State Government Fellowships boost UQ research

Research into kidney and liver disease, infectious diseases, cancer, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, children’s nutrition and movement disorders has received a boost.

UQ Faculties of Health Sciences and Social and Behavioural Sciences-affiliated researchers have been awarded Health Research Fellowships.

Faculty staff received 10 of the 14 fellowships awarded by the Queensland Government’s Office of Health & Medical Research.

This represents more than $5million over five years. Fellowships have been awarded to:

• Dr Katrina Campbell (Human Movement Studies), focusing on obesity influencing blood vessel function and degree of kidney disease

• Dr Pamela Dodrill (Medicine) - the evaluation of three different interventions for children with a restricted range of dietary intake

• Dr Robyn Grote (Health & Rehabilitation Sciences) - using sophisticated motion capture technology to capture and quantify movement in those with movement disorders

• Professor David Johnson (Medicine) - undertaking clinical trials in kidney disease designed by leading Australasian experts

• Professor James McCarthy (Medicine) - improving the care of patients with infectious diseases

• Associate Professor Elizabeth Powell (Medicine) - improving the outcome of treatment in overweight patients with liver disease

• Mr Damion Stimson (Medicine) - preparation of novel carbon 11 labelled amino acids and their assessment as tumour-specific radiotracers for the advancement of Positron emission tomography (PET)

• Dr Lata Vadamudi (Medicine) - understanding the genetic cause of epilepsy through twin studies, and

• Associate Professor Claire Wainwright (Medicine) - focusing on cystic fibrosis, bronchiolitis and asthma in children.

• Associate Professor Michael Breakspear (Psychology) - combining brain imaging and computer modelling to develop a diagnostic test for psychotic disorders.

The Fellowships provide funding of up to $150,000 a year for five years in areas that have the potential to improve patient care in Queensland by influencing health policy and clinical practice.

Importantly, these Fellowships allow busy clinicians to quarantine time for research from their busy clinical schedules.

"The ability for clinicians to find suitable time for research is one of the biggest barriers to an active clinician researcher environment in Queensland.

"We hope these 14 Fellowships are only the start of a greater focus on supporting clinicians to spread their time between research and patient care," said Professor Robin Mortimer, Executive Director of the Office of Health and Medical Research.
Media inquiries:
Faculty Communications Officer, Marlene McKendry - 0401 99 6847.

Web site:www.health.qld.gov.au/ohmr