The Menzies Research Institute Tasmania (Menzies) was awarded more than $3.37 million in research project grants by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The Menzies Research Institute Tasmania (Menzies) was awarded more than $3.37 million in research project grants by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Seven research project grants were received that will help researchers better understand the cause and prevention of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, motor neuron disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and osteoporosis.

Vice-Chancellor, University of Tasmania, Professor Daryl Le Grew said the funding allocation was a tribute to the outstanding work being performed by the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania.   

Several of the projects will be undertaken collaboratively with other UTAS researchers from the Faculties of Science and Health Science.

"Menzies' exceptional level of success takes the State's medical research reputation to a new height," he said.

"Menzies has won these grants in a very highly competitive environment. This outstanding effort should be commended."

Director of Menzies, Professor Simon Foote, said Menzies had performed exceptionally well in the funding round, with the outcome reflecting the quality of research carried out by the institute.

"Congratulations must go out to all those involved. This is a time for the institute to celebrate its success."

""The NHMRC funding will provide our researchers with significant resources needed to continue their innovative research that will benefit the health and wellbeing of all Australians,'' he said.

Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mr Mark Butler, announced a total of $408.7 million in project funding, though the National Health and Medical Research Council, over three to five years.

ENDS

FURTHER DETAIL:

NHMRC Project Grants:

Dr Tracey Dickson, Member and Senior Research Fellow, Menzies $379,034

Role of excitotoxicity and distal axon degeneration in ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the major cause of motor neuron disease, is a devastating disease for which there is no cure. There have been significant advances in understanding ALS yet we still don't know what causes the dying back of spinal motor neurons (nerve cells). We have new evidence that suggests that ALS may, in part, be caused by excitotoxicity - or over stimulation - of neurons in the spinal cord.

Dr Stuart Ferguson, Honorary Fellow, Menzies and Senior Research Fellow, School of Pharmacy $518,252

Efficacy of text messages to aid smoking cessation. A high number of smokers indicate a desire to stop smoking and report having made attempts to quit. However, most attempts are not successful and new methods are needed to support motivated smokers and improve success rates. This project evaluates the use of text messages to deliver advice and support to smokers motivated to stop smoking. We aim to understand if and how this promising new intervention helps smokers to quit.

Dr Tania Winzenberg, Member and Senior Research Fellow, Menzies $214,806

Investigations of strategies to address long term maintenance of bone density in younger women: fracture risk feedback and vitamin D. Fractures in the elderly are a serious health problem. We previously studied 470 young women, informing them of their level of fracture risk and providing osteoporosis education. Women at higher risk more often started calcium supplements, increased physical activity, and had higher bone density after two years than those at low risk. We will test the same women after eleven years to see if these improvements persist and so might reduce fractures in old age. We will also assess the effects of vitamin D on bone health in these women.

Dr Michelle Keske, Member and Senior Research Fellow, Menzies $395,518

Green tea and insulin sensitivity. This project will determine whether the bioactive compound in green tea (called EGCG) can reduce insulin resistance by enhancing the ability of insulin to open very small blood vessels (called capillaries) in muscle. Opening more capillaries will help glucose to be stored in muscle, thus alleviating insulin resistance. Findings from these studies may have important impact on the management of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Professor James Vickers, Senior Member and Professorial Research Fellow, Menzies and Head, School of Medicine $322,524

Myelin loss in Alzheimer's disease There are escalating numbers of Alzheimer's disease sufferers. This Project aims to provide a better understanding of the fundamental process underlying the damage to brain circuitry in this condition. This proposal may provide key information regarding the relationship between the major pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease, identifying the cellular mechanisms that are crucial to this process, and providing new avenues for therapeutic agents targeted at the earliest stage of AD.

Professor Heinric Korner,  New Star Professor in Medical Research, Menzies $506,706

CCR6 on lymphocytes. The individual steps leading to the activation and differentiation of B cells and the formation of mature functional germinal centres have been investigated in detail and are well understood. In contrast, the underlying molecular signals, which regulate the different events and prevent either autoimmunity or immunodeficiency are still not fully comprehended. This proposal will address these regulatory steps that prevent autoimmunity

Information Released by:

Fiona Horwood, Communications Manager

Phone: 6226 7751 Mobile: 0409 357 384

Email: Fiona.Horwood@menzies.utas.edu.au

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