SAHMRI model proves successful in 2015 NHMRC Grant Round

The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), in collaboration with partner organisations, the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia, is thrilled to announce its success in the 2015 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant round across many categories of funding. 

SAHMRI Executive Director, Professor Steve Wesselingh, said that the success of SAHMRI staff in collaboration with its partner organisations truly demonstrates the importance of SAHMRI to South Australia. 

“I am extremely proud of SAHMRI and our partners and our success this year can be attributed to the collaborative nature of our research community,” Professor Wesselingh said. 

“By working together, we can be more competitive and the strength of our research is increased, which is a great benefit to South Australia.” 

“In just one year, we are seeing some incredible results and a significant increase in funding compared to last year.” 

The highlight for the SAHMRI community was the number of researchers working collaboratively in the SAHMRI facility that received NHMRC funding. 

Successful SAHMRI projects awarded include: 

SAHMRI Associate Professor James Ward, Head Infectious Diseases Research Aboriginal Health within the Infection and Immunity Theme has been awarded a Centre of Research Excellence (CRE), in ‘Aboriginal Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses’, and a Project Grant, with which he will be looking into ‘Novel Interventions to Address Methamphetamines in Aboriginal Communities, Including a Randomized Trial of a Web Based Therapeutic Tool Used to Treat Dependence in Clinical Settings’. The Early Career Fellowship awarded to A/Professor Ward will build on the important research undertaken as part of the CRE. It is hoped the outcomes of all of the aforementioned projects will not only benefit the Aboriginal community, but will also be translated into better health outcomes for the wider community. 

SAHMRI Heart Health Theme Leader and Professor of Cardiology at The University of Adelaide, Professor Steve Nicholls, has been awarded a prestigious Principal Research Fellowship (PRF) for ‘Developing Innovative Pathways for the Prevention of Lifelong Cardiovascular Risk.’ 

EMBL Australia Group Leader, Infection and Immunity Theme, and Associate Professor, School of Medicine at Flinders University, Associate Professor David Lynn, received a Project Grant, on ‘The Impact of the Neonatal Gut Microbiome on Specific and Non-Specific Vaccine Responses’. 

Dr Kerry Ivey from SAHMRI’s Infection and Immunity Theme and Flinders University was awarded an Early Career Fellowship for a project looking at ‘The Role of the Microbiome Activity in Diet-Disease Relationships: Anthocyanins, Flavanols and Hypertension’. 

The full list will be made available on the NHMRC website later today.