Curtin health research boosted with $6m NHMRC funding

Curtin University has been awarded more than $6 million from the Federal Government to investigate improving the survival rates of people who suffer cardiac arrests, reducing pregnancy risks, addressing mental health risks for children with dyslexia and the prevention of falls.

Federal Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt, today announced five Curtin-led research projects had been awarded funding as part of the latest round of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grants.

Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Chris Moran congratulated the Curtin researchers leading the five projects that had attracted NHMRC funding.

“The NHMRC Investigator Grants support research across the biomedical, clinical, public health and health services areas, and these Curtin-led projects will investigate important fields of health research that require greater examination,” Professor Moran said.

“Curtin is committed to leading world-class research that is making a real difference to people’s lives and we welcome this significant contribution from the Federal Government through the NHMRC.”

Professor Moran said a Curtin research project, led by John Curtin Distinguished Professor Judith Finn, had been awarded $2.153 million.

“About 25,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in Australia each year, with an overall survival rate of less than 10 per cent,” Professor Moran said.

“Professor Finn’s research will aim to identify the most effective emergency medical services policies and practices for improving people’s survival outcomes as well as their post-arrest quality of life.”

The five Curtin-led projects that have received NHMRC Investigator Grants include:

• Improving outcomes after cardiac arrest: strengthening the chain of survival, led by John Curtin Distinguished Professor Judith Finn, from Curtin’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine;
• Targeted approaches to address avoidable perinatal mortality and morbidity, led by Associate Professor Gavin Pereira, from Curtin’s School of Public Health;
• Fall injury prevention for older Australians – through Innovation, Translation and Building Research Capacity, led by Professor Anne-Marie Hill, from Curtin’s School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science;
• Mental health in children with dyslexia: Identifying predictors of emotional and behavioural problems and testing a mental health promotion intervention, led by Dr Mark Boyes, from Curtin’s School of Psychology; and
• Improving physical health and quality of life and reducing the rate of cognitive decline and falls for people with mild cognitive impairment, led by Senior Research Fellow Elissa Burton, from Curtin’s School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science.

NHMRC administers funding for health and medical research on behalf of the Australian Government, and invites researchers in Australia to apply for funding through schemes ranging from scholarships to research programs.

For more information about the NHMRC Investigator Grants, visit here.