- Groundbreaking
WA research awarded $775,000 in funding
- Research
targets cancer, dementia, heart disease, stroke, and mental health
- Successful
projects supported by Future Health Research and Innovation Fund and The
Hospital Research Foundation Group
- Cook
Labor Government supporting world leading medical research and innovation right
here in WA
A
precision nasal spray with potential for treatment of Alzheimer's and a
targeted RNA therapy to prevent cancer-related bone damage are among 15
projects to receive new medical research funding.
The
innovative Western Australian projects will share $775,000 to advance more
personalised approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of serious
health conditions.
The
funding has been awarded through the Innovative Research in Precision Medicine program,
jointly supported by the Cook Labor Government's Future Health Research and
Innovation (FHRI) Fund and The Hospital Research Foundation Group.
Precision
medicine uses information about a person's genes, environment, and lifestyle to
help tailor treatment and care, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all
approach.
The
successful projects focus on some of the State's biggest health challenges
including cancer, dementia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and mental health.
Researchers
involved in the projects are from universities, medical research institutes,
and health services across Western Australia.
Projects
include research into precision immunotherapy for children with brain tumours,
rapid testing to identify the most effective treatments for ovarian cancer,
wearable technology to monitor heart health, and a precision nasal spray as a
potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
Four
researchers will receive tier one grants of $125,000 over two years, while a
further 11 projects will each receive tier two grants of $25,000 over one year.
The
funding was awarded through a competitive grant round and marks the third major
collaboration between The Hospital Research Foundation Group and the FHRI Fund
in the past 12 months.
Comments attributed to Medical Research Minister Stephen
Dawson:
"Precision
medicine has enormous potential to change the way we prevent, diagnose, and
treat disease by delivering care that is better tailored to the individual.
"These
projects are tackling some of our biggest health challenges, from childhood
cancers and Alzheimer's disease to stroke, heart disease, and mental health.
"WA has outstanding researchers and clinicians, and the Cook
Labor Government is committed to supporting them to turn promising ideas into
better health outcomes for patients."
Comments attributed to
The Hospital Research Foundation Group Growth Impact lead Ben Wilson:
"Supporting
precision medicine research is helping us move towards more accurate diagnoses
and treatments that are better suited to individual patients.
"We
are proud to again partner with the State Government and the Future Health
Research and Innovation Fund to support this important research.
"The
diversity of these projects demonstrates the depth of research expertise here
in Western Australia and the potential for precision medicine to improve care
across a wide range of diseases."
List of successful recipients:
Tier One: $125,000 over two years
Dr
Alison McDonnell - The Kids Research Institute Australia
Precision immunotherapy for children with brain tumours
Dr
Weitao Lin - The University of Western Australia/Harry Perkins Institute of
Medical Research
Rapid testing to identify the best treatments for ovarian cancer
Dr
Hadi Afsharan - The University of Western Australia
A flexible radar-based wearable to monitor heart health
Dr
Susbin Raj Wagle - Curtin University
A precision nasal spray as a potential new treatment for Alzheimer's disease
Tier
Two: $25,000 over one year
Dr
Omar Elaskalani - The Kids Research Institute Australia
Tailored immunotherapy for paediatric cancers
Associate
Professor Laurence Cheung - Curtin University/The Kids Research Institute
Australia
Improving immunotherapy for children with high-risk leukaemia
Dr
Jonathan Chee - Centre for Respiratory Health, The University of Western
Australia
Precision strategies for cancer care targeting metal balance
Associate
Professor Elizabeth Thomas - Curtin University
Using precision data to predict and prevent serious side effects from cancer
immunotherapy
Dr
Kai Chen - The University of Western Australia
Targeted RNA therapy to prevent cancer-related bone damage
Dr
Tenielle Porter - Edith Cowan University
Advancing Alzheimer's treatment through precision risk profiling
Dr
Berihun Dachew - Curtin University
Using precision methods to prevent mental health risks
Dr
Jamie Bellinge - The University of Western Australia
Using advanced PET imaging to better classify stroke sub-types
Dr
Jayden Lee Roberts - The University of Notre Dame
A new micro-sampling technique to improve cardiovascular care
Dr
Virginie Lam - Curtin University
Precision medicine to tailor dementia treatment based on genetics
Dr
Duncan Purtill - South Metropolitan Health Service
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