prof James Friend, Monash University, Victoria, $183,313, to develop NanoNautilus, a remote-controlled microcatheter that will greatly reduce the risks involved in medical treatments for stroke victims.
- Prof Julie Bines, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Victoria, $132,125, to develop a rotavirus vaccine that can be given at birth, and will be more easily delivered to children in remote communities and developing countries because it will not need to be refrigerated.
- Prof Fiona Wood, University of WA, $184,500, to investigate whether a novel type of wound dressing can promote faster healing and reduce scarring.
- Prof Ian Ramshaw, ANU, $156,250, to develop a flu vaccine that can recognise and kill flu-infected cells from all flu strains.
- Dr David Abbott, Brain Research Institute, Victoria, $175,615, to further develop a tool that provides simultaneous EEG and MRI imaging, combining the specific benefits of both.
- Prof John Wallace, University of Adelaide, $195,500, to develop a compound into an antibiotic for golden staph.
- Assoc Prof Terence O’Brien, University of Melbourne, $198,600, to further develop a new concept for treating epilepsy.
- Dr John Atwell, La Trobe University, Victoria, $134,750, to develop a tool to monitor people with a presumed heart attack. It will be able to quickly estimate damage to the heart, which will mean quicker diagnosis and triage of patients presenting with chest pain.
Details of the grant recipients can be found at www.nhmrc.gov.au.