UQ researchers secure funding for vital health and medical research

Seven University of Queensland researchers have received National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding to support collaborative research and improve health outcomes.

The Federal Government has invested $6.9 million to support research with partners in the European Union and the United Kingdom, including four UQ projects to help address emerging research challenges while building Australia’s research capacity.

Another UQ researcher, Professor Katharine Wallis, has been provided NHMRC funding from the $39 million Partnership Projects Scheme, which supports research projects focused on improving healthcare delivery.

Two UQ researchers have also received funding under the $35 million Centres of Research Excellence scheme to explore and develop solutions to health challenges.

UQ NHMRC–European Union (EU) Collaborative Research Grants recipients:

• Professor Christel Middeldorp, from the Faculty of Medicine and Child Health Research Centre, has received $499,332 for the Youth-GEMs project, investigating gene environment interactions in youth mental health trajectories.
• Professor Roslyn Boyd, from the Faculty of Medicine and Child Health Research Centre, has received $499,779 for research into Clinical validation of Artificial Intelligence for providing a personalised motor clinical profile assessment and rehabilitation of upper limb in children with unilateral Cerebral palsy.
• Professor Kevin Thomas, from the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences and Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, has received $499,819 for a study to identify chemical and biological determinants, their sources, and strategies to promote healthier homes in Europe.

UQ NHMRC–National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Collaborative Research Grants recipient:

• Professor Nadine Foster, from the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences and Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service, has received $2.37 million to research the clinical and cost-effectiveness of lumbar fusion surgery for patients with persistent, severe low back pain.

UQ NHMRC Partnership Projects Scheme recipients:

• Professor Katharine Wallis, from the Faculty of Medicine and Greater Brisbane Clinical School, has received $652,770 to investigate unnecessary and potentially harmful long-term prescribing of antidepressants in general practice. She hopes to develop an antidepressant discontinuation model and proven implementation strategies for urban and rural general practice.

UQ Centres of Research Excellence Scheme recipients:

• Professor James Ward, from the UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, has received $2.5 million to establish the Centre of Research Excellence in Urban Indigenous Health.
• Professor Ruth Hubbard, from the Faculty of Medicine and the Centre for Health Services Research, has received $2.5 million to improve hospital outcomes for frail patients across different disciplines.

Media: UQ Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, +61 (0)429 056 139.