A new therapy to stop the progression of multiple sclerosis and an acoustic analysis tool for diagnosing speech disorders are among eight Curtin research projects identified as having significant potential and awarded WA Near-miss Awards Ideas Grants of $100,000 each.
The grants are awarded to early and mid-career researchers who have applied for National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding, in order for them to further develop their projects for possible additional funding.
Announced yesterday by the Minister for Medical Research, the Curtin-led projects also include research into a treatment for the symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury and a study into the role of general practitioners in influencing the use of medications by the elderly.
The eight Curtin-led projects are:
• Understanding the role of bone marrow fat cells in children with high-risk leukaemia – Led by Dr Laurence Cheung from the Curtin Medical School
• Treating the symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury - Led by Dr Sarah Hellewell from Curtin's Faculty of Health Sciences
• A new therapy to prevent or reduce the progression of multiple sclerosis - Led by Dr Virginie Lam from the Curtin School of Population Health
• Catching gut bacteria in the act of prolonging brain damage after a concussion - Led by Dr Chidozie Anyaegbu from Curtin's Faculty of Health Sciences
• Immune-microbial priming in neonatal sepsis: tracing the IMPriNtS of early-life infections - Led by Dr Archita Mishra from the Curtin Medical School
• The speech movement and acoustic analysis tracking tool for diagnosis of speech disorders - Led by Dr Roslyn Ward from the Curtin School of Allied Health
• The influence of continuity of care provided by general practitioners on use of medications by the elderly - Led by Dr David Youens from the Curtin School of Population Health
• Investigating the relationship between drugs that act on Pregnane-X receptor and the risk of disease development or progression - Led by Dr Petra Czarniak from the Curtin Medical School
Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Lindy Fitzgerald said the funding announcement was particularly pleasing given the wide range of worthwhile areas of health and medical research being targeted.
"Curtin is proud to contribute to so many important areas of research," Professor Fitzgerald said.
"While these projects are diverse, they have the common aim of improving the health and wellbeing of Western Australians, while helping to foster innovation and commercialisation."
To read the Minister's media release, visit here.
