UQ receives third highest new NHMRC project grants

The Federal Government has released comparative data showing the University of Queensland has received $3.05 million in competitive new grant allocations nationally for 1998 from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The University of Queensland was awarded 41 new project grants out of a national total of 412 grants valued at $33.1 million, making it the third highest recipient nationally.

Last year the University also received the third highest allocation of new NHMRC grants.

Largest new grant recipients nationally in 1998 are:
1. University of Melbourne $4.68 million, 55 grants
2. Monash University $3.36 million, 43 grants
3. University of Queensland $3.05 million, 41 grants
4. University of Sydney $2.68 million, 40 grants
5. University of Western Australia $2.38 million, 25 grants.

In Queensland, the University received the highest number and value of new project grants, attracting 75 percent of the $4.08 million of NHMRC funding to the State.

Overall in NHMRC new and continuing grants, the University of Queensland improved its ranking by one position nationally on 1997 figures with total support of $9.99 million for 130 grants. Nationally, the NHMRC awarded 1234 new and continuing grants valued at $99.5 million.

Top new and continuing awardees were:
1. University of Melbourne $14.81 million, 171 grants
2. University of Queensland $9.99 million, 130 grants
3. University of Sydney $9.84 million, 136 grants
4. Monash University $9.41 million, 116 grants
5. University of Western Australia, $8.72 million, 98 grants

In Queensland, the University received the highest number of new and continuing NHMRC grants, attracting three-quarters of the $12.2 million allocated to the State.

University of Queensland Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Paul Greenfield said the University was very pleased with the result, which reflected the diversity and quality of work by University medical and biological science researchers.

Three University of Queensland projects announced to receive funding in national health priority areas are:

- a study of the biology and treatment of breast and ovarian cancer by Dr Michael McGuckin (Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department), $334,200 over three years;

- a three-year study on the management of concussion in contact sports by Professor Laurie Geffen (Cognitive Psychophysiology Laboratory), $200,000; and

- a five-year study of the mechanisms of insulin action in diabetes by new NHMRC principal research fellow Professor David James (Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology - CMCB), $911,120 over five years. Professor James' award was the largest NHMRC grant made to the University of Queensland.

The following researchers have been appointed NHMRC fellows:
New five-year fellowships -
- Dr Melissa Little (CMCB) was offered both an NHMRC research fellowship valued at $725,000 and a Charles and Sylvia Viertel senior fellowship valued at $750,000;
- Dr David Pow (Vision, Touch and Hearing Research Centre- VTHRC), NHMRC research fellowship, value, $554,000;
- Dr Steve Robinson (VTHRC), NHMRC research fellowship, value $603,900.

New four-year NHMRC fellowships -
- Dr Carol Wicking (CMCB), R.D. Wright fellowship, value $252,107;
- Dr Margaret Kelaher (Tropical Health Program), Public Health (Overseas) fellowship $219,000;
- C.J. Martin fellowships - Dr Michael Sweet (Biochemistry), $218,879; and Dr Michael Downes (CMCB), $214,122.

NHMRC scholarships (which also attract $1000 maintenance plus $500 conference travel per year) awarded to the University of Queensland:
- Training scholarship for Aboriginal health research - Gregory Phillips ($15,888);
- Medical postgraduate research scholarships - Dr Elisabeth Nye and Dr David Reith (each, $23,630);
- Dental postgraduate research scholarship - Russell McDonald (also $23,630);
- NHMRC Dora Lush (biomedical) postgraduate research scholarship - Christopher Jones ($15,888).

For further information, contact Professor Greenfield, telephone 07 3365 3917 or the University Director of Research Services Jan Massey (telephone 3365 3640).