International project grants success!

Ten Sydney Medical School projects have been successful in gaining support from the University’s International Project Development Fund.

This fund from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) aims to provide seed and other funding to support the development of long-term and sustainable international partnerships with universities and organisations across the world. Matched funds are also provided by Sydney Medical School. The Học Mãi Foundation also provided support funds for projects with Vietnam.

The funds are keenly sought after with 98 applications this year. Across the University of Sydney 42 grants were funded. The grants to Sydney Medical School projects totalled $108,400 (23.4% of total funds granted).

Projects have been funded with partners in China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Timor Leste, Vietnam and the USA.

Details on the successful projects follow.

CHINA

Perinatal health in rural Shaanxi: a background survey for a large-scale community trial of the impact of micronutrient supplements in pregnancy on neonatal mortality

Partners: Xi’an Jiao Tong University

University of Sydney staff: Associate Professor Michael Dibley, Professor Heather Jeffery, Dr Mu Li, Ms Louise Freckelton


Breakthrough collaborative research project to reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease

Partners: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Peking University, Nanjing University

University of Sydney staff: Professor Stephen Leeder


Primary healthcare and the General Practitioner in China and Australia

Partners: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Peking University, Nanjing University

University of Sydney staff: Ms Louise Freckelton, Dr Lyndal Trevena


Capacity building for international Nursing and Midwifery research collaboration

Partners: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

University of Sydney staff: Professor Jill White, Associate Professor Donna Waters, Ms Louise Freckelton, Dr Lyndal Trevena


INDONESIA

A Biosafety and Biosecurity symposium with the University of Indonesia

Partners: University of Indonesia

University of Sydney staff: Professor Tania Sorrell, Ms Louise Freckelton


INDIA

Indo-Australian collaboration in non-communicable disease and injury research

Partners: Indian Council for Medical Research

University of Sydney staff: Associate Professor Anushka Patel, Associate Professor Chris Cowell, Associate Professor Rebecca Ivers


Developing instruments for conducting low back pain research in India

Partners: All India Institute of Medical Sciences

University of Sydney staff: Professor James McAuley


KENYA

Building Kenya’s capacity to respond to non-communicable diseases

Partners: Nairobi University, Health Ministry, Millennium Development Goals Centre

University of Sydney staff: Professor Bob Cumming and Dr Joel Negin


TIMOR LESTE

Working with the Timorese Health system to develop a systematic, practical and team-orientated critical care education program for health professionals

Partners: Dili National Hospital of Guido Valadares

University of Sydney staff: Dr Dilhani Bandaranayake, Dr Lyndal Trevena, Dr Kirsty Forster, Dr Roger Harris, Dr Andrea Marshall


VIETNAM

Developing capacity of the diagnostic microbiology laboratory in Dien Bien Provincial Hospital to optimise maternal and child health outcomes, support clinical teaching and enable research

Partners: Dien Bien Provincial Hospital, Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City, WHO, National Institute of Infectious and Tropical Disease, National Institute of Paediatrics, Hanoi, Hanoi Medical University, Hoc Mai Australia Vietnam Foundation, Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, Children’s’ Hospital at Westmead, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

University of Sydney staff: Dr Monica Lahra, Professor Elizabeth Elliott, Professor Peter McMinn, Professor Heather Jeffery


USA

Global health and development collaboration with the Earth Institute of Columbia University

Partners: Columbia University

University of Sydney staff: Dr Joel Negin, Professor Stephen Leeder