University projects receive Medical Research Future Fund support
Fifteen University of Melbourne projects have received funding under schemes announced by the Australian Government's Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
The funding was awarded under a number of MRFF schemes, including Chronic Respiratory Conditions, Effective Treatments and Therapies, and Cardiovascular Health.
The Medical Research Future Fund is a $20 billion long-term investment supporting Australian health and medical research. The funding supports leading medical researchers to discover new ways to diagnose and care for people with many different and devastating health conditions, ranging from pancreatic cancer to childhood dementia.
The funded projects, all from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, include:
- Developing an mRNA-based gene therapy strategy for Niemann-Pick Disease Type C1: a blueprint to treat childhood dementia, led by Dr Ya Hui Hung from the Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health;
- Implementation of a co-designed exercise program for older people from CALD backgrounds, led by Associate Professor Cathy Said from the Department of Physiotherapy;
- A Citizen Science Project to co-create 'BigaagARri' a Preventive Experiential, Arts, Cultural Evidence (PEACE) model for implementing at-scale in primary care and community, led by Professor Victoria Palmer from the Department of General Practice;
- Co-design and implementation of digital dementia risk reduction awareness program for migrant communities, led by Dr Josefine Antoniades from the National Ageing Research Institute;
- Linking clinical and basic science discovery to find a new treatment for sepsis, led by Dr Yugeesh Lankadeva from the Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health;
- Impact of Total Arterial Revascularisation in Coronary Artery Surgery on cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and multiorgan outcomes - an RCT (TA trial), led by Professor Alistair Royse from the Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital;
- Post-thrombectomy intra-arterial tenecteplase for Acute manaGement of Non-retrievable thrombus and no-reflow in Emergent Stroke (EXTEND-AGNES TNK), led by Dr Felix Ng from the Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital;
- The SNaPP Study: Sugammadex, neostigmine and postoperative pulmonary complications, led by Professor Kate Leslie AO from the Department of Critical Care;
- The Cannabidiol First-Episode Psychosis Study, led by Professor Paul Amminger from Orygen - The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health;
- Restoration of upper limb and respiratory function after cervical spinal cord injury through novel intervention. A multicentre adaptive trial to test the separate and combined effects of neurostimulation (TSS), therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia (tAIH), and intensive muscle training (MT), led by Professor David Berlowitz from the Department of Physiotherapy;
- IDC-IMPROVE: The co-design, implementation and evaluation of a care bundle to improve indwelling catheter care (IDC) in residential aged care homes, led by Professor Joan Ostaszkiewicz from the National Ageing Research Institute;
- Implementing universal telerehabilitation into the cancer care pathway, led by Professor Linda Denehy from the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology;
- PRECISION– PhaRmacogEnomiC medIcines optimiSatIon for peOple with caNcer, led by Dr Marliese Alexander from the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology;
- RNA Powered Antiviral Antibodies, led by Professor Damian Purcell from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology;
- Overcoming inequity of opportunity for optimal pain and symptom management for Australians affected by pancreatic cancer, led by Professor Meinir Krishnasamy from the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology.
See the full list of 193 projects funded here.
The MRFF is a $20 billion long-term investment from the Australian Government, supporting Australian health and medical research.