Top researchers recognised

1 February 2011

In a major boost to child health, 13 researchers from Murdoch Childrens have been awarded more than $5 million in special research fellowships from the Federal Government's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The fellowships, which are primarily for salary support, will enable researchers to undertake studies into child health conditions including allergies and autoimmune diseases, gastric cancer and musculoskeletal disease.

Three researchers received NHMRC Senior Research Fellowships, which are awarded to outstanding health and medical researchers conducting work of major significance in their field.

Another three researchers were awarded NHMRC Career Development Awards, which support researchers in the early stages of their careers, while seven researchers were awarded NHMRC Training Fellowships.

The funding is on top of more than $20 million in project grants awarded to Murdoch Childrens late last year for 28 projects starting in 2011.

"This is a great outcome and one which positions Murdoch Childrens at the forefront of child health research both nationally and worldwide," Director Professor Terry Dwyer said.

"The Institute's success in such a competitive environment indicates the high quality of research being conducted on campus.

NHMRC Senior Research Fellowships

Professor John Bateman - The molecular mechanisms of inherited and acquired musculoskeletal disease

Professor Andrew Giraud - Understanding and preventing inflammatory pathology of the gut

Professor Anne-Louise Ponsonby - Epidemiological investigation of the role of early life environment in the development of immune function and allergic and autoimmune disease: knowledge generation for future primary prevention

NHMRC Career Development Awards

Dr Tim Silk - Genetic Imaging: Interactions of genotype and medication on attention in ADHD

Dr Louise Judd - Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract

A/Professor Craig Fry - Ethical guidelines and resources for e-health research and practice

NHMRC Training Fellowships

Jennifer Dawson - Using pulse oximetry to improve outcomes neonatal outcomes in the delivery room

Jonathan Mynard - Assessment and prediction of blood flow in congenital aortic abnormalities using image-based computer modelling and wave intensity analysi

Dr Freya Sheeran - Cellular metabolism and signalling in the paediatric heart

Dr Deanne Thompson - Understanding brain development in premature children

Dr Matthew Sabin - Improving the care of obese youth to minimise long-term burden of disease

Dr Paul Licciardi - The use of probiotics as pneumococcal vaccine adjuvants

Dr Cong Sun - Lifecourse Investigation of Obesity and Adverse Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes