International program grants success!

Eighteen Sydney Medical School projects have been successful in gaining support from the University’s International Program Development Fund (IPDF) for 2011.

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 funds are keenly sought after with 135 applications submitted this year, the highest number of applications received in the history of the fund. This made the process highly competitive with an overall success rate of 35%. Across the University of Sydney 48 grants were funded. The grants to Sydney Medical School projects totalled $164,000 (35.5% of total funds granted), an increase of $56,000 compared to funds received last year.

Projects have been funded with partners in Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, PNG, Sweden, Singapore, Switzerland, UK, USA and Vietnam.

Details of the successful projects follow:

BRAZIL

Brazilian Centre for evidence based physiotherapy

Partner: University Cidade of Sao Paulo

University of Sydney staff: Professor Christopher Maher, Dr Anne Moseley, Dr Leonardo O P Costa


CAMBODIA

Prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease in Children in Rural Cambodia. An Echocardiography-based Pilot Study

Partners: National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh; Angkor Hospital for Children; Centre de Cardiologies de Phnom Penh; Imperial College, Umea University; University of East Anglia; Baylor College of Medicine; Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute

University of Sydney staff: Dr Louise Shewan, Professor Chris Semsarian


CHINA

China-Australia Collaborations in Diabetes and Obesity Research

Partner: Peking University

University of Sydney staff: Professor Anthony Keech, Professor Stephen Colagiuri, A/Prof Alicia Jenkins, A/Prof Stephen Twigg, Professor Ian Caterson


Process evaluation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) interventions in Anhui province China

Partner: Lanzhou University

University of Sydney staff: Professor Stephen Leeder, Dr Justin McNab


Development of Novel Anti-tumour Agents: chelator-nanoparticles

Partner: National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology of China (NCNST), Beijing

University of Sydney staff: Professor Des Richardson, Dr David Lovejoy, Ms Louise Freckelton


INDIA

Assessment of opportunities for collaborative research for maternal, neonatal, and child health and nutrition in India

Partner: The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR)

University of Sydney staff: Professor Michael Dibley, Dr Camille Raynes-Greenow, Professor Heather Jeffery


INDONESIA

Developing multidisplinary collaborations for research, education and student exchange in human and animal health and biosecurity with Airlangga University, Indonesia

Partners: University Airlangga; University of Indonesia; University of Gadjah Mada; Eijkman Institute; Ministry of Health Indonesia

University of Sydney staff: Dr Monica Lahra, Professor Tania Sorrell, Professor Peter McMinn, Professor Michael Ward, Professor Lyn Gilbert, A/Prof Alison Kesson


KENYA

Partnership for the Abandonment of Female Genital Cutting in East Africa

Partners: University of Nairobi; World Health Organization

University of Sydney staff: Dr Nesrin Varol, Professor John Hearn, A/Prof Lyndal Trevena, Professor Robert Cumming, Mr Joel Negin, Mr Mohsen Soliman


PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Developing Interventions to improve Post Natal Contraception access and uptake in Papua New Guinea

Partner: University of Papua New Guinea

University of Sydney staff: Dr Kirsten Black, Professor Heather Jeffery


SWEDEN

Strengthening Health Economics links between University of Lund and Sydney University

Partner: Lund University

University of Sydney staff: A/Prof Philip Clarke


SINGAPORE

Genetic Basis of Ethionamide Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Partner: National University of Singapore (NUS)

University of Sydney staff: Dr Nicholas West, Dr Jamie Triccas


SWITZERLAND

Developing key research and exchange partnerships with Ecole Polytecnique Federale de Lausanne

Partner: Ecole Polytecnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)

University of Sydney staff: Professor Bruce Robinson, Dr Dilhani Bandaranayake


VIETNAM

Establishment of a Perinatal research collaboration between the University of Medicine and Pharmacy,Vietnam and Sydney Medical School

Partner: University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMP)

University of Sydney staff: Dr Jane Hirst, Professor Heather Jeffery, Professor Jonathan Morris


Methods in Epidemiological, Clinical and Operations Research; ATS MECOR Vietnam

Partner: National Lung Hospital, Hanoi

University of Sydney staff: Professor Guy Marks


Developing a non-communicable disease prevention collaboration in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; promoting healthy lifestyle through a workplace based program for health and non- health government workforce

Partner: University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMP)

University of Sydney staff: Dr Philayrath Phongsavan, Professor Adrian Bauman, Associate Professor Michael Dibley


VIETNAM/CAMBODIA

Developing a South East Asia infectious disease research network

Partners: National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE); Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh City; Institut Pasteur du Camboge, Phnom Penh

University of Sydney staff: Professor Peter McMinn, Professor Nicholas King, Professor Tania Sorrell, Dr Monica Lahra, Dr Dilhani Bandaranayake


USA/SINGAPORE

Chronobiology Centres network (CCN) PILOT PROJECT

Partners: Harvard University; Duke-NUS Medical School

University of Sydney staff: Professor Ronald Grunstein, Professor Peter Robinson, A/Prof Peter Liu, Mr. George C. Dungan II


UK/CANADA/USA

WUN Public health and climate change network; combining climate change and chronic disease prevention

Partners: Bristol University; University of Alberta; University of Bergen; University of Leeds; Penn State University; University of Western Australia

University of Sydney staff: A/Prof Ruth Colagiuri