Three new Centres of Research Excellence have been funded under latest round of the NHMRC Centres of Research program to focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues. The new centres are:

CRE Clinical Research

Research Institution: Menzies School of Health Research

Title: Centre of Research Excellence in Lung Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children

Researcher: Professor Anne Chang

Funding amount: $2,498,845

Respiratory illness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is very common with long term consequences in Indigenous Australians. Thus prevention and/or early treatment potentially change the child’s life trajectory for lung health. Partnering key researchers in Brisbane, Sydney, New Zealand and USA, the research team will undertake appropriate clinical studies (treatment and preventative) that are most likely to improve lung health outcomes in young Indigenous children. The team will focus on increasing participation of Indigenous people and end-users.

CRE Health Services

Research Institution: Menzies School of Health Research

Title: Centre of Research Excellence in Discovering Indigenous Strategies to improve Cancer Outcomes via Engagement, Research Translation and Training (DISCOVER-TT)

Researcher: Associate Professor Gail Garvey

Funding amount: $2,499,998

The Centre of Research Excellence in Discovering Indigenous Strategies to improve Cancer Outcomes via Engagement, Research Translation and Training (DISCOVER-TT) aims to reduce the marked disparities in diagnosis, treatment and survival for Indigenous Australians with cancer. DISCOVER-TT’s co-ordinated, collaborative, Indigenous-led research program will feature extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure its work is relevant and applicable, and will enhance research capacity by developing early-career researchers.

Research Institution: Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute

Title: Centre of Research Excellence to Reduce Inequality in Heart Disease

Researcher: Professor Simon Stewart

Funding amount: $2,493,649

There is increasing recognition of a societal responsibility to provide effective and sustainable health care to the entire population and not just too selected parts. Indigenous and regional Australians are most affected by Australia's biggest killer - heart disease. In response, the CRE to Reduce Inequality in Heart Disease is a national collaboration of researchers from a range of health disciplines who will work on developing sustainable and cost-effective health care

 

The NHMRC Centres of Research program provides up to $2.5 million over five years.