Australian Research Council awards more than $4.5 million to University of Melbourne researchers
Eight academics from across the University of Melbourne, working with 23 partners, have received over $4.5 million in funding under the Australian Research Council’s Linkage Projects 2024 Round 2 scheme.
The scheme supports national and international research partnerships between researchers and business, community organisations and other publicly funded research agencies to deliver real-world outcomes for Australia.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Cassidy said the projects demonstrate the critical role of collaboration in translating research for impact.
“It is inspiring to see projects investigating bringing Indigenous knowledges into leadership, support for disadvantaged students and innovations in animal welfare,” Professor Cassidy said.
The projects were awarded to:
Associate Professor Clare Anstead from the Melbourne Veterinary School in the Faculty of Science received $776,462 to develop a world-first therapeutic pipeline of new anti-blowfly drugs to treat flystrike – a major disease and welfare issue for Australian sheep. Flystrike causes $320M in losses in Australian sheep production and threatens billions in international trade per year. New drugs will improve flystrike management, animal welfare and production, and protect international trade markets, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefit to Australian sheep growers.
Partner organisations: Australian Wool Innovation Limited; The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA; University of São Paulo.
Professor Robin Gasser from the Melbourne Veterinary School in the Faculty of Science received $863,621 to investigate creating a single cell atlas for a common livestock parasite, the barber's pole worm, and develop novel drug targets to treat farm animals affected by parasites. The socioeconomic benefits from this project will include lifting Australia’s scientific knowledge base, reputation in biology and biotechnology, animal health and investment in translational research.
Partner organisation: Taiwan integrated genomics solutions
Professor Nicholas Hutchins and Professor Jason Monty from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology received $381,784 after researchers found the rough surface of ships’ hulls causes a high drag, or resistance, even on freshly cleaned and painted ships, which increases fuel use and may harm the environment. To reduce this impact, this project will aim to identify the causes of this drag and develop tools to allow ship operators to make better decisions about hull maintenance and reduce operating costs, fuel use and emissions from shipping.
Partner organisation: Akzonobel
Professor Barry Judd from the Faculty of Arts received $870,886.00 to investigate integrating Australian Indigenous Knowledges in Leadership. Current reconciliation processes and leadership models lack adequate integration of Indigenous Knowledges, hindering mutual understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The project addresses this critical gap by co-creating leadership frameworks incorporating Australian Indigenous Knowledges into education, corporate and community leadership preserving Indigenous wisdom and enhancing Australia's capacity to address societal challenges.
Partner organisations: J&L's Outback Experience Pty Ltd; Life Again Limited; Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd.
Professor Sandra Milligan from the Faculty of Education received $880,522 to build a national model, validated by both school and tertiary agencies that aims to reliably profile each learners’ unique strengths and capabilities. This will particularly benefit disadvantaged students by building confidence and understanding of their capacity.
Partner organisations: Department for Education, Children and Young People; Big Picture Education Ltd; Universities Admissions Centre (NSW & ACT) Pty Limited; Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre; SACE Board of South Australia; South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre; Education Services Australia Limited; Koshland Education Innovation Ltd.
Dr Rebecca Runting from the School of Geography, Environment and Atmospheric Sciences within the Faculty of Science received $232,174 to improve nature restoration efforts in agricultural landscapes through the development of novel tools for landholders and an implementation framework. By demonstrating the potential synergies between restoration and agricultural production, the project aims to motivate landholders to integrate restoration in agricultural landscapes.
Partner organisations: SOS Mata Atlantica; Instituto de Pesquisas Ecologicas; Australian Grown Coffee Association Inc.
Dr Peta Taylor from the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences within the Faculty of Science received $593,192 to improve chicken welfare while enhancing sustainability and efficiency in the chicken industry, through improved chicken feeding programs and farm environments. Expected outcomes include commercially relevant strategies to improve the lives of 530,250 parent stock and 707 million meat chickens annually in Australia alone.
Partner organisations: Feedworks Pty. Ltd.; Turosi Pty Ltd; RSPCA.