NHMRC grant success

Over $3.7 million in funding has been awarded to Deakin researchers in the latest round of project grants and fellowships, announced by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Researchers at Deakin received three Project Grants, three Career Development Fellowships and two NHMRC - ARC Dementia Research Development Fellowships.

Congratulations to the following researchers and their teams.

Project Grants:

• “Determining the Best Outcome Measures for Assessing Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions for Childhood Mental Disorders.” Led by Associate Professor Cathy Mihalopoulos, Deakin Population Health SRC.

• “Tailoring a brief sleep intervention for autism: a randomised controlled trial.” Led by Professor Nicole Rinehart, School of Psychology (SEED).

• “Bone health in bipolar disorder.” Led by Doctor Lana Williams, School of Medicine (IMPACT).

Career Development Fellowships:

• “Diet and mental health: translating new knowledge into innovative prevention and treatment strategies.” Associate Professor Felice Jacka, School of Medicine (IMPACT).

• “Building evidence to improve health through optimal diet.” Associate Professor Sarah McNaughton, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences (C-PAN).

•  “Multidisciplinary translational research to address social disparities in osteoporosis: Understanding the social context of biological mechanisms.” Doctor Sharon Brennan-Olsen, School of Medicine (IMPACT).

NHMRC – ARC Dementia Research Development Fellowships:

• “A multi-faceted intervention to enhance cognition in older people at risk of cognitive decline.” Doctor Helen Macpherson, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences (C-PAN).

• “Develop, evaluate and disseminate a quality measure to manage incontinence in people with dementia in residential aged care facilities.” Doctor Joan Ostaszkiewicz, Faculty of Health (Quality and Patient Safety Research).

Dr Emma Sciberras, who recently joined the School of Psychology from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, is also to be congratulated for her success in achieving a Project Grant. Dr Sciberras' project aims to examine whether treating anxiety in children with ADHD using an adapted cognitive behavioural therapy program improves child and family wellbeing.