Over half a million dollars for medical research

Thursday, 1 December 2005

The University of Newcastle has received just under $570,000 from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in the latest announcement of Training Awards.

The funding will support two fellowships and one scholarship at the University of Newcastle.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Adrian Page, says the grants are exciting news for the researchers.

“The grants will extend the vitally important work the University is doing in health and medical research.”

“This result again confirms the University of Newcastle’s place in the top ten research universities in Australia,” says Professor Page.

Dr Nikki Verrills has received a Peter Doherty (Biomedical) Fellowship. Worth $264,000 over 4 years, the Fellowship will allow Dr Verrills to work on the role of enzymes (phosphotases) that regulate the conformation and activation of proteins in cancer cells. This research program will investigate new potential factors responsible for tumour cell migration and metastasis, and chemotherapy treatment response and failure, with the aim of identifying novel therapeutic targets and strategies.

Katherine Mills has received a Public Health (Australia) Fellowship. Worth $264,000 over 4 years, the Fellowship will allow Katherine to work on the development and feasibility of an intervention for post traumatic stress disorder among people with heroin dependence.

Jessica Stewart has received a Training Scholarship for Indigenous Australian Health Research. Worth $41,674 over 3 years, the Scholarship will allow Jessica to work on case studies and policy analysis for the primary prevention of chronic disease among Indigenous Australians.

For interviews on the NHMRC Funding contact Professor Adrian Page on (02) 4921 5441.

For interviews with the successful recipients contact Kate Reid on (02) 4921 5351.