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Grants awarded to School academics for 2010

NHMRC Project Grants
The Project Grants funding scheme is NHMRC’s main avenue of support for individuals and teams of researchers undertaking biomedical, clinical, public health and health services research in Australian universities, medical schools, hospitals or other research institutions.

For an extracted list of successful University of Sydney projects, download the PDF. Some of the projects awarded funding for 2010 are listed below.

  • Unlocking Genetic Factors Predicting Type 2 Diabetes Complications for Clinical Practice: The Field Study, led by Professor Anthony Keech from the University's NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre ($2,428,500).
    Heart disease, stroke, eye and kidney diseases in diabetes have both environmental and genetic predispositions. With over 5000 Australians with diabetes, this research in the FIELD study is to identify the important genetic contributors to these complications. It will explore how the genetic features cause disease and whether the most important ones can be screened for in simple blood tests. It will also examine whether the genetic damage of ageing is accelerated in diabetes.
  • Polypill Versus Usual Care Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with High Cardiovascular Risk, led by Professor Alan Cass from the University's Poche Centre for Indigenous Health ($1,812,175).
    Cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to the lower life expectancy of Aboriginal compared to non Aboriginal people. Guidelines recommend people at high risk of cardiovascular disease should be on a combination of blood thinning, blood pressure lowering and cholesterol lowering medications. There is a large gap between actual practice and these guidelines. We will test a combined polypill strategy aiming to simplify treatment and reduce costs to close this gap.
  • Crystalloid versus Hydroxy-Ethyl Starch Trial, led by Professor John Myburgh from the George Institute of International Health ($2,169,500).
  • Intervention to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy and early adverse retinal changes in type 1 diabetes, led by Associate Professor Kim Donaghue from the Children's Hospital at Westmead ($1,226,875).
  • Bisphosphonate Treatment of Childhood Femoral Head Avascular Necrosis due to Perthes Disease, led by Clinical Associate Professor Christopher Cowell from the Children's Hospital at Westmead ($1,305,625).
  • Treatment of asymptomatic candidiasis in pregnant women for the prevention of preterm birth: a randomised trial, led by Professor Warwick Giles from the Northern Clinical School ($1,070,125).
  • Management of refeeding syndrome in critical illness: An AuSPEN endorsed multicentre clinical trial, led by Associate Professor Gordon Doig from the Northern Clinical School ($1,308,800).
  • A new direction for TB control in highly endemic countries: a RCT of active case finding, led by Clinical Professor Guy Marks from the Woolock Institute of Medical Research ($1,296,643)
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ARC Grants

  • Intracellular calcium in intact muscle during fatigue and stretch-induced damage, led by Professor DG Allen from the Discipline of Physiology ($285,000).
  • Novel kinases: How do they regulate epithelial ion transport, and what is their role in epithelial function?, led by Professor DI Cook from the Discipline of Physiology ($225,000).
  • Neuronal functions of the microtubule-associated protein tau in development and ageing, led by Professor J Götz and Dr LM Ittner from the Brain and Mind Research Institute ($555,000).
  • The biological and pathological functions of TDP-43, led by Dr LM Ittner and Professor J Götz from the Brain and Mind Research Institute ($480,000).
  • New insights into mammalian gene transcription - the role of parafibromin, led by Associate Professor DJ Marsh from the Kolling Institute of Medical Research ($345,000).
  • The effect of nitrogen monoxide on intracellular iron metabolism, led by Professor DR Richardson from the Bosch Institute ($540,000).

For more information about these projects and the full list of other successful University of Sydney Discovery Projects, download the PDF.

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ARC Linkage Grants

  • Organisational change in healthcare: Determinants of effective clinical networks, led by Emeritus Professor Peter Castaldi ($292,000). Partner organisiations: Greater Metropolitan Clinical Taskforce, Sax Institute
  • Long term economic impacts of disease on older workers to 2030: Costs to government and individuals and opportunities for intervention, led by Associate Professor Deborah Schofield from the Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health ($310,000). Partner organisation: Pfizer Pty Ltd

For more information about these projects and the full list of other successful University of Sydney Linkage Projects, download the PDF.

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