Macquarie University Gets $5.4M In Health And Medical Research Grants

Study in Australia: Macquarie University has been granted $5.4m in health and medical research. Read here to know the details.

In the Commonwealth medical research grants, the Macquarie University researchers have been granted a whopping $5.4m funding.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Professor Sakkie Pretorius said, "The three projects cover novel biomarkers for an aggressive form of breast cancer, improving the diagnosis of mental health conditions, and evaluating the MyMedicare patient registration scheme. These studies showcase the variety of important health and medical research underway at Macquarie University."

“It is always pleasing to see the value of our researchers’ work being recognised and supported with such significant grants, and I congratulate them on their achievement," he added.

Professor Yuling Wang will investigate biomarkers for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). For this, the professor will get a $2,778,520 Investigator Grant (Leadership Level 1) from National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). It will be offered over a period of five years.

Currently, for TNBC, there are no specific biomarkers or tools to diagnose or monitor.

Associate Professor Miri Forbes will get $1,623,700 as part of an NHMRC Investigator Grant (Emerging Leadership 2).

$1.35 Million Research Grant To Macquarie University To Protect Australian Avocados

The scientists at Macquarie University will lead a research project to protect the avocado industry of Australia from diseases and pests. The scientists are from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Macquarie University, Southern Cross University and Agreco Australia.

Chief Investigator Dr Bishwo Mainali from Applied Biosciences at Macquarie University says, “Queensland and Western Australia produce 87 per cent of Australia’s avocados, and there is also strong production in New South Wales, so the industry works across a range of climates and conditions. We’re aiming to develop specific solutions for local conditions to help farmers use fewer chemicals while keeping their trees healthy.”

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Professor Samuel Muller stated, “This work brings together scientific expertise and practical farming knowledge. It will help secure the future of Australia’s avocado industry while promoting environmentally friendly farming methods.”

Read more:

• Study In UK: Applications Open For Imperial President's PhD Scholarships
• Study In Australia: RMIT Launches Centre For Nature Positive Solutions