May 2006
Sydney medical research facilities secure $38 million in budget
11 May 2006
Five of the University's medical research facilities have been successful in securing $38 million in funding in the government's 2006 budget announcement.
The funding is part of a total of $163 million in grants to medical research facilities made available for a variety of development and expansion projects. The successful University of Sydney projects are:
The Centenary Institute: receives $10 million for medical research in a range of projects covering immunology and molecular medicine. The Centenary undertakes 'cutting edge' research into the biology of normal and diseased cells, with the goal of improving our understanding of what causes disease and to translate these discoveries into clinical practice through development of new vaccines, better diagnostic tests and innovative forms of treatment.
The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research: receives $5 million to further its work in the area of respiratory and sleep research with the aim of fostering, developing and promoting research into the fields of respiratory and sleep medicine.
The Westmead Millennium Institute: $15 million for research into cancer and leukaemia; infectious and immune diseases; mental illness and liver, kidney, eye, heart and respiratory disease, using the basic tools of molecular and cell biology, genetics and epidemiology, imaging technology and clinical research.
The Sydney Melanoma Unit: $6 million was awarded to the Sydney Melanoma Unit, which is the largest treatment centre for melanoma in the world and conducts a wide range of basic and clinical research relating to melanoma.
The Brian and Mind Research Institute (BMRI): $2 million goes to the BMRI which focuses on common mental (e.g. depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dementia and addiction) and neurological disorders (e.g. multiple sclerosis, stroke, epilepsy, disorders of hearing and balance). The BMRI also promotes multidisciplinary research into other poorly understood brain-related areas such as chronic fatigue and chronic pain.
Contact: Jake O'Shaughnessy
Phone: Ph: +61 2 9351 4312 or M: 0421 617 861