NHMRC announces Ideas Grants, NSW launches R&D acceleration program

Projects to investigate new therapeutic targets for epilepsy, improve chronic back pain management and develop new treatments for diabetes are among 232 projects that will share in $241 million through the latest National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants, announced on 14 December.

The Ideas Grant scheme funds world-class research with a focus on discovery and innovation, where teams work at the frontiers of knowledge to advance their field for the improvement of health. NHMRC CEO Professor Anne Kelso AO said the scheme provides opportunities for researchers at all career stages.

“Ideas Grants support research that contributes to the improvement of human health — whether researchers work at the laboratory bench, in a clinic or in the community,” she said.

Projects funded in the 2022 round cover the research spectrum from basic science to clinical medicine, public health and health services research. For example:

• Professor Dale Nyholt from the Queensland University of Technology will use his $1.9 million Ideas Grant to lead a team of researchers to investigate new therapeutic targets for epilepsy.
• Associate Professor Susan Woods from the University of Adelaide and team will investigate using probiotics to deliver chemotherapy directly to tumours with a view to developing a new approach to the treatment of bowel cancer.
• Dr Lipin Loo from The University of Sydney and team have uncovered drivers of neuropathic pain in the spine and will now explore the use of cell therapy and functional genomic technologies to deliver safe and effective ways to manage chronic pain.
• Dr Garron Dodd at the University of Melbourne and team have discovered that type 2 diabetes causes changes in the casing around the brain cells that control blood glucose levels, making them insulin resistant; they plan to develop a new way to treat type 2 diabetes using drugs to reverse this process.
• Associate Professor Connie Wong from Monash University and team will examine the brain-lung communication pathway to investigate why lung immunity is impaired following a stroke and assess biomarkers to identify high-risk stroke patients who will require antibacterial therapy to limit infection.
• Professor Peter Le Souef from The University of Western Australia will lead a research team identifying specific changes in cells from blood and inside the noses of children who wheeze, to help predict who will go on to develop asthma and to design more specific asthma treatments.
   

A full list of funding outcomes for Ideas Grants is available here.

Also on 14 December, NSW Treasurer Matt Kean announced the Innovation Research Acceleration Program (IRAP) — a $117 million government investment to improve vital infrastructure and equipment that will support NSW’s world-leading scientists and innovators.

Kean said the IRAP is part of the landmark Future Economy Fund, which was announced in the 2022–23 NSW Budget. He stated, “This R&D acceleration program will help unlock opportunities, foster innovation and kickstart businesses that will create the industries and jobs of the future.

“The Future Economy Fund will make strategic interventions and investments across the business life cycle, and the IRAP targets the critical first stage.”

The IRAP will have two streams of funding:

• Infrastructure Build Out Program: a $31 million one-year program supporting shared research and innovation infrastructure that will underpin future industry and technology needs defined by the 20-year R&D Roadmap.
• NCRIS Support Program: an $86 million four-year fund for NSW research facilities supported by the Commonwealth’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). The funding will boost research capability and capacity across areas including microscopy, nanofabrication, bioplatforms and imaging.
   

“Research and innovation infrastructure, including high-tech facilities and equipment, underpins the state’s ability to turn R&D into real commercial outcomes, jobs and new industries,” said NSW Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens.

“Often such equipment and expertise is expensive or unattainable for many research organisations and companies. The IRAP is designed to enable the delivery of, and equitable access to, essential research and innovation infrastructure.

“This means more innovative ideas will be given the support and access they need to develop, which in turn will help grow our economy and secure NSW’s position as Australia’s innovation engine room.”

More information about the program and how to apply is available here.

Image credit: iStock.com/Atstock Productions

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