National Health and Medical Research Council
The University of Sydney secured more than $63.8 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) research projects starting in 2009 - the largest allocation to any university in the nation.
NHMRC Project and Progam Grant Funding
Sydney was awarded $51.7 million for 94 Project Grants, our best result ever, and $12.1 million for a Program Grant.
This funded research highlights Sydney's diverse multidisciplinary research base and the commitment of our Faculties, teaching hospitals and affiliated research institutes to work together to deliver improved health outcomes to the community.
A selection of the project grants starting in 2009:
- New hope for premature babies. Professor William Tarnow-Mordi leads a team conducting a 5 year collaborative study to determine if giving placental blood to babies born under 30 weeks reduces death and disability.
- Using DNA to stop bacteria. Dr Neville Firth's team have two grants to explore ways to interfere with the growth of the treatment-resistant Golden Staff.
- Playgrounds: a simple intervention for childhood obesity. Professor Anita Bundy's team will investigate whether parents' fear of "risky" outdoor play contributes to childhood obesity.
- Novel coating for orthopaedic implants. Dr Hala Zreiqat and Professor Colin Dunstan will modify the surface of orthopaedic implants with a newly developed bioactive material to promote the permanent fixation of the prosthesis to the bone.
Program Grants starting 2009:
- Generating evidence for new strategies to combat Cardiovascular Diseases. Despite established treatment and prevention strategies, heart attack and stroke will remain the leading causes of death and disease in Australia and the world in the foreseeable future. This research assembles a team of clinicians, epidemiologist and statisticians to generate new options for patients, practitioners and policy makers.
NHMRC Research Fellow Funding
NHMRC also funded 3 Professorial Research Fellows, 4 mid-career Research Fellows and a new Practitioner Fellow starting in 2009.